Tony Hollins facts for kids

Tony Hollins (born June 25, 1909 – died January 1957) was an American blues musician. He was a talented singer, guitarist, and songwriter.

Biography

Tony Hollins is believed to have been born in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi. He grew up on a place called Lucky's Plantation.

In the 1920s, Tony knew the family of another famous blues artist, John Lee Hooker. Tony even dated John Lee's sister, Alice. When Tony visited, he showed off his amazing guitar skills. He helped teach John Lee Hooker how to play and even gave him his very first guitar! John Lee Hooker always said that Tony Hollins was a huge inspiration for his own music style and career. Tony taught him songs like "Crawlin' King Snake" and "Catfish Blues."

Tony Hollins mainly worked as a barber in Clarksdale, Mississippi. But he also made music! He recorded his first songs in Chicago in 1941 for OKeh Records. Some of these songs were "Crosscut Saw Blues," "Crawlin' King Snake," and "Traveling Man Blues." John Lee Hooker later performed versions of these songs too. For example, he sang "Traveling Man Blues" but called it "When My Wife Quit Me."

Tony didn't continue his music career for long and went back to Clarksdale. However, he returned to Chicago in the late 1940s. In 1951, he recorded more music with another blues musician named Sunnyland Slim for Decca Records.

Tony Hollins is thought to have passed away in Clarksdale, Mississippi, in early 1957. Some sources say he died in Chicago in 1959.