Big Bill Broonzy was an American blues singer, songwriter and guitarist born in Scott, Mississippi, who began performing in the 1920s and later relocated to Chicago where he recorded and toured through the mid-20th century. His repertoire ranged from country blues and folk-oriented material to urban electric blues, evolving from solo acoustic performances to ensemble-backed recordings, and his songs were taken up by folk and blues revivalists during the mid-century resurgence of interest in traditional American music.