Blind Willie Dunn

Influential jazz guitar pioneer Eddie Lang (born: Salvatore Massaro) (1902-1932) adapted the alias Blind Willie Dunn, for a series of recordings, that he made as a member of the Gin Bottle Four, in 1928 and 1929. An all-star group, that included blues guitarist Lonnie Johnson, cornet player King Oliver and, occasionally, Hoagy Carmichael, on percussion and vocals, the Gin Bottle Four served as one of the first inter-racial jazz bands to record.



First using the pseudonym for a recording session, with pianist Frank Signorelli and chimes player Justin Ring, in 1928, Lang revived the Blind Willie Dunn persona the following year, cutting such classic tunes as "Blue Guitars", "A Handful Of Riffs", "Midnight Call Blues", "Jet Black Blues" and "Hot Fingers".



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