Hammie Nixon
b. 22 January 1908, Brownsville, Tennessee, USA, d. 17 August 1984, Brownsville, Tennessee, USA. Nixon was the leading blues harmonica player in Brownsville, and a frequent visitor to Memphis, playing in street bands on jug, kazoo and harmonica. In Brownsville he was an associate of Sleepy John Estes and James ‘Yank’ Rachell, contributing beautiful, mournful playing to both men's '20s and '30s recordings. He was a major early influence on John Lee ‘Sonny Boy’ Williamson, and later on Little Walter. When Estes was located in 1962, Nixon was found also (proving to be a cheery extrovert, despite his sorrowful harmonica sound), and came out of musical retirement to tour and record with Estes until the latter's death. Thereafter, Nixon continued to play concerts and festivals, and made occasional recordings, though these were often disappointing, as they often overemphasized his kazoo and his rudimentary guitar.