Sonny Terry

Known for

Acting

Born

October 24, 1911

Birthplace

Mineola, New York, U.S.

Died

March 11, 1986 (aged 74)

Biography

Sonny Terry was an American Piedmont blues and folk musician, who was known for his energetic blues harmonica style, which frequently included vocal whoops and hollers and occasionally imitations of trains and fox hunts.

Best known work

The Color Purple

1985

The Jerk

1979

Crossroads

1986

Stroszek

1977

Festival

1967

Color Cry

1952

Leadbelly

1976

The Midnight Special

1972

Red, White and Blues

2003

Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry: Red River Blues 1948-1974

2003

Filmography

2004
The American Folk Blues Festival 1962-1969, Vol. 3
as Self (Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee)
2003
Red, White and Blues
as Self (archive footage)
2003
Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry: Red River Blues 1948-1974
as Self
2003
The American Folk Blues Festival 1962-1966, Vol. 1
as Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
2003
The American Folk Blues Festival 1962-1966, Vol. 2
as Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
1988
BBC Arena: Woody Guthrie
as Self (archive footage)
1986
Crossroads
Musician
1985
The Color Purple
as Jook Joint Musician
1984
Woody Guthrie: Hard Travelin'
as Self
1979
The Jerk
as Blues Singer
1977
Stroszek
Original Music Composer
1976
Leadbelly
Musician
1973
The Blues Under the Skin
as Self
1972
The Midnight SpecialTV
as Self (1 episode)
1967
Festival
as Self
1964
American Folk-Blues Festival: The Blues and Gospel Train
1959
The End of the Line
Music
1952
Color Cry
Musician, Music
1947
To Hear Your Banjo Play
as Self