Sonny Terry

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
The Color Purple
1985
The Jerk
The Jerk
1979
Crossroads
Crossroads
1986
Stroszek
Stroszek
1977
Festival
Festival
1967
Color Cry
Color Cry
1952
Leadbelly
Leadbelly
1976
The Midnight Special
The Midnight Special
1972
Red, White and Blues
Red, White and Blues
2003
Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry: Red River Blues 1948-1974
Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry: Red River Blues 1948-1974
2003

Filmography

  1. 2004

    The American Folk Blues Festival 1962-1969, Vol. 3

    as Self (Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee)

  2. 2003

    Red, White and Blues

    as Self (archive footage)

  3. 2003

  4. 2003

  5. 2003

  6. 1988

    BBC Arena: Woody Guthrie

    as Self (archive footage)

  7. 1986

    Crossroads

    Musician

  8. 1985

    The Color Purple

    as Jook Joint Musician

  9. 1984

  10. 1979

    The Jerk

    as Blues Singer

  11. 1977

    Stroszek

    Original Music Composer

  12. 1976

    Leadbelly

    Musician

  13. 1973

  14. 1972

    The Midnight SpecialTV

    as Self (1 episode)

  15. 1967

    Festival

    as Self

  16. 1964

  17. 1959

  18. 1952

    Color Cry

    Musician, Music

  19. 1947

TMDBThis product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.Streaming availability data provided by JustWatch© 2026 FlickQueue · Privacy · Terms