No other performers in the Folk/Blues idiom could match these two. Both were great musicians and singers. Sonny, who was blind, played harmonica in a style that was uniquely his own. 'Whoopin and Hollerin' was his trademark harmonica showpiece, and very few harp players could imitate his 'call and response' virtuosity.
Brownie, who was lame, had one of the most beautiful voices in all of Blues and was a virtuoso guitarist. They first performed together in 1939, and continued to record many great albums until they split up in 1976. They were fun to see and hear because their material was so infectiously happy.
I managed to get their autographs on one of their albums. Brownie's signature is a beautiful script. When I asked Sonny for his autograph, he obliged by bringing out an ink pad and a stamp and he then carefully stamped his name in red ink on the jacket.
They were very special soul-mates and they played The Riverboat many times.