Jontavious Willis

I’m glad to be home a few weeks. I’ve been on the road a good little min. Time to practice and enjoy the month, my birthday is next week. I’ll be 30. This just me playing some Lighnin Hopkins Sky Hop influenced stuff. Not meant to be the best it’s just a fast pace tune on a slow pace day.

Standard tuning key of E.

Good morning, y'all! Talk to me, folks.

Anyway, I’ve got some co bill shows with GA-20 coming up. We’re playing in Atlanta today check the dates below. Hope to see y'all there!

Also, this is just a little instrumental in the key of G, standard tuning.

4/14/2026 - The Garden Club at Wild Heaven West End, Atlanta, GA
4/15/2026 - The Mockingbird, Greenville, SC
4/16/2026 - Visulite Theatre, Charlotte, NC
4/17/2026 - Stanczyks, Durham, NC
4/18/2026 - The Rex Theater, Galax, VA
4/19/2026 - Asheville Music Hall, Asheville, NC
4/20/2026 - The Basement, Nashville, TN
4/22/2026 - Ground Zero Blues Club, Biloxi, MS

Happy birthday to McKinley Morganfield, a.k.a. Muddy Waters, born on this day in either 1913 or 1915, depending on who you ask. Muddy was my North Star. I wanted to play guitar because of him not just blues, but the whole instrument. Chicago blues was already established when Muddy arrived in the city, with Big Bill Broonzy being one of his early mentors who welcomed him into the big city. But soon, Muddy created a new, lasting sound with his crew that changed the world. He’s the original rock and roller, he doesn’t need to be mentioned with rockstars to prove his worth or stardom.

You have to dive into Muddy’s discography to truly grasp what a force he was. Don’t just watch his easily accessible videos; check out the field recordings by John Work III and Alan Lomax. Then listen to his Aristocrat recordings, especially “Gypsy Woman,” where you can hear him bending strings with his powerful voice with Sunnyland's thunderous piano backing and Big Crawford deep bass. After that, explore his Chess recordings, both with and without Little Walter. This man lived multiple lives through his music and really didn’t get his due until the end of his life (in my opinion) many folks ate off his plate way more than he did and still are. He’s one of my inspirations for embracing the blues community, and he makes me proud to be a blues musician.

Here’s my rendition of “Walkin’ Blues,” a tune originally done by Muddy’s “young life idol”, Son House, and later covered by Robert Johnson in Open A.

RIP to Muddy Waters. April 4, 1915 - April 30, 1983.

Attention folks in Gainesville, Fl- Nashville, TN -Atlanta,GA -Asheville,NC & Memphis,TN check out my website jontaviouswillis.com I’m coming to your city next week, pull up on me.