Bumble bee slim

For the 1978 film, see Petey Wheatstraw (film).

Musical artist

William Bunch (December 21, 1902 – December 21, 1941),^[1] known as Peetie Wheatstraw, was an American musician, an influential figure among 1930s blues singers.

Early life and career

William Bunch was born in Ripley, Tennessee, in 1902,^[1][2] the son of James Bunch and Mary (Burns) Bunch.^[3] There is some speculation Wheatstraw may have been born in Cotton Plant, Arkansas, where he was buried, and blues musician Big Joe Williams stated that this was his hometown.^[4]

The earliest biographical facts come from the musicians Henry Townsend and Teddy Darby, who remember Wheatstraw moving to East St.

Louis, Illinois,^[1] in the late 1920s. He was already a proficient guitarist but a limited pianist. The only known photograph of him shows him holding a National brand tricone resonator guitar, but he played the piano on most of his record