Moses Williams, 1919-1988

Moses Williams (1919-1988) was born February 15 in Itta Bena, Mississippi. He spent much of his life traveling, either in show business or working as an itinerant farm worker, which eventually brought him to Florida. At the age of 11, he learned the harmonica, but it was his one-string zither, or "diddley bow," that made him unique. The instrument was comprised of a broom wire tensioned upside a door with a tin can resonator, and played with glass bottle slide. It earned him nicknames like "Broom Wire Slim" and "Doorman." His distinctive repertoire for the diddley bow consisted of both standards such as "Sitting on Top of the World" and "Rollin' and Tumblin'" and original tunes, most notably "Which Way Did My Baby Go" and "Apple Farm Blues."