Tiny Parham

Tiny Parham was born William Edward Parham in Memphis in 1900. He played the washboard, turning it into a percussive instrument that drove his music. In 1928, he recorded "Washboard Wiggles" for Victor Records, a song that became a hit and defined his sound.

He toured as a minstrel performer, doing comedic routines and playing on radio broadcasts. His style was unconventional for the time, and as a Black artist in the early 20th century, he faced prejudice. In 1937, he was arrested in Mississippi for violating segregation laws, an incident that highlighted the racial barriers of the era.

Parham kept recording through the 1930s, with songs like "Wiggles" and "I'm a Washboard Man." He didn't fit neatly into folk or blues categories, just played his washboard with a lively, humorous touch that caught people's ears.