Died On This Date (March 17, 1939) Rufus “Tee Tot” Payne / Influential Early Blues Guitarist
themusicsover Rufus “Tee Tot” Payne
DOB Unknown – March 17, 1939
Tee Tot Payne was an early southern blues musician who indirectly inspired future generations of country and rock ‘n roll stars. It was during Hank Williams’ formative years that he learned about blues and other traditional Black music under the tutelage of Payne. Williams, in turn married those influences with hillbilly music to create a more appealing country sound that appealed to both Black and White audiences. Payne was never known much beyond his home region other than when referenced by Williams and his followers. Hank Williams Jr. gave a nod to Payne with his “The Tee Tot Song” of 2002. Tee Tot Payne died of unknown causes on March 17, 1939. He is believed to have been 55 years old.
Hank Williams was not only the patriarch of a musical family that includes Hank Jr, Hank III, Holly Williams, Jett Williams and Hillary Williams, but is also considered by many to be the patriarch of honky-tonk music. Williams’ career began when, at 17, he took up residence outside the local radio station on weekends and after school. He was soon invited to perform on the air which lead to a twice-weekly program of his own. Over the course of the next 15 years, Williams released a string of records that cemented his place in music history as one of the most influential songwriters of all time. With nearly a dozen #1 hits, his catalog included such classic country songs as “Move it on Over,” “Jambalaya,” “Hey Good Lookin’,” “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” and “Cold, Cold Heart.” Not only have his songs been covered by hundreds of country, folk, R&B, and rock singers, but Williams himself has been the subject of or mentioned in over 50 songs by the likes of 
