Key To The Highway

“Key To The Highway” is one of those many blues songs with murky origins and controversy about who exactly penned the lyrics. Though the song is associated with Big Bill Broonzy, it was first recorded by piano player Charlie Segar – who was known as the “Key Board Wizard Supreme” – in February 1940.

A few months later, Broonzy played guitar on a version by Jazz Gillum before recording his own version in 1941 (with Gillum returning the musical favor and playing harmonica on that cover). All three claimed a hand in the authorship of the song, though Broonzy’s acoustic eight-bar-blues version (the original was 12-bar) became the standard-bearer.

Tommy TV - Free for the Masses Bonus Track. Bark & Hart at Durham's fabulous Blue Note Grill for the opening of their Spring Season. Jason Barker- Guitar and vocal, Tommy Hartley - Guitar and vocal.