WILLIS
punk rockalternativecomedylo-firockoutsider musiclo-fi undergroundchicago independentnovelty punkcult figure
Wesley Willis (May 31, 1963 – August 21, 2003) was an African-American musician from Chicago, Illinois, who became a well-known underground figure in the 1990s. Standing at 6-foot-6 inches and weighing 350 lbs., Willis was diagnosed with schizophrenia as a young adult. He released several hundred songs of bizarre and simplistic music, which spread through the early days of P2P file sharing. Willis had a tumultuous childhood, growing up in various foster homes.
Influenced by: Daniel Johnston, Jandek, Captain Beefheart
- Active:
- 1990s
- Scene:
- Chicago underground
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