Willie Joe And His Unitar

This week in Rhythm & Roots #25 I play a track by Willie Joe Duncan and his Unitar. I’ve played Willie Joe’s music before, but I thought the Unitar needed some additional context.

As this photo shows the Unitar was a 7+ foot plank of wood with a single wire strung along its length. Seasick Steve calls a similar, albeit smaller instrument, a one stringed diddley bow.
I reckon if that unitar string broke it could’ve taken Willie Joe’s head clean off!