This was long thought to be Big Joe Williams, but the Big Joe Williams entry in "Blues and gospel records 1890-1943" (Oxford University Press, 1997) states that "The 17 June 1938 Bluebird session credited to Joe Williams is by a different artist sometimes referred to as 'Jackson' Joe Williams and the Vocalion 1457 coupling ["I Want It Awful Bad"/Mr. Devil Blues" recorded in 1929] may be by this 'other' Joe Williams, or by another artist, possibly Joe McCoy; it is certainly not by Po' Joe Williams" (p. 1039 - with the entry for this 'other' Joe Williams on p. 1040).
Almost nothing is known about "Jackson" Joe Williams. He recorded two songs for Vocalion Records in 1929, "I Want It Awful Bad b/w Mr. Devil Blues" and backed Jed Davenport at the same session on "How Long How Long Blues b/w Cow Cow Blues." He also recorded four songs for the Bluebird label in 1938 accompanied by Yank Rachell and Sonny Boy Williamson I.