On this Day, 1911

[Devil Doc]

Today is believed to be the birthday of the legendary bluesman Robert Johnson, born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi (1911). We know very little about his life. He's been so mythologized that he's become almost a character out of a folktale. The only reason we know for sure he existed is that in 1937 he recorded 29 of his songs over the course of two recording sessions. He had two photographs taken of himself around the same time. Those were the only recordings he made and the only photographs taken of him in his lifetime, and he died the following year, at the age of 27.

Doc.

 

[Saxjazzman]

Doc, I feel embarassed to say that I have never heard any of his music. I hope to correct that. Thanks for filling in my gap of knowledge on the blues. :thumbs:

 

[AVB]

SJM, You want to look for "Robert Johnson, The Complete Recordings" put out by Columbia in 1990 but is still available. It is a 2 CD set with a very good informational booklet. Also, I would suggest reading Greil Marcus' "Mystery Train."

 

[Saxjazzman]

AVB, thanks for the lead. I am on it.

 

[Devil Doc]

Doc, I feel embarassed to say that I have never heard any of his music. I hope to correct that. Thanks for filling in my gap of knowledge on the blues. :thumbs:

I'll bet you've heard some of his music. Anybody who's anybody in the Blues tradition has covered a R. Johnston tune.

Doc.,

 

[mysterea]

If'n you dudes are into early american music (not just blues) check this out:

http://www.amazon.com/American-Primitive-V...5548&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/American-Primitive-V...5548&sr=8-2

Both are real early (mostly gospel) american music. If you like that 'rough soulful feel' of this time in music history, it's worth checking out.

Cheers,
Rob

 

[Captain Leafheart]

Some folks think that his voice sounds a little high/unnatural on the recordings and think that the recordings aren't playing/weren't made at the proper speed.
There's no real way to tell now and none of his contemporaries who played with him or heard him ever brought this up BUT...
Here's a link to some audio samples and discussion of the matter.
http://www.touched.co.uk/press/rjnote.html