A Biased View of ROBERT JOHNSON - SIGNATURE LICKS - ejazzlines.com

Among the problems we encounter around Robert Johnson's history is that so little is understood about the guy himself. We understand he was born in 1911 and that he died at the age of 27 in 1938. A virtuoso guitarist and vocalist someone who Eric Clapton describes as "the most essential blues singer who ever lived" he was recorded just twice: as soon as in San Antonio in 1936 and again in Dallas a year later on.

A brand-new book released in the summer season of last year intends to shade in some of Johnson's hitherto unidentified background. Entitled Brother Robert: Growing Up With Robert Johnson (Hachette Books), it was authored by Johnson's stepsister, Annye C Anderson, and it paints a completely various photo to that of the struggling 20-something who visited the crossroads at midnight to do a deal with the devil.

The book reveals that Johnson could turn his hand to almost any tune, from jazz and pop music of the day to spirituals. There's even an occasion discussed in the book where he rests on an action and plays nursery rhymes for the local kids to sing and dance to.

Up previously, just two photos were understood to exist, however the 3rd was exposed by relative Annye, it having actually been saved in a bank safe deposit box because the 1930s. Annye was born in 1926 to Johnson's stepfather and third wife, Mollie nobody knows who Johnson's real daddy was, but his mom's name was Julia, whom Annye refers to as 'Mom Julia' in the book.

The 25-Second Trick For Top 10 Blues Guitarists - Robert Johnson - Flame Tree

When Johnson's mom split up with her other half she couldn't take care of her kid therefore Johnson went to cope with his stepfather, who taught him to play the guitar. Ultimately, More In-Depth was reunited with his mom. Johnson was soon to spread his wings, vanishing for days on end, riding on the trains that went through the town, a regional railroad employee commenting at the time that Johnson spent more time riding the rails than he did.