Sunday, June 19, 2011

Heroes of the Blues: Blind Willie Johnson


Blind Willie Johnson (c.1900-c.1947)


Heroes of the Blues Trading Tee Card #7


Art by R. Crumb, Text by Stephen Calt


A native of Martin, Texas, Blind Willie Johnson worked as a gospel singer. Between 1927-1930 he recorded thirty sides, including several vocal duets with his wife. Although religious in orientation, Johnson's music was as percussive as any dance blues, and he attained the most rhythmically fluid and tonally vibrant sound of any bottleneck guitarist of his time. His best-known piece is probably "Dark Was the Night", (Columbia, 1927),which was recognized by the Blues Foundation, Classics of Blues Recordings, 1999. He died in 1947 in Beaumont, Texas.


A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this Keep on Truckin' Apparel exclusive t-shirt will be donated to the Music Maker Relief Foundation.


Image copyright of Shanachie Entertainment Corp.

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