* A Mississippi Delta Crossroads * Yahoo Images
* Welcome back to Rock A Billy Rock! My late husband Karo inspired this blog and left me in charge of finding notable artists of Rockabilly, and any other style of music that I pull out of my hat. Karo lived for music...Rock and Roll, Country, Rockabilly, and Blues! I grew up loving music, and I have my parents to thank for that. Both of my parents played the piano. My mother is almost 94 years old, and still has her piano, but I don't think she plays anymore.
My dad was the "Boogie Woogie" musician in our family. He could run that keyboard with the best of them. Dad was a Jerry Lee Lewis fan, and, also enjoyed Elvis and Dolly Parton. One year my parents took us to the Grand Ole Opry in Kansas, where we enjoyed Brenda Lee and Minnie Pearl, among some of the other greats like Tennessee Ernie Ford!
Dad also played the mandolin, and, even though I cannot play it, I am proud to be the owner of his mandolin.
Dad also played the mandolin, and, even though I cannot play it, I am proud to be the owner of his mandolin.
* My dad, Leo Berry * Served S SGT. Army WWII
July 11, 1922 * June 4, 1983
photo was taken somewhere in the early to mid 1940's
***
Having been a devout Rock and Roll, and Soul Music fan, I wasn't familiar with many other genres of music, aside from being subjected to Hee Haw, Lawrence Welk and the likes on Saturday nights as a teenager. And, now...I can't get enough of the various styles and artists that have graced our radio stations and stages.
* In the past 20 or so years, I have branched out and opened up to some of our very beginnings, and what I am finding is fascinating and exciting!
Just recently, some names unknown to me came across my desk here at the KardKorner, and I just had to find out a little bit about them.
*** So here we GO! ***
~ Robert Leroy Johnson
I guess it's safe to say we're going way back with this one. Robert Johnson was born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi in May of 1911. Having moved around a lot in his youth, Robert grew up fast, and lived fast! He did not take to the sharecropper life, and, desiring to be a blues singer, Robert taught himself to play guitar, harmonica and piano. He became known as a "walking musician" along The Mississippi Delta region. In various towns, Robert frequented juke joints and played street corners, but was not considered "up and coming" by record labels, and, although known to be pretty good with his harmonica, he was rejected for his off key guitar playing.
I remember reading somewhere that folks would say of his guitar playing, "Such a racket you never heard! Get that guitar away from that boy!"
~ Robert Johnson * Yahoo Images
Robert hit the road after his second wife died in childbirth, he had no reason to hang around. It's during this period that he tried his hand at guitar playing and singing, only to be disappointed.
~ Mississippi Delta Region * Google Images (thanks!)
***
Then, Robert Johnson disappeared! I wonder if anyone missed him while he was gone...did the folks in the Juke Joints worry that something had happened to Robert, or did they feel like he just "upt and moved on"!
Then...by and by, Robert Johnson is back in town! He starts visiting the Juke Joints and dance halls, and sits in on a few band sets. Wow! This guy was on fire, exhibiting extraordinary guitar playing and singing talent! Robert eventually came to be known as
one of "The Kings of The Delta Blues Singers".
I don't know about y'all, but I think it's about time for a song!
"Me and The Devil Blues"
* Pretty cool, huh! And how about that video...the illustration gives us the story as Robert tells it. He sings, "Early this morning when you knocked upon my door, I said, 'Hello Satan, I believe it's time to go.' Me and the devil are walkin side by side. You may bury my body down by the highway side."
Regarding Robert's voice and style, I came across a few comments: "This song has a creepy aura." "Very spooky and haunting."
and, it was said that Robert had a "Ghostly Wail"
Mr. Johnson is the author of this tale, and recorded the song in a makeshift studio in Dallas, Texas. This is said to have been his last recording session in June of 1937.
***
What changed? How did Robert develop such a good hand at guitar playing...or did someone just take the instrument away from him and tune it! I'll bet there were a few tall tales flying about as to how his talent took a more positive turn.
* Did I give it away? Well, legend has it that Robert found himself at the Delta crossroads, not really knowing which way to go. He just knew he had to develop his talent into something unique which would set him apart from others, into a class of his own. It is here rumor has it, that Robert was visited by a dark being (Satan?) who promised to make him great in exchange for his soul, and a few years of his life.
* Robert Johnson was well known as a womanizer, with a gal in every town. I guess he could charm women into taking him in when he had nowhere else to stay. I believe he was only married twice, but possibly fathered 3 children during his life. Mr. Johnson also loved his whiskey, which may have contributed to his early demise, or not!
Although he was becoming pretty well known among his audiences and peers, Robert still didn't produce any big hits. Within the last year or two of his life, he recorded eleven 78 rpm records and 29 songs with Vocalion Records. He recorded in San Antonio, Texas and Dallas. In 1990, Sony released a 2-CD box of "The Complete Recordings", which was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.
~ Robert Leroy Johnson *
Yahoo Images
Somewhere in August of 1938, I think Robert's last performance was at a store or building behind the Three Forks Grocery near Greenwood in Leflore County. There had been a big juke house out back behind the grocery, owned by a bootlegger who sold a lot of whiskey out of the place.
* They say that Robert would flirt, and was possibly having an affair with the wife of this bootlegger. He offered Robert a few dollars to play at the joint for a while, and Robert was happy to play. However, it is said that later the bootlegger gave Robert a bottle of whiskey (which was already open). After drinking the whiskey, Robert became sick.
~ Could this be the Three Forks Grocery Store?
Yahoo Images
Robert's friend, Honeyboy Edwards, also a Delta Blues Musician, got him out of there and took him to an acquaintance's home, where he died 3 days later at the age of 27. It is believed that the bootlegger laced the bottle of whiskey with strychnine, or that Robert passed away due to complications from syphilis.
There are several sites reputed to be where Robert died, and also, where he is buried. According to Honeyboy Edwards, who was there that night, the area was around the intersection of Hwy 49E and Hwy 82 near Greenwood, Ms. The most likely burial site noted is at Little Zion Missionary. Three Forks Grocery and the building behind it were destroyed in a tornado in 1942.
* This is one of the grave sites where it is said to be the most likely place that Robert Johnson is buried. The location is Little Zion Missionary near Money, Mississippi.
Mr. Son House (below) was an influence on Robert Johnson. Son was more impressed with Robert's harmonica playing skills, and less with his guitar skills.
Robert could sometimes be seen in the company of Johnny Shines
*** So...we've just about come to the end of journey #1, into the Blues, and I hope you have enjoyed the presentation as much as I enjoyed putting it together. There is always so much more to a story, and I wish I could sit around with you all and hear your versions of our historical Blues! Robert Johnson was one of the trailblazers who succeeded in influencing many of our today artists like The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Robert Plant, and Bob Dylan. In fact, Eric Clapton considers Robert Johnson to be the most important Blues singer that ever lived!"
*** Among some of Robert Johnson's credits are: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 1986, Grammy Hall of Fame 1998 for his single, Crossroad Blues, and Blues Hall of Fame for "The Complete Recordings" CD Box set in 1990. Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame 2000 and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award 2006 ***
*** The photo of my dad, is exclusively mine.
*** The image with the smoking hand was acquired from Yahoo images,
but I manipulated the photo and added the smoke
*** I want to thank all of my resources used to research this information, too many to name ***
All images not mentioned were acquired from Yahoo images, and, or Google images
Thank you readers for coming by...please stop in and say hello if you can, I appreciate all comments. If you are too shy to comment, you can check a reaction at the bottom of my post.
*** It's just one little click! 😉
Do we have time for just ONE MORE song? Allright!
photo was taken somewhere in the early to mid 1940's
***
Having been a devout Rock and Roll, and Soul Music fan, I wasn't familiar with many other genres of music, aside from being subjected to Hee Haw, Lawrence Welk and the likes on Saturday nights as a teenager. And, now...I can't get enough of the various styles and artists that have graced our radio stations and stages.
* In the past 20 or so years, I have branched out and opened up to some of our very beginnings, and what I am finding is fascinating and exciting!
Just recently, some names unknown to me came across my desk here at the KardKorner, and I just had to find out a little bit about them.
*** So here we GO! ***
~ Robert Leroy Johnson
I guess it's safe to say we're going way back with this one. Robert Johnson was born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi in May of 1911. Having moved around a lot in his youth, Robert grew up fast, and lived fast! He did not take to the sharecropper life, and, desiring to be a blues singer, Robert taught himself to play guitar, harmonica and piano. He became known as a "walking musician" along The Mississippi Delta region. In various towns, Robert frequented juke joints and played street corners, but was not considered "up and coming" by record labels, and, although known to be pretty good with his harmonica, he was rejected for his off key guitar playing.
I remember reading somewhere that folks would say of his guitar playing, "Such a racket you never heard! Get that guitar away from that boy!"
~ Robert Johnson * Yahoo Images
Robert hit the road after his second wife died in childbirth, he had no reason to hang around. It's during this period that he tried his hand at guitar playing and singing, only to be disappointed.
~ Mississippi Delta Region * Google Images (thanks!)
***
Then, Robert Johnson disappeared! I wonder if anyone missed him while he was gone...did the folks in the Juke Joints worry that something had happened to Robert, or did they feel like he just "upt and moved on"!
Then...by and by, Robert Johnson is back in town! He starts visiting the Juke Joints and dance halls, and sits in on a few band sets. Wow! This guy was on fire, exhibiting extraordinary guitar playing and singing talent! Robert eventually came to be known as
one of "The Kings of The Delta Blues Singers".
I don't know about y'all, but I think it's about time for a song!
"Me and The Devil Blues"
* Pretty cool, huh! And how about that video...the illustration gives us the story as Robert tells it. He sings, "Early this morning when you knocked upon my door, I said, 'Hello Satan, I believe it's time to go.' Me and the devil are walkin side by side. You may bury my body down by the highway side."
Regarding Robert's voice and style, I came across a few comments: "This song has a creepy aura." "Very spooky and haunting."
and, it was said that Robert had a "Ghostly Wail"
Mr. Johnson is the author of this tale, and recorded the song in a makeshift studio in Dallas, Texas. This is said to have been his last recording session in June of 1937.
***
What changed? How did Robert develop such a good hand at guitar playing...or did someone just take the instrument away from him and tune it! I'll bet there were a few tall tales flying about as to how his talent took a more positive turn.
* Did I give it away? Well, legend has it that Robert found himself at the Delta crossroads, not really knowing which way to go. He just knew he had to develop his talent into something unique which would set him apart from others, into a class of his own. It is here rumor has it, that Robert was visited by a dark being (Satan?) who promised to make him great in exchange for his soul, and a few years of his life.
* Robert Johnson was well known as a womanizer, with a gal in every town. I guess he could charm women into taking him in when he had nowhere else to stay. I believe he was only married twice, but possibly fathered 3 children during his life. Mr. Johnson also loved his whiskey, which may have contributed to his early demise, or not!
Although he was becoming pretty well known among his audiences and peers, Robert still didn't produce any big hits. Within the last year or two of his life, he recorded eleven 78 rpm records and 29 songs with Vocalion Records. He recorded in San Antonio, Texas and Dallas. In 1990, Sony released a 2-CD box of "The Complete Recordings", which was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.
~ Robert Leroy Johnson *
Yahoo Images
Somewhere in August of 1938, I think Robert's last performance was at a store or building behind the Three Forks Grocery near Greenwood in Leflore County. There had been a big juke house out back behind the grocery, owned by a bootlegger who sold a lot of whiskey out of the place.
* They say that Robert would flirt, and was possibly having an affair with the wife of this bootlegger. He offered Robert a few dollars to play at the joint for a while, and Robert was happy to play. However, it is said that later the bootlegger gave Robert a bottle of whiskey (which was already open). After drinking the whiskey, Robert became sick.
~ Could this be the Three Forks Grocery Store?
Yahoo Images
Robert's friend, Honeyboy Edwards, also a Delta Blues Musician, got him out of there and took him to an acquaintance's home, where he died 3 days later at the age of 27. It is believed that the bootlegger laced the bottle of whiskey with strychnine, or that Robert passed away due to complications from syphilis.
There are several sites reputed to be where Robert died, and also, where he is buried. According to Honeyboy Edwards, who was there that night, the area was around the intersection of Hwy 49E and Hwy 82 near Greenwood, Ms. The most likely burial site noted is at Little Zion Missionary. Three Forks Grocery and the building behind it were destroyed in a tornado in 1942.
* This is one of the grave sites where it is said to be the most likely place that Robert Johnson is buried. The location is Little Zion Missionary near Money, Mississippi.
Mr. Son House (below) was an influence on Robert Johnson. Son was more impressed with Robert's harmonica playing skills, and less with his guitar skills.
Robert could sometimes be seen in the company of Johnny Shines
*** So...we've just about come to the end of journey #1, into the Blues, and I hope you have enjoyed the presentation as much as I enjoyed putting it together. There is always so much more to a story, and I wish I could sit around with you all and hear your versions of our historical Blues! Robert Johnson was one of the trailblazers who succeeded in influencing many of our today artists like The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Robert Plant, and Bob Dylan. In fact, Eric Clapton considers Robert Johnson to be the most important Blues singer that ever lived!"
*** Among some of Robert Johnson's credits are: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 1986, Grammy Hall of Fame 1998 for his single, Crossroad Blues, and Blues Hall of Fame for "The Complete Recordings" CD Box set in 1990. Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame 2000 and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award 2006 ***
*** The photo of my dad, is exclusively mine.
*** The image with the smoking hand was acquired from Yahoo images,
but I manipulated the photo and added the smoke
*** I want to thank all of my resources used to research this information, too many to name ***
All images not mentioned were acquired from Yahoo images, and, or Google images
Thank you readers for coming by...please stop in and say hello if you can, I appreciate all comments. If you are too shy to comment, you can check a reaction at the bottom of my post.
*** It's just one little click! 😉
Do we have time for just ONE MORE song? Allright!
Yay! Enjoy your week, dear readers! Take care of yourselves and each other!
Give love and laughter (I hear it's good medicine)
Come see me next time when I pull another Journey out of my Blues hat!
