That’s Robert “Junior” Lockwood Jr. (1915-2006)
I had no idea of Lockwood’s pedigree when he showed up at an early morning jazz appreciation class I took in college. For him, it was all about the blues, and his lecture/demonstration blew me away.
He was taught guitar by Robert Johnson (1911-1938), the legendary King of the Delta Blues (and the Grandfather of Rock and Roll) hence the nickname Robert “Junior.”
Most of Robert Johnson’s songs have been covered by modern musicians, but I hadn’t heard the original “Hellhound On My Trail” until today. It’s got unusual chord patterns and rhythms:
You sprinkled hot foot powder
All around your daddy’s door.
Here’s Eric Clapton’s version from 2004, and it’s just as disturbing.
Have a great weekend, folks, and remember that everything’s gonna be alright.
Tags: awesome, blues, Country Blues, Eric Clapton, guitar, Music, Robert Johnson, Robert Junior Lockwood, Robert Lockwood Jr., Saturday Matinee, WIN
Sunday, 21 April 2019 at 11:36 PM |
I think the “jazz appreciation” class is really cool (especially considering who showed up for the lecture). I’m just curious if this lead you to further studies in jazz and/or working in the industry.
By the way, I appreciate all of the “esoteric” references you dig up and post concerning the history of blues and jazz.
Tuesday, 23 April 2019 at 8:05 AM |
Randy–
The class meshed with what I was already interested in, and it covered the music styles from ragtime through early jazz to bebop and cool jazz. I liked 1920s-30s the best.
No, I’m not in the industry. Played trumpet in HS, messed around with guitar and bass, I can handle chromatic harmonica.
Here’s a fun tidbit. Pianist Eubie Blake was on the Tonight Show decades ago, said the first time he heard the phrase “rock and roll” was in a cat house in 1898. It was a rhythmic style of piano playing intended to keep the patrons moving along.