Language of the Blues - Edmonton Blues Society
Language of the Blues - Edmonton Blues Society
Language of the Blues - Edmonton Blues Society
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Robert Lockwood became known as Robert Junior, or Robert Jr. Lockwood, and<br />
performed and recorded under that name until his death in 2006 at age ninety one. In<br />
2004, in fact, Lockwood appeared at Eric Clapton's first Crossroads Guitar Festival in<br />
Dallas, Texas, and his live recording with three o<strong>the</strong>r blues musicians Last <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Great<br />
Mississippi Delta <strong>Blues</strong>men: Live In Dallas won a Grammy for Best Traditional<br />
<strong>Blues</strong> Album.<br />
Robert Jr. Lockwood circa 1980<br />
photo © Joseph A. Rosen<br />
Lockwood and his mo<strong>the</strong>r lived with Johnson in Helena, Arkansas, while Johnson<br />
performed all around <strong>the</strong> Delta. The family also spent time in Memphis and St. Louis. To<br />
Lockwood, Johnson was not some mysterious loner who was making pacts with <strong>the</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Lockwood built a powerful career on <strong>the</strong> foundation Johnson gave him. In his teens, he<br />
was a regular on <strong>the</strong> King Biscuit Time radio show out <strong>of</strong> Helena, Arkansas, with<br />
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