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TIMELINE |
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GRAPHY |
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ROBERT JOHNSON
Over sixty years of mystery have surrounded this unique, gifted
artist who lived in the rural South of the 1920's and 30's. Few
details of his life were known; in fact, only two photographs
of him are known to exist. He was a loner, a man who supposedly
shook hands with the devil for his extraordinary talent, and who
was murdered when he was just 27 years old. But he could charm
young women into a night's shelter and warmth as he drifted from
town to town playing a circuit of juke joints, country picnics
and street corners. He performed his own songs with unmatched
intensity and style -- songs about shady women, nights of terror,
and walking with the devil. Songs like Hellhound On My Trail,
Cross Road Blues, Walkin' Blues, Sweet Home Chicago, (I Believe
I'll) Dust My Broom and Come on In My Kitchen. Robert
Johnson recorded only 29 songs -- but they constitute the most
astonishing, influential body of work any bluesman has ever committed
to wax.
Robert Johnson was certainly not the first bluesman; he was influenced by many before him. However, he is the one that has captured the greatest international interest and the imagination of many, and is considered, arguably, the greatest of all blues performers. Contemporary musicians such as Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, and Bonnie Raitt have all recorded his songs, and he was designated as one of the first "forefathers" of rock by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Columbia 1990 reissue of his complete recordings reached number 80 on the Billboard Pop charts, won a Grammy and went platinum. Johnson is a proven contemporary.
THE FILM
With so many conflicting stories and rumors that have been written
about Robert Johnson up until this time, it has been almost impossible
to separate truth from myth. However, by combining previous research
done by musicologists and historians with current revelations,
award-winning filmmaker Peter Meyer has put together an
innovative and entertaining exploration of Johnson's life that
captures the excitement and imagination of this blues legend as
never before.
Acclaimed actor Danny Glover takes us on an evocative journey through Johnson's life, revealing for the first time his true story. The film uniquely blends together factual information, exclusive interviews with people who actually knew Robert Johnson, and historically accurate re-creations of Johnson's life from boyhood to his death, including performances in juke joints, the San Antonio and Dallas recording sessions, and his many travels across the country. Johnson is portrayed by two-time Grammy Award®-winning singer/songwriter Keb' Mo', who accurately mimes both Johnson's guitar and voice to the original Vocalion recordings. And with the use of a special digital noise reduction process, his music sounds better than ever.
Photos of Robert Johnson © Delta Haze Corporation. Used with permission.
