Episode #55 The Roots of Robert Johnson

BTA Sounds Radio

In honor of the release of the new biography of Delta Blues legend Robert Johnson "Up Jumped The Devil" by Bruce Conforth and Gayle Dean Wardlowe, I put together an episode exploring the musicians and records that influenced the young Robert Johnson. People that influenced him directly such as Charlie Patton, Son House and Willie Brown as well as numerous artists he would've only heard on records in the 1920's and 30's: 1. Freddie Spruell - Milk Cow Blues (1926) 2. Blind Blake - Georgia Bound (1927) 3. Lonnie Johnson - Life Saver Blues (1927) 4. Hambone Willie Newbern - Roll and Tumble Blues (1929) 5. Charlie Patton with Willie Brown - Some Summer Day pt. 1 (1930) 6. Willie Brown - Future Blues (1930) 7. Son House with Willie Brown - Walking Blues (Test pressing 1930) 8. Son House - Preaching The Blues pts. 1 & 2 (1930) 9. Skip James - Devil Got My Woman (1931) 10. Skip James - 22-20 Blues (1931) 11. Kokomo Arnold - Milk Cow Blues (1934) 12. Peetie Wheatstraw - Police Station Blues (1931) 13. Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell (1935) 14. Scrapper Blackwell - Kokomo Blues (1928)