Robert Lockwood Jr.

When I saw Robert Lockwood Jr. in concert, he was part of the House Of Blues Tour. The show was the last one for the tour and it was held at the Taft Theater, in Cincinnati Ohio . I was there to see Dr. John, but my soul was treated to so much more. Charlie Musselwhite, Alvin Youngblood Hart, and this man, the last living link to Robert Johnson.

Robert Lockwood Jr. was in his late 80's when I saw him, and in spite of his seemingly being somewhere else, hidden behind those two brown turtle shells, there was nothing but vigor in his music. Lockwood's love for his art was ageless, as you can see in this video from when he was 91.

Enjoy!

Lockwood was born in 1915 at the farming village of Turkey Scratch Arkansas. That year is a magical one on the Blues calendar as it ushered in the births of several notable and legendary Blues musicians. Furthermore, these musicians, including Lockwood, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Memphis Slim, and Willie Dixon were all born within a 100 mile radius.

Robert had learned to play the family pump organ at a young age and moved on to the guitar by age eleven. His teacher was the mysterious Robert Johnson, who was staying with the Lockwood family at the time. The 15 year old seasoned veteran Johnson taught Lockwood chords, timing, and stage presence.

By the time Lockwood was 15 years old, he was playing "out". He and Johnson would sometimes play fish fries, juke joints, and street corners. Other times, he played with Johnny Shines or Rice Miller (known later as Son Williams II). At one point, in Clarksville Mississippi, Johnson was working one bank of the Sunflower river while Lockwood manned the other. People who were on a bridge listening, couldn't tell which one was the by then well known Robert Johnson.

The student took to his lessons well.

The relationship with Robert Johnson lasted until 1937 when Johnson died of an apparent poisoning by a jealous husband. But Lockwood was prepared to walk on his own. he was ready to discard the shroud of Johnson as he began to make a name for himself.

The following song comes from Robert Lockwood Jr.'s 1998 album, I Got To Find Me A Woman. The set was his first Grammy nomination.

Enjoy!

Lockwood's first recordings came in 1941 as he participated in the now famous Blue Bird recordings with well known bluesman, Doc Clayton. The recording sessions produced four singles, two of which Robert played up until his death over 60 years later.

Arriving back in Arkansas after the Illinois Blue Bird sessions, Lockwood hooked back up with Rice Miller to host a live noon radio show at KFFA in Helana. The show's sponsor was King Biscuit Flower Company and the show went on to become the cultural phenomenon known as King Biscuit Time. The noon airing was perfect as many people listened in during their lunch breaks to hear Lockwood, Miller and their two rhythm men, James Curtis and Ludlow Taylor.

Like all Delta Blues musicians, Lockwood couldn't keep his feet still. Eventually, he packed his things and went on to help establish the trade route that drove through Memphis, St. Louis, and Chicago.

Settling in at Chicago during the 1950's, Lockwood ended up where so many of the Blues legends did, Chess Records. While at Chess, Lockwood was the top session guitarist, and his smooth chords can be heard on the recordings of some of the greats such as Sonny Boy Williamson, Little Walter, and Roosevelt Sykes.

In the late 1950's, Rock and Roll was squeezing Blues out of Chicago and since Lockwood was a traditionalist he moved on to Cleveland at the urging of his old pal, Rice Miller. When Lockwood arrived in Cleveland he realized that his priorities were to settle down and raise his family.

This video is of Lockwood performing one of Muddy Waters' early tunes, Mean Black Spider. Ever present in Lockwood's work was his smooth chord work and unfettered vocals that made him a staple in the Delta Blues arena.

By the end of the 1960's, Robert Lockwood Jr. had the blood boil of his music once again. He started playing in local Cleveland joints that are long gone, but folks who saw him on the scene will always remember him.

At the age of 55, Lockwood's solo recording career finally got started. Backed by a band known as the Aces, Robert released Steady Rolling Man on the Delmark label. From 1972 to 1986, Lockwood recorded 6 more albums, three of which he partnered with his long time friend, Johnny Shines.

It wasn't until 1998 that he released his seventh album, I Gotta Find Me A Woman, and that album won him his first of two Grammy nominations. He recorded two more between 2000 and 2001 to finish his studio work.

Robert Lockwood Jr. may have quit recording studio albums, but he never quit playing "out". Every Wednesday night, Lockwood would jam at Fat Fish Blue in the infamous Flats district of Cleveland, and he did this right up until his death. Just like a true master, his gift had only gotten better over the years. No one could touch him the smooth quality in his guitar playing, and no one could deny the authenticity of his Delta vocals.

The last twenty years of his life, Lockwood was finally recognized as a real treasure. He was the real McCoy.Some of the recognition came in the form of awards, most notably, two W.C. Handy Album Of The Year awards in the category of Best Traditional Blues.

Robert Lockwood Jr. passed away in November of 2006, and with him went memories that only he would have. Memories of a golden era. Memories he shared with us through his music.

This one of the smoothest performances I've ever seen. Lockwood, shown here in his 80's, effortlessly takes us in and tells his tale as his fingers waltz over the 12 strings and his voice flows like a lazy brook. C.C. Rider never sounded so good.