Robert Jr. Lockwood RIP

[Stereojack]

http://www.middletownjournal.com/n/content...t_Lockwood.html

Robert Lockwood Jr., a pioneering Mississippi Delta blues guitarist and singer who forged a career in Cleveland, has died, a hospital spokesman said. He was 91.

Lockwood died of respiratory failure at University Hospitals Case Medical Center at 5 p.m. Tuesday, said spokesman George Stamatis. He had been a patient since suffering a stroke on Nov. 3.

Lockwood was born in Turkey Scratch, Ark. At 11, he started guitar lessons with legendary bluesman Robert Johnson, who briefly moved in with Lockwood's mother.

"He never showed me nothing two times," Lockwood said in a 2005 interview with The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer newspaper. "After I got the foundation of the way he played, everything was easy."

Lockwood worked on street corners and in bars and became a musical mentor to B.B. King, who listened to Lockwood in the 1940s on the "King Biscuit Time" radio show broadcast from Helena, Ark.

Lockwood moved to Chicago in the 1950s and was a session player on records by Little Walter, Sunnyland Slim, Roosevelt Sykes and other blues musicians. He branched out from the delta-style blues to jump

blues, jazz and funk. In 1960, he moved to Cleveland and played in blues clubs for decades.

As a solo performer, Lockwood earned Grammy nominations for two albums: 1998's "I Got to Find Me a Woman" and 2000's "Delta Crossroads."

[7/4]

Wow. At least he lived a long life. RIP Robert Jr.

[John L]

He was the last stong link to a great musical age past and gone. He was also a hell of a guitar player, somebody of jazz as well as blues interest. He managed to use jazz embellishments in a low down blues context without sacrificing any of the low down spirit of the music.

RIP

Edited November 22, 2006 by John L

[Harold_Z]

Well said, John L.

I'm sorry to Lockwood go.

I espescially dug the sides he did with Otis Spann on Candid.

[samnat]

I had the pleasure of seeing him play twice--he showed that you can ripen with age! Some of his older LPs are available on CD. Highly recommended. He'll be missed.

[HolyStitt]

Sad news.

I was just playing one of CDs and thinking about how lucky I was to see him perform with Randy Weston.

[Tom 1960]

  Harold_Z said:

Well said, John L.

I'm sorry to Lockwood go.

I espescially dug the sides he did with Otis Spann on Candid.

I have a couple of those albums and at some point today, play them in his memory. RIP Robert.

[Jim R]

91... wow, what a run. He definitely maintained a very high level of musicianship as he reached (and passed) the age where most players begin to lose something... whether it be technique, the ability to hear if they're still in tune , or energy and passion. I hadn't heard him over the last few years, but I have a feeling his standards were maintained to the very end.

I became a big fan of his before I was seriously into jazz (30+ years ago), and he was one of those blues arists who helped me to transition into listening to and playing jazz. I was already aware of him from his recordings with Little Walter, but his personality really came forward on the stuff I heard later. I used to love his "Does 12" LP on Trix (his wife had given him an electric 12-string guitar, and he created a trademark sound with it very quickly), and his "Contrasts" LP on the same label was also pretty sweet. My favorites, though, were "Steady Rollin' Man" (Delmark, I think?) and "Live in Japan" with The Aces. Like a fool, I let go of all those LP's years ago... might be time to track down some CD's.

RIP, Mr. Lockwood.

[Alexander]

He was a direct link to the music of Robert Johnson and a great musician in his own right. He will be missed.

[mailman]

This is terrible news but at least he did live a very long life. I had the honor to see him once here in NYC 25 or more years ago. It was at the Village Gate and he had his working group from Cleveland with him. He was a great musician who never stood still as so many do. He always expanded his art, while maintaining his connection to it origins. Not an easy thing to do. I bought those Trix LPs when they came out in the 1970s. Played them to death. Bought them again when they were reissued on CD; not something I often do. I think they are in print on the Savoy label. RIP.

[jostber]

  John L said:

He was the last stong link to a great musical age past and gone. He was also a hell of a guitar player, somebody of jazz as well as blues interest. He managed to use jazz embellishments in a low down blues context without sacrificing any of the low down spirit of the music.

RIP

Robert L. was a giant contributing to and recorind a lot of classic blues.

Henry Townsend went in October:

http://www.document-records.com/show_news.asp?articleID=347

He also was an incredible stayer.

Honeboy is the last man standing:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_%22Honeyboy%22_Edwards

Cool book:

http://www.amazon.com/World-Dont-Owe-Me-No...9283514-1745742

[paul secor]

Mr. Lockwood was a fine guitarist. It's almost too bad that a good part of his reputation came from his connection to Robert Johnson. It did help him commercially, but his guitar style was special enough without him being tied to R.J.

As others have mentioned, his recordings with Otis Spann on Candid and his recordings on Trix are fine ones. Glad that Jim R mentioned him backing Little Walter on a lot of great Chess sides - those shouldn't be forgotten.

I'm glad that he had a long life and was playing til the end.

RIP, Mr Lockwood. Thanks for your music.

[chris olivarez]

RIP.

[John L]

My favorite Lockwood might be his work with Sonny Boy Williamson on Chess. Robert Jr. was a big reason why those recordings are so classic.

[sheldonm]

Sad to hear this; saw him perform many times. Don't forget Honeyboy! Wonderful performer as well! Here is a photo I made of Honeyboy several years ago....very interesting eyes!

m~

Edited November 23, 2006 by sheldonm