I had the honor of meeting this great man at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland, Ohio, many years ago. I was a shy 16 year old and was obsessed with the blues, so when he came I was sure to be there. During intermission, I was on a mission, so I crept up behind the stage to a little room on the right where the musicians would hang out. I peeked in and he saw me, motioned to me with his hand and said, "Come on in boy!" Trembling, I walked up to him, shook his hand and told him what an honor it was to meet him, and he said something like, "You better believe it!" - I sat down on my knees in front of him while he told the 6 or 7 of us gathered there some stories of him growing up with Robert Johnson. I remember him telling a story of how he and Robert would go to opposite ends of a bridge and play, Robert Jr. would come back with some spare change in his hat, while Robert Johnson would return with his hat loaded with bills. He also said that he played with nearly every famous blues and R&B player from the 50's onward, except one, Chuck Berry. Apparently they shared a bill one night, and someone from Roberts camp approached someone from Chucks and asked if he would like to play a song with him, to which Chuck replied, "Why would I wanna play with that old n***a for?" - I also remember him saying if you could play classical guitar, you could play anything. I went out and sold my electric mandolin the next day for an old Guild Madeira nylon string that I still have to this day. I then asked him to play a request of mine, "Travelling Riverside Blues" and he said, "Welllll, now, I can't play that, I ain't got no slide! Tell you what, I'll play Steady Rolling Man." I thanked him, then it was time for him to go back on stage. When he got back up there he said, "If anyone told me I'd meet a crowd like this in Cleveland, I wouldn't of believed 'em." I think he was truly taken aback by the blues purists he met in that town on Lake Erie- he then proceeded to play my "request", and I was just on the moon. A night I'll never forget, thank you, Robert JR.
Robert Lockwood, was a constant presence in my life. From my childhood on. unfortunately, my family tree was badly broken. Robert, knew my mother, and my gram. And my aunties. He was kind, his heart was tender. He took possession of me. He and Anne, Mrs Robert Lockwood. We're, the loving , sweet kind family. That this little disabled boy dreamed about, at night. Robert, called me his son. I called him daddy. I was so, truly blessed in my little life, to enjoy such a man. Who stood beside me. And said He belongs to me. That's, my son.... All respect and greatest love to his memory..!!!!!
Beautiful, thanks for sharing. In Pittsburgh? I'm glad you got to enjoy that, and of course also nice that he was a genius. But it just goes to show you what is most important in life, human connection, especially now with the social distancing.
He could play sophisticated jazz pieces or the most down home delta slide guitar blues, recorded with so many of the greats of the golden era of Chicago blues, why he wasn't more famous, I have no idea. I want to put his name in as one of the greatest blues players of all time.
I had the honor of meeting this great man at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland, Ohio, many years ago. I was a shy 16 year old and was obsessed with the blues, so when he came I was sure to be there. During intermission, I was on a mission, so I crept up behind the stage to a little room on the right where the musicians would hang out. I peeked in and he saw me, motioned to me with his hand and said, "Come on in boy!" Trembling, I walked up to him, shook his hand and told him what an honor it was to meet him, and he said something like, "You better believe it!" - I sat down on my knees in front of him while he told the 6 or 7 of us gathered there some stories of him growing up with Robert Johnson. I remember him telling a story of how he and Robert would go to opposite ends of a bridge and play, Robert Jr. would come back with some spare change in his hat, while Robert Johnson would return with his hat loaded with bills. He also said that he played with nearly every famous blues and R&B player from the 50's onward, except one, Chuck Berry. Apparently they shared a bill one night, and someone from Roberts camp approached someone from Chucks and asked if he would like to play a song with him, to which Chuck replied, "Why would I wanna play with that old n***a for?" - I also remember him saying if you could play classical guitar, you could play anything. I went out and sold my electric mandolin the next day for an old Guild Madeira nylon string that I still have to this day. I then asked him to play a request of mine, "Travelling Riverside Blues" and he said, "Welllll, now, I can't play that, I ain't got no slide! Tell you what, I'll play Steady Rolling Man." I thanked him, then it was time for him to go back on stage. When he got back up there he said, "If anyone told me I'd meet a crowd like this in Cleveland, I wouldn't of believed 'em." I think he was truly taken aback by the blues purists he met in that town on Lake Erie- he then proceeded to play my "request", and I was just on the moon. A night I'll never forget, thank you, Robert JR.
Robert Lockwood, was a constant presence in my life. From my childhood on. unfortunately, my family tree was badly broken. Robert, knew my mother, and my gram. And my aunties. He was kind, his heart was tender. He took possession of me. He and Anne, Mrs Robert Lockwood. We're, the loving , sweet kind family. That this little disabled boy dreamed about, at night. Robert, called me his son. I called him daddy. I was so, truly blessed in my little life, to enjoy such a man. Who stood beside me. And said He belongs to me. That's, my son.... All respect and greatest love to his memory..!!!!!
Beautiful, thanks for sharing. In Pittsburgh? I'm glad you got to enjoy that, and of course also nice that he was a genius. But it just goes to show you what is most important in life, human connection, especially now with the social distancing.
you were fortunate indeed. steve s.
He could play sophisticated jazz pieces or the most down home delta slide guitar blues, recorded with so many of the greats of the golden era of Chicago blues, why he wasn't more famous, I have no idea. I want to put his name in as one of the greatest blues players of all time.
こんな映像あったのですね。すごいです!! まだバリバリですねぇ~。 steady rollin' man R.I.P
Robert Jr, Was my good friend, and may he R.I.P!
めちゃめちゃ かっけーな！笑 動いてるROBERT JR. LOCKWOOD 初めて見ました。ありがとう！
素晴らしい！🎉
what a good
blues...
Robert johnson was his stepdad ! he taught him how to play, unbelievable really, rip
Worked with him in Melbourne, Australia, a magic experience!
Robert, your music is still being played on Blues Before Sunrise. Live in Japan. Thanks for sharing your talents with the world.
Mighty stuff
The real blues!!!
That’s a Gretsch
blue ... blue ... blue ... how bout you?
What guitar make is this?
George Harrison style Gretsch
Gretsch, the black switch on the upper bout is not stock.
I have a Gretsch double cutaway with bigsby (sigh) too. Gonna have to practise a lot more to do like Robert though.