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Robert Lockwood, Jr.
Robert
Lockwood, Jr., learned his blues firsthand from an unimpeachable
source: the immortal Robert Johnson. Lockwood was capable of conjuring
up the bone-chilling Johnson sound whenever he desired, but he was
never one to linger in the past for long -- which accounts for the
jazzy swing he often brought to the licks he played on his 12-string
electric guitar.
Born in 1915, Lockwood was one of the last living links to the glorious
Johnson legacy. When Lockwood's mother became romantically involved
with the charismatic rambler in Helena, AR, the quiet teenager suddenly
gained a role model and a close friend -- so close that Lockwood
considered himself Johnson's stepson. Robert Jr. learned how to play
guitar very quickly with Johnson's expert help, assimilating Johnson's
technique inside and out.
Following Johnson's tragic murder in 1938, Lockwood embarked on his own
intriguing musical journey. He was among the first bluesmen to score an
electric guitar in 1938 and eventually made his way to Chicago, where
he cut four seminal tracks for Bluebird. Jazz elements steadily crept
into Lockwood's dazzling fretwork, although his role as Sonny Boy
Williamson's musical partner on the fabled KFFA King Biscuit Time radio
broadcasts during the early '40s out of Helena, AR, probably didn't
emphasize that side of his dexterity all that much.
Settling in Chicago in 1950, Lockwood swiftly gained a reputation as a
versatile in-demand studio sideman, recording behind harp genius Little
Walter, piano masters Sunnyland Slim and Eddie Boyd, and plenty more.
Solo recording opportunities were scarce, though Lockwood did cut fine
singles in 1951 for Mercury ("I'm Gonna Dig Myself a Hole" and a very
early "Dust My Broom") and in 1955 for JOB ("Sweet Woman from
Maine"/"Aw Aw Baby").
Lockwood's best modern work as a leader was done for Pete Lowry's Trix
label, including some startling workouts on the 12-string axe (which he
daringly added to his arsenal in 1965). He later joined forces with
fellow Johnson disciple Johnny Shines for two eclectic early-'80s
Rounder albums. He also recorded a Robert Johnson tribute album and
founded his own label, Lockwood. In 1998, he signed to Verve for the
Grammy-nominated album I Got to Find Me a Woman, which featured sit-in
guests including B.B. King and Joe Louis Walker. He was still working a
weekly gig in Cleveland until early November 2006, when he suffered a
brain aneurysm. He died on November 21.
-Written
by Bill Dahl
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