Robert Lockwood Jr. (March 27, 1915 – November 21, 2006) was a Delta blues guitarist who recorded in the 1950s and 1960s. He was the only guitarist to have learned to play from Robert Johnson. He was one of the first professional Black entertainers to appear on radio in the South, on the King Biscuit Time radio show.
He was born in Turkey Scratch, Arkansas. He was one of two children born to Robert, Sr., and Esther Reese Lockwood. He started playing the organ in his father’s church at the age of eight.
He learned from Johnson not only how to play guitar but also timing and stage presence. He became known as “Robert Junior” Lockwood.
By age 15, he was playing at parties in the Helena area. He often played with Robert Johnson, Sonny Boy Williamson II, and Johnny Shines. He played at fish fries, in juke joints, and on street corners throughout the Mississippi Delta. He played on one side of the Sunflower River while Johnson played on the other, with the people of Clarksdale milling about the bridge, unable to tell which guitarist was the real Robert Johnson. He played with Howlin’ Wolf and others in Memphis. He split his time playing in St. Louis, Chicago, and Helena.
He made his first recordings with Doctor Clayton. He recorded four songs, which were released as the first two 78-rpm singles under his name: “Little Boy Blue” backed with “Take a Little Walk with Me” and “I’m Gonna Train My Baby” backed with “Black Spider Blues”. He was an influence on B. B. King and played in King’s band early in his career.
A 78-rpm single featured “I’m Gonna Dig Myself a Hole” backed with “Dust My Broom”, and a release contained “Aw Aw (Baby)” backed with “Sweet Woman (from Maine)”. He replaced Louis Myers as the guitarist in Little Walter’s band. He played on Walter’s #1 hit, “My Babe.” He performed or recorded with Sunnyland Slim, Eddie Boyd, Roosevelt Sykes, J. B. Lenoir, and Muddy Waters, among others.
He was survived by his wife, Mary Smith Lockwood, and four stepchildren from his first marriage to Annie Roberts Lockwood. 1997, and four stepchildren from his second marriage. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence
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