The music you hear is Sweet Home Chicago, a Robert Johnson tune sung by his grandson, Steven Johnson.
The family and heirs of blues legend Robert Johnson provide services to all generations of blues artists and preserve and perpetuate the rich heritage of Delta blues music through the Robert Johnson BluesFoundation.
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Robert Johnson, King of the Delta Blues
honored at Birthday Blast 2009
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Claude Johnson, son of Robert Johnson
Steven presents Zakk with the New Generation Award.
Thanks to our generous sponsors:
- Sesac
- Gibson Guitar Foundation
- Copiah Bank
- Piggly Wiggly
- Kitchens Law Firm
- Tillmans
- Southwest Airlines
- Mississippi Job Corps.
ABOUT ROBERT J:
1911-1938
Robert Johnson was a gifted singer, guitarist and songwriter whose life story is wrapped in mystery and legend. Only two photographs are known to exist of him and he recorded only 29 songs before his death in 1938 at the age of 27. Many of his contemporaries believed that he met the Devil at a lonely crossroads at midnight and made a deal to sell his soul in return for becoming the greatest blues musician of all time. More likely, he was blessed with enormous talent and spent a lot of time learning from other blues masters and honing his skills. He achieved some success and fame from recordings and performances during his life and was scheduled to perform at the first "Spirituals to Swing" concert at Carnegie Hall when he died. Although his burial place remains uncertain, it is generally accepted that his death was not accidental. Johnson was poisoned by a jealous husband (orgirlfriend) while performing at a juke joint near Greenwood, MS and died on August 16, 1938.
The Robert Johnson Blues Foundation hopes to ensure that Robert Johnson's legacy and the delta blues heritage continue into the future by recognizing and assisting young blues musicians through the New Generation Award. |
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Zakk Knight of Indianapolis, IN is the New Generation Award Winner 2009
Zakk is playing his new Robert Johnson special edition Gibson Guitar. Zakk's winning entry can be viewed here.
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Gibson Guitar - Robert Johnson Blues Foundation awards
ZAKK KNIGHT
New Generation 2009 Award Winner
CRYSTAL SPRINGS, MISSISSIPPI -
The Robert Johnson Blues Foundation awarded Zakk Knight, age 15, of Indianapolis, Indiana the 2009 New Generation Award. Zakk was presented with the award at the Robert Johnson Birthday Celebration . He received a Gibson "Robert Johnson" edition guitar and a certificate signed by Claud Johnson (son of Robert Johnson).
The amazingly talented Zakk gave a stellar performance at the Robert Johnson Birthday Blast on May 9, 2009. His winning entry can be viewed here. Visit Zakk's MySpace at http://myspace.com/zakkknight
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Saturday, May 9, 2009
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This Annual Spring Festival sponsored by the Robert Johnson Blues Foundation, was held at beautiful Lake Chatauqua Park in Crystal Springs, MS.
This year’s show was free to the public. The unique event is the only event sanctioned by and benefiting the Robert Johnson Foundation, organized and run by the family of the legendary musician.
The festival featured artists included:
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- Steven Johnson (RJ's grandson... now singing Sweet Home Chicago)
- Gabriel Lambirth
- Zakk Knight
- Mo Thomas
- Masterpiece from the Straitway Ministries Choir
- other special guests
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There was a special legacy tribute to Robert Johnson featuring his grandson Steven Johnson and Gabriel Lambirth, 2008 New Generation winner and Zakk Knight, 2009 Generation Award Winner.
Food vendors and games were on hand for the children to make the party a fun family day.
OWN A COMPLETE COLLECTION OF ROBERT JOHNSON MUSIC
 Johnson's music lives on through his recordings, which were first released as a compilation by Columbia Records in the 1960's. In 1990 a complete two-CD box set of all his recordings (every take of every song) was released and over a million sets were sold. Purchase this music here. His music also lives on through the many blues musicians alive today -- old and young, throughout the U. S. and around the world.
The Robert Johnson Blues Foundation hopes to ensure that Robert Johnson's legacy and the delta blues heritage continue into the future by recognizing and assisting young blues musicians through the New Generation Award.
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