Robert Jr. Lockwood

ROBERT JR. LOCKWOOD

Celebrated guitarist Robert Jr. Lockwood is the stepson of the legendary Robert Johnson (whose "Love In Vain" the Rolling Stones brought to international attention) and his musical heir. A quiet, unassuming man, Lockwood's aggressive guitar-strangling was the inspiration that turned Mr. B.B. King to the blues.

Lockwood has played and recorded with all the greats including Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Eddie Boyd, etc. In the early 1960's he cut the justly famous Candid sessions with Otis Spann, since re-released on Barnaby and now cut out once again. He'd retired from music by 1970 but came to hear Roosevelt Sykes at the 1970 Ann Arbor Blues Festival and was moved to rejoin the scene. The word is he will be touring Japan in November.

--Bill Adler

photo: Dirk Baaker