Blind Willie Johnson

Blind Willie Johnson (1900 in Marlin, Texas - 1949 in Beaumont, Texas) is a Guitariste and Chanteur of Blues.

Biography

According to Charters, which put at the day the main part of the biographical elements relating to it, Willie Johnson would have been born in 1900, but Tom Shaw, bluesman which it meets at the end of the Années 1920, gives him between forty and fifty years at that time. Wire of George Johnson, it loses her mother when it has three or four years and becomes blind at seven years because his/her beautiful mother threw to him, after an argument with her father, of vitriol to the face. As of the five years age, it expresses its will to become preacher and his/her father manufactures to him a Guitare with a box of cigars.

In the middle of the years 1920, he plays in the streets with Hearne, saturdays. In June 1927, it is with Dallas where it meets his wife, Angeline. Six months later, it records a first session then one second one year after (with Alan Lomax). It records in all 30 pieces, of which more half comprise vocal duets with his wife. About 1928, they settle in Beaumont, Texas, where they sing in the streets and with the church Baptist. Blind Willie Johnson records her last sessions with the turning of the Années 1930 with La Nouvelle-Orléans and Atlanta.

It still occurred in the Années 1940 when it dies following the fire of its housing, after a local hospital refused to admit it because of its blindness. His Angeline wife, in her discussions with Charters, locates this event in 1949, but it is probable that it occurred at least two years earlier.

Style

Often of religious inspiration, of spirituals type, its most remarkable pieces are played Bottleneck (using a pocket knife) thanks to which it manages to produce a its fluid and expressive remained unequalled, such as for example in Jesus make up my dying bed , I know his blood edge make me whole or Nobody' S fault goal undermines .

He is also the author of an unclassable piece, Dark was the Night, Cold was the ground , taken again by Ry Cooder. Wim Wenders made of it the narrator of its film The Soul off has Man , one of the seven episodes of the series The blues produced by Martin Scorsese in 2003.

External bonds

illustrated Discography of Blind Willie Johnson

Random links: