Is the Black Guitarist in Oh Brother Where Art Thou Supposed to Be Muddy Waters

There are several connections between  Tommy Johnson and Robert Johnson. Both lived in the Mississippi Delta region, both were highly influential dejection musicians and singers, both enjoyed 'wine, women and song' and both sport a mythology that they sold their souls to the devil in substitution for their extraordinary powers in music.

About Tommy Johnson…

"About that time,…, Johnson met the devil at the crossroads at midnight and handed him his guitar. When the devil handed it dorsum, Johnson told them, he could play anything he wanted."
– Keith O'Brien, in the Times-Picayune, Crystal Springs, Chiliad

Tommy Johnson

Tommy Johnson

Tommy Johnson (1896 – November 1, 1956) was an influential American delta blues musician who recorded in the late 1920s, known for his eerie falsetto voice and intricate guitar playing.

"Side by side to Son House and Charley Patton, no one was more than important to the evolution of pre-Robert Johnson Delta blues than Tommy Johnson. Armed with a powerful vocalism that could go from a growl to an eerie falsetto range and a guitar style that had all of the early on figures and licks of the Delta style clearly delineated, Johnson… left behind a torso of work that's hard to ignore."
– Cub koda, All Music Guide

Tommy Johnson was built-in circa 1896, on George Miller's Plantation most Terry, Mississippi, twenty miles south of the state capital of Jackson. One of xiii children, Tommy and his family moved to Crystal Springs, Mississippi, effectually 1910. The Johnsons were a musical family. Tommy'south uncle and brothers Mager and LeDell played guitar, while other relatives played in a brass ring. LeDell taught Tommy the rudiments of guitar about 1910, and by 1914 the Johnson brothers were supplementing their sharecropping incomes by playing parties in the Crystal Springs area.

In 1916, Tommy Johnson married Maggie Bidwell and the couple moved to Webb Jennings'due south Plantation near Drew, in Mississippi'due south Yazoo Delta region close to Dockery's Plantation. Although Johnson would have several wives, it was his first whom he later immortalized in the song "Maggie Campbell Dejection." Johnson shortly fell nether the spell of Dockery resident Charley Patton and local guitarists Dick Bankston and Willie Brown. He lived there for a year, learning the nuances of the Delta style before moving on to hobo effectually Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Johnson, at present an alcoholic and womanizer, moved back to Crystal Springs in 1920, resuming his musical partnership with Mager and LeDell. He besides returned to life equally a sharecropper, playing at parties on the weekends or on the streets of Jackson and nearby towns for tips. During the autumn cotton harvest flavour, Johnson traveled back to the Delta, playing for sharecroppers who had just been paid. During the early 1920s he gigged with Charley Patton in Greenwood and nearby Moorehead. The latter is famous for its railroad crossing Where the Southern Crosses the Dog, heralded in W.C. Handy'south "Yellow Dog Blues."

Johnson cutting his first records with guitarist Charlie McCoy in February 1928 at the Memphis Auditorium for the Victor label. These sides sold well enough to prompt a follow-up session in Baronial of that year. That session yielded the notorious "Canned Rut Dejection," in which he admitted to drinking Sterno to satisfy his alcohol cravings. The theme of alcoholism would be touched upon once more in "Booze and Jake Blues," waxed during his final recording session for the Paramount label in December 1929. Johnson traveled to Paramount'southward studio in Grafton, Wisconsin, where Delta luminaries Son Firm, Skip James, and Charley Patton had also recorded. After the onset of the Great Low, the enthusiasm of the record-ownership public lessened and Johnson was not invited to tape further.

"Johnson's recordings showcased an eerie falsetto and masterfully manipulated vocal dynamics that established him every bit the premier Delta blues vocalist o fhis day…. Johnson was remebered for playing the guitar between his legs like he was riding a mule, playing information technology behind his head, tossing the guitar upwards in the air, and other acrobatic antics."
– from Trail of the Hellhound, presented by The National Park Service

"He'd kick the guitar, flip it, plow it back of his caput and be playin' it. And then he'd go straddled over information technology like he was ridin' a mule – selection it that way."
– Houston Stackhouse, Delta Blues creative person.

Allmusic references all of Tommy Johnson'south output:

Review

by Jeff Schwachter

An essential Tommy Johnson collection, Document's Complete Recorded Works (1928-1929) features 17 songs from the Delta blues pioneer, including two alternative takes and a pair of previously unissued songs known respectively as "Forenoon Prayer Blues" and "Boogaloosa Blues." Culled from the great Delta musician'south recording sessions in Memphis and Grafton, WI, from February 1928 to December 1929, this collection shines a light on all of Johnson'due south known output during his about active recording years. Equally with most music taken straight from original 78s, the audio quality varies between tracks; all in all, the pops and static aren't besides distracting hither. The music is well-worth seeking out every bit the writing, guitar playing, and singing are all infrequent. Johnson'southward voice, one of the distinctive early Delta dejection voices along with Son House and Charley Patton, changes from a deep rumble to a woeful falsetto while his guitar playing is characteristic of the early on Delta style. With the exception of a few of the tracks from an Baronial 1928 session, other players accompany Johnson on the tracks. Highlights include the well-known material such as "Absurd Drink of Water Dejection" and "Canned Estrus Blues," likewise every bit scratchy lesser-known gems from his later on sessions. The tracks "Ridin' Horse" and "Booze and Jake Blues" were taken from what is believed to be the only remaining copy of the 78 they were originally released on. These two songs had not been released on CD prior to this collection. On the two versions of "Black Mare Dejection" included, Johnson is joined by the New Orleans Nehi Boys, featuring Kid Ernest Marshall on clarinet and Charley Taylor on piano. The CD includes informative notes by Paul Oliver, personnel lineups for each session, along with issue numbers for the original releases. This is highly recommended for those who have never heard Johnson's music and equally recommended for those who have.

In the 2000 picture show O Brother, Where Fine art K? there is a character named Tommy Johnson (played by Chris Thomas King) who sold his soul to the devil to play guitar. He plays accompaniment for the Soggy Lesser Boys (a band consisting of the film'due south 3 main protagonists plus Johnson) on "Human being of Abiding Sorrow". The grapheme of Tommy Johnson in O Brother, Where Fine art Thou? is reminiscent of the real Tommy Johnson, who used to talk about how "he sold his soul to the devil" at a crossroads in return for making up songs and playing the guitar. The character plays a number of songs by dejection musician Skip James. The character was not based on the better-known bluesman Robert Johnson, equally some have speculated

Robert Johnson

Robert Johnson

Robert Johnson, "King of the Delta Blues Singers", was born in Hazlehurst, MS in Copiah County, on May 8, 1911. Crystal Springs, MS . Robert and his mother did non stay long in Hazlehurst. Later on working as migrant labor, his mother moved the family to Memphis where he lived for several years.

Early on in life Robert developed an interest in music. He played Jews Harp and harmonica for the next few years until he became interested in guitar in the 1920'south. Robert was a skilful looking boy and he became very popular with the girls. Eventually he became serious and married a young Virginia Travis in 1929. She and Robert's starting time child died during childbirth in 1930.After this early tragic feel, Robert became absorbed in his music.

While living in Robinsonville, Robert met other blues singers who influenced his early style. Among those were  Son House and Willie Dark-brown. Bluesman and preacher Son Firm particularly influenced Robert with his 'raw and intensely pure emotional music. 'Robert went back to his birthplace Hazlehurst searching for his real father, and became more serious about his music.

Robert's understanding of women deepened and he began to empathise that they could provide everything he needed. He met a kind and loving woman more than than 10 years his senior with iii small children. Robert and Calletta Arts and crafts were married her in 1931. She totally loved and took care of Robert. Robert wasn't specially respected at the time because he was not a hard labourer similar many people at the fourth dimension, his piece of work seemed as well easy to many people.  No ane knew he was married, and thought he was being kept past an older woman.

The trip to Mississippi in the 30's was really of import to Robert. During his stay, Johnson's personality developed into the man he would be. Also of great importance was the musical talent and ability that blossomed while he was in Hazlehurst. He would spend time solitary practicing songs until they were just as he liked them. When he felt set for more learning, he packed up his family unit and moved to the Delta.

When Robert returned to Robinsonville, he had surpassed his friends Son House and Willie Brown. He played in bars and on street corners for a new months and and then would move on. Robert began to spend time on the Arkansas side of the river, across the river from Memphis in a town called Helena. All the great musicians of that time passed through Helena and westward Helena, and many were influenced past Robert.

There was a special immature homo to whom Robert took a liking named Robert Lockwood, Jr. Robert Johnson lived with young Robert'due south mother, Estella Coleman. Robert J. tutored the young human who had an admirable musical talent. He shared much of what he knew with Robert Jr over the side by side four or five years. His style took on many of the characteristics of Robert Johnson's. Estella was good to Robert, she took proficient intendance of him. Robert stayed in Helena with Estella and Robert Jr, and from this base travelled to play all over Mississippi and the Arkansas Delta. Robert had the opportunity to meet and play with all the great blues contemporaries.

Robert guarded his musical style well. If he felt someone wanted to be like him, play like him, he would exit in the middle of a functioning. He loved traveling and seemed ever on the move.  Robert could play about anything requested of him. He had an ability to acquire music and lyrics quickly, afterwards simply hearing a song one time, he could play and sing it, not only the blues, but popular, ballads, and other styles also.

By the mid-thirties, Johnson was well known through the Delta, Mississippi, and Tennessee,and began to think about recording his music. He contacted H. C. Spier in Jackson, MS, who connected him with someone who could aid him. In 1936 he began to record his songs, among them his most popular Terraplane Blues. He made eleven records which increased his fame.

Johnson is one of the virtually admired and influential Delta blues artists despite his curt life and the small number of recordings that he left. His songs, such as "Sugariness Home Chicago", "Come on in My Kitchen", and "Crossroad Blues", are dejection classics — played past thousands of blues artists and adapted by rock 'northward' gyre artists such as the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and Eric Clapton. His life and work would later influence the growth and talent of such famous musicians as Eric Clapton, Muddied Waters, Bonnie Raitt, the Rolling Stones, Cerise Hot Chili Peppers, and yes, Elvis.

Robert Johnson was a gifted singer, guitarist and songwriter whose life story is wrapped in mystery and legend. Just 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 fourth dimension. More likely, he was blest 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 accustomed that his death was not accidental. On Saturday night, August thirteen, 1938 at a jook joint named Three Forks, Johnson played his concluding gig. Of the many rumors concerning Johnson's decease in 1938 (stabbing, toxicant, the devil catching up with him), poisoning is the virtually prevalent and almost substantiated.

The link with the " devil" is not surprising because in his early years Robert Johnson did not print, every bit this quote from the Robert Johnson notebooks illustrates:

But Johnson did non appear to be gifted with a musician'south talent for guitar, as Son House asserts, " Such some other racket you never heard! Information technology'd make people mad, you know. They'd come out and say, "Why don't y'all go in there and get that guitar from that male child!" (Cobb 289).

However a little later, when he returned to Robinsonville, Son House and Willie Brown were astounded by his artistic development (Lavere 13). Rumors began about Johnson trading his soul to the devil in commutation for his guitar expertise.

Robert Johnson  died on Baronial 16, 1938. He defined the 30s blues era, but died in 1938 at the immature age of 27. Though he only wrote 29 songs, his impact on the world of music has been significant.

Cross Road Blues

©(1978) 1990, 1991 Lehsem II, LLC/Claud Fifty. Johnson
Administered by Music & Media International, Inc.
I went down to the crossroad
fell downwards on my knees
I went down to the crossroad
fell downward on my knees
Asked the lord above "Have mercy now
save poor Bob if yous please"
Yeeooo, standin at the crossroad
tried to flag a ride
ooo ooo eee
I tried to flag a ride
Didn't nobody seem to know me babe
everybody laissez passer me by
Standing at the crossroad babe
rising sun goin down
Standin at the crossroad infant
eee eee eee, risin sun goin down
I believe to my soul at present,
Poor Bob is sinkin downwards
Y'all can run, you lot can run
tell my friend Willie Brown
You tin can run, you can run
tell my friend Willie Brown
(th)'at I got the croosroad dejection this mornin Lord
babe, I'm sinkin down
And I went to the crossroad momma
I looked east and west
I went to the crossroad baby
I looked east and w
Lord, I didn't have no sweet woman
ooh-well infant, in my distress

At that place are only two photos of Robert Johnson that have been revealed to the public…one taken by the Hooks Bros. photography studio in Memphis and used on the cover of Johnson's The Complete Recordings collection, and a so-called "photograph booth" cocky-portrait of Johnson. Recently, however, vintage guitar expert Steven "Zeke" Schein discovered – on eBay of all places – what he believes to exist a tertiary photo of Robert Johnson, showing the mysterious bluesman standing alongside his protégé and traveling partner, Johnny Shines.

Robert Johnson and Johnny Shines??

There has been a lot of discussion about whether the photo is really Robert Johnson,(come across Vanity Fair) – and  if you desire to look at some 'forensic' evidence and discussion by some sceptical Johnson fans have a expect here.

The photo was offset advertised every bit an early picture of BB Rex, but information technology seems that  the long fingers could only belong to Robert Johnson. (note: Has any i asked BB?).

rossanionvely.blogspot.com

Source: https://photomuserh.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/playing-the-devils-music-kings-of-delta-blues-tommy-johnson-and-robert-johnson/