Lockwood’s legacy lives
One of the few
remaining Delta blues masters is gone. Robert Lockwood, Jr. passed away Monday,
November 20, in Cleveland.
He was 91.
Born in Turkey
Scratch, Arkansas (just outside Helena) in 1915, Lockwood
grew up in an area that yielded other Delta greats. At age 11 Lockwood learned
guitar from the legendary, enigmatic Robert Johnson, who was living with
Lockwood’s mother at the time. Lockwood played with Johnson and others at juke
joints, fish fries, and street corners learning his stepfather’s style.
Johnson’s live fast, die young lifestyle caught up with him in 1937 and
Lockwood headed north. He became an in-demand session player for Chess Records
in the 1950s playing on recordings by Sonny Boy Williamson, Roosevelt Sykes,
Eddie Boyd, and Sunnyland Slim to name a few. He also
cut several sides for Mercury.
Lockwood moved to Cleveland in the 1960,
and that’s where he raised his family. Lockwood continued to play the blues up
until his death last week.
So I’m telling you
all this because Lockwood is here in spirit, through mighty influence. Lockwood
came through Rochester
from time to time. His music spoke in particular to
bluesman Steve Grills, who caught Lockwood at The Red Creek in 1978. It left a
lasting impression. The two became friends.
As most know, Grills
is an extremely articulate and reverent blues musician who knows and loves all
styles and nuances within the genre. But over the years, whenever he spoke of
Lockwood, his eyes would light up. Lockwood’s style seemed to excite more than
most. Grills traveled to Cleveland
frequently to catch the man at his weekly gigs. He even got the chance to
record with him on a Shakin’ Smith project. Among the
countless guitarists that influence Grills’ style, Lockwood’s floats undeniably
on top.
“He was one of my
all-time favorite guitar players,” Grills says. “And just a
great guy. He was as dedicated to the tradition he came from as he was
in being a progressive artist. He was always evolving.”
So when you hear
Grills, you’ll be hearing Lockwood too. And though he’s gone, the most
important part of his life — and American music history — remains bristling
at Grills’ fingertips.
This article appears in Nov 29 – Dec 5, 2006.
