
Blind Willie Johnson
Blind Willie Johnson (January 25, 1897 – September 18, 1945) was an American gospel blues singer, guitarist and evangelist. His landmark recordings completed between 1927 and 1930—thirty songs in total—display a combination of powerful "chest voice" singing, slide guitar skills, and originality that has influenced later generations of musicians. Even though Johnson's records sold well, as a street performer and preacher he had little wealth in his lifetime. His life was poorly documented, but over time music historians such as Samuel Charters have uncovered more about Johnson and his five recording sessions. A revival of interest in Johnson's music began in the 1960s, following his inclusion on Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music, and by the efforts of the blues guitarist Reverend Gary Davis. Johnson's work has become more accessible through compilation albums such as American Epic: The Best of Blind Willie Johnson and the Charters compilations. As a result, Johnson is credited as one of the most influential practitioners of the blues, and his slide guitar playing, particularly on his hymn "Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground", is highly acclaimed. Other recordings by Johnson include "Jesus Make Up My Dying Bed", "It's Nobody's Fault but Mine", and "John the Revelator". |
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Birth and Death Data: Born January 22nd, 1897 (Brenham;Pendleton, Texas), Died September 18th, 1945 (Beaumont)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1927 - 1930
Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, guitar
Recordings (Results 1-25 of 32 records)
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Columbia | W145316 | 10-in. | 12/3/1927 | I know His blood can make me whole | Blind Willie Johnson | Male vocal solo, with guitar | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Columbia | W145317 | 10-in. | 12/3/1927 | Jesus make up my dying bed | Blind Willie Johnson | Male vocal solo, with guitar | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Columbia | W145318 | 10-in. | 12/3/1927 | It's nobody's fault but mine | Blind Willie Johnson | Male vocal solo, with guitar | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Columbia | W145319 | 10-in. | 12/3/1927 | Mother's children have a hard time | Blind Willie Johnson | Male vocal solo, with guitar | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Columbia | W145320 | 10-in. | 12/3/1927 | Dark was the night—cold was the ground | Blind Willie Johnson | Male vocal solo, with guitar | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Columbia | W145321 | 10-in. | 12/3/1927 | If I had my way I'd tear the building down | Blind Willie Johnson | Male vocal solo, with guitar | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Columbia | W147568 | 10-in. | 12/5/1928 | I'm gonna run to the City of Refuge | Blind Willie Johnson | Male vocal duet, with guitar | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | |
Columbia | W147569 | 10-in. | 12/5/1928 | Jesus is coming soon | Blind Willie Johnson | Male vocal duet, with guitar | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Columbia | W147570 | 10-in. | 12/5/1928 | Lord I just can't keep from crying | Blind Willie Johnson | Male vocal duet, with guitar | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Columbia | W147571 | 10-in. | 12/5/1928 | Keep your lamp trimmed and burning | Blind Willie Johnson | Male vocal duet, with guitar | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Columbia | W147572 | 10-in. | 12/5/1928 | [Unknown title(s)] | Blind Texas Marlin | Male vocal solo ("blues or gospel singer") | vocalist | |
Columbia | W147573 | 10-in. | 12/5/1928 | [Unknown title(s)] | Blind Texas Marlin | Male vocal solo ("blues or gospel singer") | vocalist | |
Columbia | W149578 | 10-in. | 12/10/1929 | Let Your light shine on me | Blind Willie Johnson | Male vocal solo, with guitar | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | |
Columbia | W149579 | 10-in. | 12/10/1929 | God don't never change | Blind Willie Johnson | Male vocal solo, with guitar | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Columbia | W149580 | 10-in. | 12/10/1929 | Bye and bye I'm goin' to see the King | Blind Willie Johnson | Male vocal solo, with guitar | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Columbia | W149581 | 10-in. | 12/10/1929 | Sweeter as the years roll by | Blind Willie Johnson | Male vocal solo, with guitar | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Columbia | W149594 | 10-in. | 12/11/1929 | You'll need somebody on your bond | Blind Willie Johnson | Male vocal solo, with guitar | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Columbia | W149595 | 10-in. | 12/11/1929 | When the war was on | Blind Willie Johnson | Male vocal solo, with guitar | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Columbia | W149596 | 10-in. | 12/11/1929 | Praise God I'm satisfied | Blind Willie Johnson | Male vocal solo, with guitar | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Columbia | W149597 | 10-in. | 12/11/1929 | Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there | Blind Willie Johnson | Male vocal solo, with guitar | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Columbia | W149598 | 10-in. | 12/11/1929 | Take your stand | Blind Willie Johnson | Male vocal solo, with guitar | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Columbia | W149599 | 10-in. | 12/11/1929 | God moves on the water | Blind Willie Johnson | Male vocal solo, with guitar | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Columbia | W150307 | 10-in. | 4/20/1930 | Can't nobody hide from God | Blind Willie Johnson | Male vocal solo, with guitar | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | |
Columbia | W150308 | 10-in. | 4/20/1930 | If it had not been for Jesus | Blind Willie Johnson | Male vocal solo, with guitar | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
Columbia | W150309 | 10-in. | 4/20/1930 | Go with me to that land | Blind Willie Johnson | Male vocal solo, with guitar | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Johnson, Blind Willie," accessed April 19, 2021, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110122.
Johnson, Blind Willie. (2021). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2021, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110122.
"Johnson, Blind Willie." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2021. Web. 19 April 2021.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Blind Willie Johnson
Discogs: Johnson, Blind Willie
Allmusic: Johnson, Blind Willie
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Johnson, Blind Willie - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no95053673
Wikidata: Blind Willie Johnson - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q712586
VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/264053857/
MusicBrainz: Blind Willie Johnson - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/8a14c00b-4779-44e4-9b2e-4cc9dcd92e9b
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