ROBERT JOHNSON TRIO
Robert Johnson has a diverse musical background. His father could pick-up any instrument and play it, and was an especially good honky-tonk piano player. Robert has two uncles: one sang opera and teaches music in New York, the other was a big-band leader during WWII. As a young boy, Robert was exposed to the varying sounds of Mozart, Johann Strauss, Hank Williams, Marty Robbins, and Lead Belly, the Beach Boys and Motown. He played piano, drums, and a couple horns; he sang in the church choir. As an adolescent, Robert had the fortune of encountering famous Detroit bluesman Willie D. Warren and Robert Noll, both whom mesmerized him with traditional blues. Robert became a devout fan of Muddy Waters. After learning the history of the great Delta Bluesman Robert Johnson (same name, no relation or religious affiliation), a chance meeting with James Brown, and attending a BB King concert, the young man knew what he wanted to do with his life: play the blues.
Robert taught himself the rudiments of guitar, by copying Muddy and BB. Then, fortune smiled again and brought him directly under the mentorship of the great bluesman Robert Noll.
The sound is not unlike other country blues. Robert's voice is backed via a driving shuffle driven by a slap double bass, infused with a meaningful call and response melody, answered with harmonica and guitar solos.
To hear some song by Robert Johnson go to:
For booking information email David Beadle at
This will be an evening you'll talk about for years to come.