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Home , Come On In My Kitchen, From Four Until Late, Juke joint, Last Fair Deal Gone Down, Love in Vain, Robert Johnson

forever. music changed that 29 forever. music recorded changed that songs He 29 recorded He

Life Life

& & Legacy Legacy

Tour The Road to Fame A Date with Destiny The Road to Fame A Date with Destiny Tour

Early Life and Infl uences In July 1938, Johnson arrived in Greenwood, Missis- Early Life and Infl uences In July 1938, Johnson arrived in Greenwood, Missis- was born in Hazlehurst, Copiah sippi, to perform at a at the intersection of Robert Johnson was born in Hazlehurst, Copiah sippi, to perform at a juke joint at the intersection of County, , on May 8, 1911, to Julia Dodds Highways 82 and 49E. The juke joint was referred to County, Mississippi, on May 8, 1911, to Julia Dodds Highways 82 and 49E. The juke joint was referred to and Noah Johnson. Around 1918 they landed in the by locals as “Three Forks.” Johnson’s ongoing affair and Noah Johnson. Around 1918 they landed in the by locals as “Three Forks.” Johnson’s ongoing affair cotton-growing community of Robinsonville, with the wife of the man who ran the juke joint proved cotton-growing community of Robinsonville, with the wife of the man who ran the juke joint proved Mississippi, about thirty miles south of Memphis. to be his undoing. It is alleged that Johnson accepted Mississippi, about thirty miles south of Memphis. to be his undoing. It is alleged that Johnson accepted a drink that was sent to him, and he soon became ill a drink that was sent to him, and he soon became ill As a teenager, Johnson became interested in music and was no longer able to perform. As a teenager, Johnson became interested in music and was no longer able to perform. and began playing the harmonica. Later, he sought out and began playing the harmonica. Later, he sought out older musicians who could teach him the rudiments Early the next morning he was transported to his older musicians who could teach him the rudiments Early the next morning he was transported to his of . Against his family’s wishes, he followed room in the Baptist Town section of Greenwood. of guitar. Against his family’s wishes, he followed room in the Baptist Town section of Greenwood. local musicians , and There Johnson lingered for a number of weeks before local musicians Willie Brown, Son House and There Johnson lingered for a number of weeks before to parties, fi sh fries, and juke joints being moved to a tenant’s home on the Star of the Charley Patton to parties, fi sh fries, and juke joints being moved to a tenant’s home on the Star of the

around Robinsonville. West Plantation. Johnson succumbed on Tuesday, around Robinsonville. West Plantation. Johnson succumbed on Tuesday,

August 16,1938. He was twenty-seven years old. August 16,1938. He was twenty-seven years old.

Brown, House, and Patton would often belittle Brown, House, and Patton would often belittle

Johnson Johnson

Johnson’s inferior musical skills. More importantly, Johnson’s inferior musical skills. More importantly, Robert the raw intensity of House’s music greatly infl uenced Three Gravesites the raw intensity of House’s music greatly infl uenced Three Gravesites Robert Johnson’s style and repertoire. Over the years, three gravesites have been identifi ed Johnson’s style and repertoire. Over the years, three gravesites have been identifi ed for the bluesman. The most likely one, supported for the bluesman. The most likely one, supported by an eye-witness account, is the Little Zion by an eye-witness account, is the Little Zion Increased Popularity Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery about two Increased Popularity Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery about two In the early 1930s, Johnson left Robinsonville to miles north of Greenwood. According to witness In the early 1930s, Johnson left Robinsonville to miles north of Greenwood. According to witness return to Hazlehurst, where he met Ike Zinermon, Rose Eskridge, Johnson was buried in a simple return to Hazlehurst, where he met Ike Zinermon, Rose Eskridge, Johnson was buried in a simple who became his musical coach and mentor. pine box provided by Lefl ore County. Historian who became his musical coach and mentor. pine box provided by Lefl ore County. Historian Stephen LaVere erected a marker there in 2002. Stephen LaVere erected a marker there in 2002. Johnson’s musical abilities blossomed under Johnson’s musical abilities blossomed under Zinermon’s tutelage, and he incorporated much of Ike’s Zinermon’s tutelage, and he incorporated much of Ike’s music and style into his own. When Johnson returned music and style into his own. When Johnson returned to Robinsonville, Son House and Willie Brown were to Robinsonville, Son House and Willie Brown were astounded at the artistic development of his music. astounded at the artistic development of his music.

Over the next several years, as he performed at juke Over the next several years, as he performed at juke joints throughout the Mississippi and Arkansas Deltas, joints throughout the Mississippi and Arkansas Deltas, Johnson’s popularity spread to western Tennessee and Johnson’s popularity spread to western Tennessee and southern Mississippi. southern Mississippi.

Recording Sessions Recording Sessions In November 1936, the American Record Company In November 1936, the American Record Company took Johnson to , , to record some CONVENTIONtook Johnson to San Antonio, AND Texas, to record VISITORSsome BUREAU CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU of his songs. This session produced his most famous 662-453-9197of his songs. This session • produced www.visitgreenwood.com his most famous 662-453-9197 • www.visitgreenwood.com , “Terraplane .” The next June he was called 225 Howardsong, Street “.” The • next JuneGreenwood, he was called MS 38930 225 Howard Street • Greenwood, MS 38930 back to Texas where he recorded the masterpiece 662-453-9197back to Texas where he• recorded visitgreenwood.com the masterpiece 662-453-9197 • visitgreenwoodms.com “Hell Hound On My Trail.” A total of twenty-nine All information“Hell Hound On My Trail.” Ais total ofcurrent twenty-nine as of 4.27.16 All information is current as of 8.1.17 and subject to change without notice. and subject to change without notice. compositions were recorded in fi ve sessions. The compositions were recorded in fi ve sessions. The Vocalion label released twelve of Johnson’s songs. Originally located in 1973, Mount Zion M.B. Vocalion label released twelve of Johnson’s songs. Originally located in 1973, Mount Zion M.B. Church Cemetery near Morgan City is the site Church Cemetery near Morgan City is the site of the second effort to honor Robert Johnson. of the second effort to honor Robert Johnson. Below are those compositions in the order they were Below are those compositions in the order they were A one-ton obelisk was placed here in 1991 A one-ton obelisk was placed here in 1991

recorded: recorded:

by . by Columbia Records. England. in youth a as him inspired that music England. in youth a as him inspired that 1. 1. music

the for respect his pay to grave Johnson’s the for respect his pay to grave Johnson’s

visited Plant Robert 2009, of Fall the In visited Plant Robert 2009, of Fall the In

know? know?

you Did you Did

Payne Chapel M.B. Church at Quito is home to Payne Chapel M.B. Church at Quito is home to Johnson’s fi rst grave marker, placed in 1990 by Johnson’s fi rst grave marker, placed in 1990 by

2. an Atlanta rock band. 2. an Atlanta rock band.

Roll.” and Rock of “Grandfather Roll.” and Rock of “Grandfather

the him dubbed have and the him dubbed have and

devotees his among are others countless devotees his and among are others countless

•Kind Hearted Woman Blues • I Believe I’ll •Kind Hearted Woman Blues • I Believe I’ll Dust My Broom and

Stones, Rolling The Zeppelin, Led Clapton, Stones, Rolling The Eric Zeppelin, Led Clapton,

• Sweet Home • Ramblin’ On My Mind • • Ramblin’ On My Mind Eric

forever. music of course the changed that forever. music of songs course the changed that songs

• When You Got A Good Friend • • When You Got A Good Friend • Come On In My Kitchen

twenty-nine wrote and years twenty-seven twenty-nine wrote and years

• Terraplane Blues • Phonograph Blues • 32-20 Blues • Terraplane Blues • Phonograph Blues • 32-20 Blues twenty-seven

lived Johnson Robert Bluesman lived Johnson Robert • They’re Red Hot • Dead Shrimp Blues • • They’re Red Hot • Dead Shrimp Blues • Cross Road Blues Bluesman

• Walkin’ Blues • • Preachin’ • Walkin’ Blues • Last Fair Deal Gone Down • Preachin’ instrument. the on ability instrument. the on ability

unearthly an him giving guitar, his tuned unearthly an him giving guitar, his Blues (Up Jumped The Devil) • If I Had Possession Over Blues (Up Jumped The Devil) • If I Had Possession Over tuned

devil the exchange, In soul. mortal his to devil the exchange, In soul. mortal his Judgment Day • Stones In My Passway • I’m a Steady Judgment Day • Stones In My Passway • I’m a Steady to

claim lay to upon called and claim lay to Satan upon called

Rollin’ Man • • Hell Hound On My Rollin’ Man • From Four Until Late • Hell Hound On My and

midnight, of stroke the at crossroads a to midnight, of stroke the at crossroads a

Trail • Little Queen Of Spades • Malted Milk • Drunken After years of uncertainty, Robert Johnson’s Trail • Little Queen Of Spades • Malted Milk • Drunken After years of uncertainty, Robert Johnson’s to

walked Johnson Robert legend, to walked According Johnson Robert legend, to Hearted Man • Me And The Devil Blues • Stop Breakin’ fi nal resting place at Little Zion M.B. Church Hearted Man • Me And The Devil Blues • Stop Breakin’ fi nal resting place at Little Zion M.B. Church According in Lefl ore County was determined by interviews in Lefl ore County was determined by interviews

Down Blues • Traveling Riverside Blues • Honeymoon Blues Down Blues • Traveling Riverside Blues • Honeymoon Blues Johnson Robert by Blues Road –Cross Johnson Robert by Blues Road

3. with burial eyewitness Rose Eskridge. 3. with burial eyewitness Rose Eskridge. –Cross please” you if Bob, poor save mercy, “Have above Lord the please” you if Bob, poor asked save mercy, “Have above Lord the

• Blues • Milkcow’s Calf Blues • Love In Vain Blues • Milkcow’s Calf Blues asked

knees my on down fell crossroad, the to went I knees my on down fell crossroad, the to went I

Page 1 - Image derived by Megan Slaughter of the Robert Johnson photo booth self-portrait, Page 1 - Image derived by Megan Slaughter of the Robert Johnson photo booth self-portrait, Crossroads the at Crossroads Legend the at early 1930s, © 1986 Delta Haze Corporation, All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission.ARC early 1930s, © 1986 Delta Haze Corporation, All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission.ARC Legend label and sleeves, courtesy Delta Haze Corporation record archive; Grave marker photos 1 and 2 label and sleeves, courtesy Delta Haze Corporation record archive; Grave marker photos 1 and 2 by Britt Hammons; marker number 3 by Tom Joynt; photo of by Kelly Rayeski by Britt Hammons; marker number 3 by Tom Joynt; photo of Robert Plant by Kelly Rayeski 1 Baptist Town 6 Final resting place Greenwood Little Zion M.B. Church Cemetery 33.518835, -90.174960 33.56261, -90.21538 Robert Johnson rented a small room or “crib” off Young Early on the morning of Wednesday, August 17, 1938, Street in Baptist Town in the summers of 1937 and 1938. Tom Eskridge was summoned by plantation owner Luther Baptist Town was a safe haven for bluesmen and was Wade to prepare a grave. According to eyewitness Rose named after the large wooden McKinney M.B. Church Eskridge, it was here around noon that words were said that still stands today. over bluesman Robert Johnson, and he was laid to rest.

2 Tommy McClennan’s Home 207 East McLaurin Street, Greenwood 33.5133758, -90.1729058 Detail from a 1930s map of the Star of the West Plantation shows the residence of Bluesman Tommy McClennan’s home was the hub of Tom and Rose Eskridge (blue circle) and the tenant house (red circle) in which Robert Johnson died. Rose Eskridge, witness to the burial and longtime cook for the plantation activity for local musicians during the summers of 1937 owner, died in 2006 and is also buried in the Little Zion Cemetery. and 1938. The circle of friends included Robert Johnson, Honeyboy Edwards, Hound Dog Taylor and . The original house is gone, having been replaced by a newer structure. “Jesus of Nazareth, King of Jerusalem. I know that my 3 Dixie Theater redeemer liveth and that he will call me from the grave” 312 East Johnson Street, Greenwood Written in Johnson’s own hand, this deathbed conversion 33.53820, -90.22807 was saved among family papers and served as their Now Kornfeld’s Department Store warehouse, this consolation that his life had not been lived in vain. building still has the sloped fl oor and bolts from the original cinema seating. Johnson and his lady friend Sites Once Considered Relevant attended movies at this segregated theater in 1938. This 1930s view shows the Dixie Theater (arrow) at 312 East Johnson Street. At that (It should be noted that Blues Empress 7 Three Forks Store / Quito time the Columbus and Greenville Railway separated Johnson Street from parallel performed for a mixed-race audience here in 1932.) 33.26548, -90.17999 Carrollton Avenue. While the view remains much the same today, the 711 service station was removed in the 1960s and the two-story building on the left was destroyed Located in 1973 based on an earlier published interview by fi re in the early 2000s. 4 Juke Joint behind Fort Pemberton Store with Honeyboy Edwards, this was long thought to be the Intersection of Highway 49 and Highway 82, location where Robert Johnson played his last engage- Greenwood ment and was poisoned. The building, which bore a sign 33.53272, -90.23965 “Three Forks Store,” no longer exists. It was in the early Colloquially known as “Three Forks,” it was here in July 1990s that Edwards clarifi ed the actual location. 1938 that Robert Johnson played his last engagement on a double bill with Honeyboy Edwards. Purportedly 8 Robert Johnson memorial obelisk poisoned by the jealous husband of his lady friend, Mt. Zion M.B. Church Cemetery, near Morgan City Johnson was taken in the early morning hours to his 33.23531, -90.18586 room in Baptist Town. Also located in 1973, this cemetery was long thought to be the burial place of Robert Johnson and was so marked 5 Death location with a memorial obelisk in 1991 by Columbia Records. The only known photograph of the Fort Pemberton Store was made during the fl ood of Star of the West Plantation 1932. This view looks west from the intersection of U.S. 49E and 82. The store is the 33.53825, -90.22811 9 Robert Johnson memorial grave marker white building. The juke joint is believed to be the darker building behind the store. Sought and found by female fans in his room in Payne Chapel M.B. Church Cemetery, Quito The man is standing on the concrete slab of Highway 82 inspecting erosion as fl ood- waters from the Tallahatchie River run across the highways to the Yazoo River. Baptist Town, Johnson was transported to their father’s 33.26446, -90.18218 home on this large plantation just north of Greenwood. In 1990, Atlanta rock band The Tombstones received Despite their care, it was here on Tuesday, August 16, inaccurate information that led them to install the fi rst 1938, that Johnson died of complications resulting from Robert Johnson memorial marker here. the poisoning. “A little past noontime, a ‘jake-leg’ preacher said some words Page 2 -Matchbook covers courtesy Donny Whitehead; map of Star of the West Plantation courtesy Wade family; photos of Johnson Street and Fort Pemberton Store courtesy Allan Hammons over his body and we committed his soul to the earth.” – Rose Eskridge on the burial of Robert Johnson

R Mississippi Blues Clarksdale 54 miles E I-55 / Grenada Tunica 89 miles Money I V 33 miles R Trail Marker Sites A Memphis B H For driving directions and history, visit msbluestrail.org S 130 miles G 6 U H Yalobusha B J LO River A A WGRM Y Mississippi John Hurt 222 Howard Street, 33.519635, -90.18254 5 Marker 11 miles See inset 4 B Robert Johnson Gravesite Little Zion MB Church, 33.563108, -90.215355 I R E A F Money Road V E H I C R C Elks Lodge 106 East Scott Street, 33.511773, -90.17429 O O

ITTA Z I-55 & Winona 24 miles

A GREENWOOD 430 Y Tallahatchie River BENA R Jackson 111 miles D B.B. King’s Birthplace o

e

b

CR 513 & CR 305, 33.438985, -90.373363 u

c

k

L 55 a k E Hubert Sumlin Berclair e 12th Street at River Road Extended Greenville Grenada - 33 miles Grand Boulevard 49E 33.518302, -90.204813 50 miles Rising Sun 7 Blackhawk F Baptist Town 9 18 miles D 200 Short Street, 33.438985, -90.17496 Quito

82 G Guitar Slim Salem M.B. Church, CR 101 Downtown Greenwood 82 33.558991,-90.236925Park Avenue 49E I Ione SIDON Grenada Blvd.

ve. H Furry Lewis A rne 8 Yazoo River ibo Lamar & Carrollton Avenue, Cla Sheppardtown t McLemore Wes Lamar George Jackson e Walthall 33.517345,-90.177026W. Claiborn Cotton Belzoni 16 miles er 96 miles Riv F A Main 1 River Rd. Ext. W. Market Mary Young I Blues Deejays Pearl Washington H venue llton Carrollton A Ave. H Ave. I Church rro Ave. F Ave. G 503 Ione Street /Strong Ave. Ca YA Browning Road ZO Reuben HughesLeflore Street Ave. Johnson O Henry 3 Elm R Ave. M Ave. I GibbsHoward V 33.525494,-90.163998 Fulton McLaurin E C R Scott 55CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU J Mississippi John Hurt 2 Broad 7 Winona - 24225662-453-9197 miles Howard Street • •www.visitgreenwood.com Greenwood, MS 38930 CR 41, near Teoc, MississippiGarrard ther Kin g Drive Martin Lu 82 662-453-9197 • visitgreenwoodms.com 33.629678, -90.037723 Greenwood-Leflore 7 Airport - 6 miles April 2016 82 430

Cypress St. Industrial Park 49E

Sycamore St.

1 .5 .25 0 Eastman

Scale in Miles Baldwin Road