Robert Lockwood
Robert Lockwood Jr., also known as "Robert Junior" Lockwood, was an influential American Delta blues guitarist born on March 27, 1915, in Turkey Scratch, Arkansas. He passed away on November 21, 2006, in Cleveland, Ohio. Lockwood was a pioneering figure in the blues genre, recognized for his unique jazz-tinted style and his role in the development of electric blues.
Lockwood's early musical education came from the legendary bluesman Robert Johnson, who lived with Lockwood's mother for a decade. This mentorship deeply influenced Lockwood's guitar playing, timing, and stage presence, earning him the nickname "Robert Junior" Lockwood. By the age of 15, Lockwood was performing professionally in the Mississippi Delta, often collaborating with notable musicians such as Sonny Boy Williamson II and Johnny Shines.
In the late 1930s, Lockwood played in various locations, including St. Louis, Chicago, and Helena, Arkansas. He made his first recordings in 1941 for the Bluebird label, and his songs like "Little Boy Blue" and "Take a Little Walk with Me" became staples in his repertoire.
Lockwood's career flourished as he moved to Chicago in the 1950s, where he worked as a session guitarist for Chess Records. He played alongside blues legends such as Muddy Waters and Little Walter and continued his collaboration with Sonny Boy Williamson II. In the 1960s, Lockwood relocated to Cleveland, Ohio, where he established himself as a bandleader and recording artist, performing regularly at local clubs.
Lockwood's contributions to the blues were recognized with numerous accolades, including induction into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Delta Blues Hall of Fame in 1998. He received honorary doctorates from Case Western Reserve University in 2001 and Cleveland State University in 2002. Throughout his career, Lockwood was celebrated for his innovative approach to blues music, leaving a lasting legacy in the genre.