Robert Lockwood, Jr. One of the last surviving roots bluesman of the twentieth century. Robert Lockwood Jr. was born March 27, 1915 in Turkey Scratch, Arkansas, a farming hamlet about 25 miles west of Helena. 1915 was remarkable because several other monumental blues artists were born within a 100-mile radius that year; notably Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Little Walter Jacobs, Memphis Slim, Johnny Shines, and Honeyboy Edwards. They would all meet up in the future. His first musical lessons were on the family pump organ. He learned the guitar, at age eleven, from Robert Johnson, the mysterious delta bluesman, who was living with his mother. From Johnson, Lockwood learned chords, timing, and stage presence. By the age of fifteen, Robert was playing professionally, often with Johnson; sometimes with Johnny Shines or Rice Miller, who would soon be calling himself Sonny Boy Williamson II. They would play fish fries, juke joints, and street corners. Once Johnson played one side of the Sunflower River, while Lockwood manned the other bank. The people of Clarksville, Mississippi were milling around the bridge; they couldn’t tell which guitarist was Robert Johnson. Young Lockwood had learned Johnson’s techniques very well. Johnson’s fast lifestyle caught up with him, passing away in 1937. Lockwood was 22 but prepared for the future. Lockwood’s first recordings came in 1941, with Doc Clayton, on his famous Bluebird Sessions in Aurora, Illinois. During these sessions, he cut four singles under his own name. These were the first incarnations of “Take A Little Walk with Me”, and “Little Boy Blue,” Lockwood staples sixty years later. Later in 1941, Lockwood was back in Arkansas where he re-united with Sonny Boy II to host a live radio program broadcast at noon from KFFA in Helena, sponsored by the King Biscuit Flower Company. James “Peck” Curtis and Dudlow Taylor provided the rhythm. This show became a cultural phenomenon; everybody would listen during his or her lunch hour. Several generations of southern bluesman can trace their musical roots to the show. Lockwood moved around, the usual route was Memphis, St. Louis, to Chicago. By the early 1950’s, he had surfaced in the Windy City, where he became the top session man for Chess Records, the epitome of blues labels. Sonny Boy Williamson II, Little Walter, Roosevelt Sykes, Sunnyland Slim, and Eddie Boyd, whom he toured with for six years, you can hear his smooth chords on their recordings. Blues was giving way to Rock and Roll, even in Chicago, so Lockwood moved to Cleveland, Ohio at the urging of his old pal, Sonny Boy. Settling down and raising a family took priorities but blues was still in his soul, just on the back burner. In the late 1960s Lockwood would gig all around Cleveland, playing whenever he got the chance. Long-forgotten clubs like Pirates Cove and Brothers Lounge were places where Lockwood taught his blues to generations of local musicians and fans. Lockwood’s solo recording career, exclusive of the 1941 Bluebird Sessions, began in 1970 with Delmark’s Steady Rollin’ Man, backed by old friends Louis Myers, his brother Dave Myers, and Fred Below, collectively known as The Aces. In 1972, Lockwood hooked up with famed musicologist, Pete Lowry to record Contrasts, the first of two for Trix Records. Does 12 followed in 1975. They have been remastered and repackaged by Fuel 2000 Records. In the early 1980s Lockwood teamed up with another long-time friend, Johnny Shines, to record three albums for Rounder, which has been comprised into 1999’s Just the Blues. Plays Robert and Robert, a Black and Blue recording of a solo show in Paris in 1982, was re-issued on Evidence in 1993. From the early 1980s to 1996, there were no domestic Lockwood releases. In 1998, I’ve Got to Find Myself a Woman was released by Verve, gaining a Grammy nomination. This was followed by Telarc’s Delta Crossroads, also a Grammy contender in 2000. In 2001, What’s the Score was re-issued on Lockwood Records which has the rights to his Japanese live recordings, previously only available on Peavine. They will be a future project. In the last twenty years, the Blues world has recognized Lockwood’s contributions to the genre. Recently, Lockwood has amassed so many that it is not possible to list all of them. The most notable are: 1980  Lockwood receives the very first W.C. Handy Award for “best traditional blues album” 1989  Inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame 1995  Received National Heritage Fellowship Award, presented by Hilary Clinton 1996  Cleveland Mayor, Michael White, proclaims February 3, as “Robert Lockwood Day” 1997  Has street named “Robert Lockwood, Jr. Way” in Cleveland’s Flat District 1998  Inducted into Delta Blues Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Mississippi 2001  Received Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Case Western Reserve in Cleveland 2001  Received W.C. Handy for “best traditional blues album,” Delta Crossroads 2001  City of Pittsburgh named 8/18 “Robert Lockwood, Jr. Day” 2002  Received honorary Degree of "Doctor of Music" from Cleveland State University on 5/12 Not content to rest on his laurels, Lockwood is touring more than ever at age 86. Lockwood leads an eight-piece band every Wednesday at Fat Fish Blue in Cleveland, roams the world playing his jazz-tinted Delta Blues, and records once a year. Lockwood is in better mental and physical shape than many men years younger. His guitar playing is as crisp as ever. Like a fine French cognac, he is only getting better with age; no dust, rust or must here. Maurice Reedus E.L. Tenor saxophonist, Vocalist, comedian and Master of Ceremony Appeared with Vocalists such as Nancy Wilson, Dionne Warrick, Mary wells, Della Reese, Lou Rawles, Billy Ekstein, and Arthur Prysock. Appeared with Musicians: Robert Lockwood, Jr., Sonny Stitt, Hank Marr, Jimmy Smith, Red Holloway, Jimmy Garrett, Lone Woods, Eddie Backus, Roland Kirk, Bull Moose Jackson and Johnny Shines. Also appeared with Motown Band. Toured areas such as Canada, Europe, and Japan. Augustus "Bro Gus" Hawkins Tenor Sax, Alto Sax, Saphoro Sax and Flute. 1964: First band, the Futuretones. Local DJ as Tenor Sax. House band for the Circle Ball Room. Also, Leos Casino backing recording artists The O'Jays. Johnny Nash, The Coasters, Lou Rawls and Marvin Gay to name a few. 1966: Band leader for Edwin Starr and also the Soul Agents...a Show band touring the USA and abroad. 1970: Leader of the S.O.U.L. Band. Recorded two albums: "What It Is" and "Can You Feel It". Presently: With Robert Lockwood Jr. and the Allstars band. Touring the USA, Norway, Canada , France and other countries. Charles D. Carnes aka D.C. Professional Guitarist for over two decades performing Latin Rhythms, Jazz, the Funk, Rock & Roll and Blues. Performed with Robert Lockwood, Jr., Buddy Miles Express, Universe Band & Show, Acapulco Band, Little Big Band, Son Seals Band, Jerry Shirley, The Schwartz Brothers and Honeyboy Edwards. Was leader of his band, D.C. & the Continentals opening for acts such as Rare Earth and the late Albert Collins. Jimmy "Gator" Hoare Drummer and Vocalist supplying the music listening audience for over 30 years with great rhythmic sounds. Performed with Robert Lockwood, Jr., The Chosen Few, Checkered Demon, Moondreams, Spectrum, Jimmy Ley, Cleveland Blues Ensemble, Jimmy Landers Blues Co., Hollywood Slim, Wallace Coleman, Jimmy Garrett and Neal Creque. Recorded with Robert Lockwood, Jr., Neal Creque, Joe Lewis Walker, B.B. King, Jimmy Ley, Spectrum, Moondreams, Wallace Coleman, Johnny Shines, and Pete Cavano. Co-wrote music and performed in Karamu Theatre Productions, No Exit, Celestrial Harmonics and USA Bicentenial Celebration Tour US Virgin Island. Gene Schwartz Bass Player, the man behind the "Steady Rolling Man" has been with Robert Lockwood, Jr. for over 20 years. Robert Young aka "Red Top" A master of the keyboards and vocalist whose own style and flair spans a wide variety of music such as light rock, country western, oldies but goodies, disco, top 40, jazz and the blues. Worked with such entertainment greats as Robert Lockwood, Jr., Quincy Jones, Jerry Lee Lewis, Lloyd Price, Bill Haley and the Comets, Little Richard, The Coasters, Fats Domino, The Platters and Frankie Avalon. Leader of his own band "Red Top and The Young Family" were considered to be one of the most versatile bands in the business. These multi-talented musicians sing, play, write and arrange music and knew how to please any crowd. The band of talented musicians toured all over the United States.