The Robert Johnson Collection

It's easiest to compile all the posts into one to help others when seeking out the information (especially me!).  Click on the titles to visit the stories!  If I get more posts about Robert Johnson, I'll share those links below as well.

PLANNING THE TRIP - details about why the trip was necessary to me.

LEG 1 - Leaving and Living - Stopping at a few proposed "crossroads" and the Jim Henson Boyhood Museum.

LEG 3 and 2a - Emmett Till and Leaving Leland - I wanted to share Leg 3 first, about Emmitt Till because he deserved more story.  Then, I went back to share Leg 2a and the trip after leaving Leland.

LEG 2b - Dusty Roads and Headstones - visiting Charley Patton, Willie Foster, BB King, and Robert Johnson.

That marks the end of that trip.

ROBERT JOHNSON - Living in Memphis. 

This is the story about his life in Memphis and locating the houses where he lived at the time, based on the book Brother Robert by Ms. Annie Anderson, his sister.

Delta Blues Trip plans for Saturday 7/18/2020

All my life, I've been a HUGE blues fan, and my dream vacation is to start in the Mississippi Delta and travel the Blues Highway all the way to Chicago, hitting every single blues joint along the way and try the different "best" foods in those areas.

In June 2020, I decided just to look up the location where Robert Johnson is buried.  I was really surprised to see that the graveyard is only 2.5 hours outside of Memphis, TN!  And then, it happened: I began researching his paths in life, and looked up the crossroads-es (there's more than one possibility) and planned to make my trip on Saturday 7/18/2020!

Overnight from July 14 - 15, something happened.  As I laid there trying to sleep, I woke to a visitation of a dark shadowy figure - VERY oppressive energy.  This isn't the first time such an event has happened to me (honestly, it's becoming a non-event nowadays); but, there was another figure there with me.  I called on the name of Jesus, I called for Archangel Michael, and the oppressive figure dissipated, the second one calmly just faded away.  I think it should be noted that the last song in my mind as I went to bed was "Hellhound on my Trail."

I finally fell asleep again, and there was calm.  And some thoughts began to enter my mind and I'll share more on a different day; but, one ties into this trip so I'll share it here:

I think the crossroads weren't an actual location to visit and meet the devil.  After all, he says in the first lines, "I went to the crossroad, fell down on my knees, asked the Lord above, "Have mercy now, save poor Bob if you please."  The rest of the song is that he's stranded, stuck in an area of life that he can't get out of - nobody there, not even a woman.  "Crossroads"* represents a needed change in his life, not a physical location.

However, even knowing that, I do plan to visit the THREE sites for the expected Crossroads:

Highways 61 & 49 in Clarksdale, MS,
Highways 1 & 8 in Rosedale, MS (which Robert Johnson sings about) (Hwy 8 runs past Dockery Farms),
and just south of Dockery Farms, down a dirt road, past a cemetery, at Lusk and Walker Roads.  (Dockery Farms is important because Robert Johnson spent a lot of time there.)

Just to point out: Robert Johnson sings about Vicksburg, MS, which is the lowest point on the map that he sings about, and Memphis, TN, where he lived a while and is the highest point on the map that he sings about.  Rosedale, MS, falls right in the middle of the two cities.  So, if the legend (which is all it is, I think) were true, it could be that Rosedale IS the crossroads - he did travel the river roads often.

Back to the trip, We're leaving out of Memphis, TN, at 8 am, and headed first to the Clarksdale, MS, Crossroads.  Then, down to Highways 1 & 8 in Rosedale, MS, and then next door to Leland, MS, to visit the Jim Henson Boyhood Museum!

After that, we're making a trip to visit the grave of Charley Patton (Grandfather of the Blues), B.B. King, and Robert Johnson.  That will be followed by a trip to the historical marker of Emmett Till - for whom my heart still cries - and a return trip to Memphis, TN.

Trip photos to come, and Robert Johnson musings, and more.

- - - -

*The reason I used this version of Crossroad Blues is because I agree with the guy who slowed the music down and it sounds less high-pitched vocally or 'quick' on the music.  This sounds like a real bluesman's voice to  me!  The recorded version was made in the 1930s, and the machine back then may not have played at a proper RPM and so it sounds sped up.  Here's the original recording CLICK HERE.

Minnie the Moocher

There is a great series of songs by Cab Calloway based around Minnie the Moocher and Smokey Joe characters which he sings about.  Back in my college days (1990 - 1993 or so), I was a student at Northwest Mississippi Community College (which I consider one of the better colleges out there).  My friends and I had a habit of going out to this park at night where we'd get on the swings and we'd sing songs.  One of our favorites to cover was Minnie the Moocher.

I first learned about Cab Calloway and this song via The Blues Brothers movie.  As a matter of fact, most of what I learned about music as a kid was because of The Blues Brothers.  I never paid attention to anything that wasn't Muppets, Snoopy, or Disney until I saw them bouncing around on Saturday Night Live to the song Soul Man.  But, I digress...

When The Blues Brothers are supposed to perform their major fund-raiser for their childhood home and orphanage, and time needs to be bought to get them to the stage, Curtis, the old janitor of the orphanage, asks the band, "Do you know Minnie the Moocher?"

And the curtains open to a heckuva spectacular:



But, it begins much earlier in the time-line of music history than that 1980 film.





He performed it live at The Apollo:

Here is Cab Calloway in his early 80's performing in the late 80's:




Even Betty Boop got into the Minnie the Moocher act!

Ghostbusters Has a Blue Ray

A blue brother in the Ghostbusters' ranks.  #Ghostbusters30

Gimme Stacks of Stax!

Everyone knows my favorite music is the Blues; but, you can't get into Blues and not enjoy that great sound that came out of Memphis from Stax Recording Studios.  If you're ever in Memphis, be sure to go to the Stax Museum!

My friend, Joe Frietze, has shared a recent link with an interview of Booker T. Jones of "Booker T. and the MGs".  Click here to hear that (but, be ready because the podcast has more cussing there than when I'm driving in traffic, though not during the Booker T interview).

This reminds me of a time when I was younger, back in the early 2000's, and was invited to a recording studio in town where a guy who once had the job of mixing recordings at Stax.  I won't give names because I don't know if it would get anybody in trouble, and I don't want them bothered. 

But, I didn't know what laid before me that day.  I still get weepy when I tell the story in person, too.

I was given a tour of the recording studio and the guy explained that, "back when I worked at Stax, we had these tapes on tracks and I could mix from any track, silence most of them, or listen to one individually.  I kept one tape that was never mixed down which I'll share with you in a bit."

So, after looking at those different collections, I was led into a recording studio.  There were microphones, speakers, a drum set...behind me was the big window and you could see the table and the machinery on which music is recorded, mixed, and played.  "Stand here on this spot, face the drums, and close your eyes for a minute."

I did.  He went to the booth and then, from those massive speakers came some music and a voice, "okay, okay, let's play it like this."  I recognized the voice and my heart began to beat fast.  Some music, and then some singing.

It was the voice of Otis Redding, and his smooth vocals were right there in that room with me.  Right in front of me!  And as I'm listening to him sing the music slowly fades and there is just the voice of Otis.  My eyes are closed, and I focus solely on that moment, that voice, that talent and am overwhelmed with emotion.

Tears flowed at that beautiful moment, one that to this day is still so special that I feel the warmth of a bittersweet happiness and emotion when I  think of that story.

Otis Redding.  What a talent, cut short, and just fantastic to have had that story in my life to tell.

Enjoy these links:

 

Of coure, there's this tune that is part of the intro to the Blues Brothers:

So, what's this supposed to be about?

The first thing that is going to make many people skip this entire blog is the fact that there is no Muley the Mule.  Why?  Because this is my blog.  It is about anything I do that doesn't have any connection to Muley other than that I am doing it.  If you want to read more Muley stuff, you can find TONS of information at his original website:

or on the website for the upcoming television program:

And, so, now back to me. 

I have ideas, thoughts, opinions, and you can bet that along the way I will contradict myself.  I am not well-informed, but what bit of information I do have you can bet I have an opinion of it.  I'm going to write things that will be innocent as a butterfly along with things that are going to make you hate me; but, if you stick with me long enough I will also add something that will make you happy again.

What are you going to read about here?  Everything.  I plan to use this blog as a place to post my random thoughts about topics, or just goobley-goop stuff--yes, I have attention deficit and you're going to read those posts as well.

So, who is the guy writing this?  Nobody special.  I'm just a regular guy like you (unless you're a gal), and I have many things I love to collect, watch, read, and more:

Obviously, I love my Muley work and any work I do where I have a creative hand in things, such as the fabulous graphic novel series of Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa and Turra: Gun Angel spin-off comics.

My four main fanatic loves:  Muppets, Peanuts, Ghostbusters, Blues Brothers
Heroes always include Charles Schulz, Jim Henson, Dan Aykroyd, and Hank Ketcham

Charles Schulz, Jim Henson, Hank Ketcham, Dan Aykroyd, family and pets.

Next: Dennis the Menace, Old Comedians (Laurel & Hardy, Abbot & Costello, Three Stooges)
The rest:  is history...

I love cartooning, puppetry, blues and Memphis Soul music, paranormal research, reading, writing, and most of all spending time with my friends or family any chance I get. 

I love food, cooking, and discovering new things.  I love Jesus and the concept of religion, but don't plan on being preachy.

I love fun.  Just being silly, stupid, making jokes, funny pranks, funny videos.

I hate housework, traffic, and mean people.  And Mondays (unless we're off for holiday).

So, I hope you are ready to play along.  Feel free to make comments to the posts, although I may not always read them.  You can feel free to write me through the blog website, or I can be reached at:

KEVIN L. WILLIAMS PRODUCTIONS
PO BOX 770397
MEMPHIS, TN 38177-03979

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