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On March 6th at
Harlem's Apollo Theater there was a musical tribute to
Robert Johnson, the Delta bluesman who died in 1938. He had
recorded only 29 songs including "Sweet Home Chicago".
This sold-out evening was a fundraiser to assist with the
building of the Blues Hall of Fame by the Blues Foundation
in
Memphis, Tenn.
Some twenty artists performed and these included Elvis
Costello, The Roots, Sam Moore, Chuck D, Pedrito Matinez
Group,
Living Color, Taj Mahal, Macy Gray and Shemika Copeland
to name a few.
Johnson influenced all subsequent rock music including
The Beatles and The Rolling Stones in the 60's.
The event was filmed by Albert Maysles and Bradley Kaplan,
president of Maysles Films, for a documentary film on the
blues being produced by Patricia Watt and Joe Morton. Soon
they will be visiting the Mississippi Delta to search out
the origin of the Blues. When the film is completed, it
will be shown at Film Festivals throughout the world.
Drawings & Story by: Andrew Wargo
Andrew@blacktiemagazine.com
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