Brother Robert by Annye C. Anderson If you are looking for a Read about the musician and some insight into his career this is not the book for you. However, if you would like some first hand insight into the day to day life of urban blacks in the South in the 30's this is a great read. Quite frankly, you could replace Robert Johnson with anyone else and it would make little to no difference in this narrative. The story is told from the perspective of a much younger sibling with an obvious case of hero- worship for an older brother who treated her kindly. Mrs. Anderson, as she insists on being called with the quiet dignity rarely seen in todays modern world,discounts the words of Johnsons contemporaries such as Son House, Honeyboy Edwards and Johnny Shines, the latter two being sometimes traveling partners of Johnson but does clarify with " I didn't keep him in my pocket" a phrase she uses often in relation to her step-brother meaning she didn't know about anything that happened when she wasn't with him. The second half of the book deals with the surviving sisters being cheated out of Johnsons legacy and estate by unscrupulous record producers and the legal battles that ensued, showing that it is not only the crimminal legal system that treats black Americans unfairly but the entire American Judicial system. All in All a very good and fast read but not much to do with the Musician other than his legacy and the legal battles that surrounded it.

REVIEW -Elvin Bishop & Charlie Musselwhite - 100 Years Of Blues

Elvin Bishop & Charlie Musselwhite - 100 Years Of Blues Pour yourself a glass of sweet tea, or something stronger if you're so inclined and sit back for a visit to how it used to be when folks gathered on the porch and pulled out a guitar and harp and played for the sheer joy of playing. Elvin Bishop's playing is superb, understated the perfect compliment to Musselwhites amazing harp chops. The man is simply the best harp player since Little Walter. The exchange of musical ideas, never playing over each other but perfectly blending guitar and harmonica is magical. If you don't have this one in your collection yet, run don't walk to your neighborhood record store and grab you a copy, then sit back and enjoy a trip back to where the Blues came from with these legendary Bluesmen.

REVIEW - Shemekia Copeland - Uncivil War

Shemekia Copeland - Uncivil War As the daughter of legendary Texas Bluesman Johnny Copeland, Ms. Copelands Blues Creds are immpecable.However, in Uncivil War, her 2020 release, she shows she is much more than a one trick pony. She covers everything from blues to gospel to bluegrass and even a Stones classic given her own personal stamp. The Albums Title Track has that old timey bluegrass feel to it, while Walk Until I ride is straight up Gospel and her cover of Under My Thumb is straight out of Motown. All in All Ms. Copeland proves with this Album that she is not just a Blues vocalist even though that's where her pedigree lies. She is a vocalist similar to Billie Holiday or Etta James who can sing the dictionary to you and make you glad she did. If you are looking for a straight up Blues album you'd be better served with one of her earlier releases like Outskirts of Love or the 2000 release Wicked, but if you want a show stopping vocal performance across a range of genres this is the album for you.