Blind Willie Johnson

Blind Willie Johnson
Only known photograph of Johnson
Background information
Also known as	Blind Willie, Blind Texas Marlin, The Blind Pilgrim
Born	(1897-01-25)January 25, 1897 Pendleton, Texas, United States
Died	September 18, 1945(1945-09-18) (aged 48) Beaumont, Texas, U.S.
Genres	Gospel gospel blues
Occupation(s)	Musician preacher
Instruments	Guitar vocals
Years active	1920s–1945
Notable instruments
Stella guitar

Blind Willie Johnson (January 25, 1897 – September 18, 1945) was an American gospel blues singer-guitarist and evangelist. His landmark recordings completed between 1927 and 1930—thirty songs in total—display a combination of powerful "chest voice" singing, slide guitar skills, and originality that has influenced later generations of musicians. Even though Johnson's records sold well, as a street performer and preacher he had little wealth in his lifetime. His life was poorly documented and open to speculation; however, over time music historians such as Samuel Charters have uncovered more about Johnson and his five recording sessions.

Johnson's music experienced a revival which began in the 1960s following his inclusion on Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music, and the efforts of blues guitarist Reverend Gary Davis. Over time, Johnson's work has become more accessible through compilation albums such as Blind Willie Johnson 1927–1930 and The Complete Willie Johnson, both spearheaded by Charters. As a result, Johnson is credited as one of the most influential practitioners of the blues and his slide guitar playing, particularly on his hymn "Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground", is highly acclaimed. Other recordings by Johnson include "Jesus Make Up My Dying Bed", "It's Nobody's Fault but Mine", and "John the Revelator".

Johnson was born on January 25, 1897, in Pendleton, Texas, a small town near Waco, to sharecropper George Johnson (also identified as Willie Johnson Sr.) and his wife Mary Fields, who died in 1901. His family, which according to blues historian Steven Calt included at least one younger brother named Carl, moved to the agriculturally rich community of Marlin, where Johnson spent most of his childhood. There, the Johnson family attended church—most likely the Marlin Missionary Baptist Church—every Sunday, a practice which had a lasting impact on Johnson and fueled his desire to be ordained as a Baptist minister. When Johnson was five years old, his father bestowed upon him his first instrument—a cigar box guitar.