The Robert Johnson Commemorative Plaque at the Gunter Hotel
On this day in 1936, the legendary bluesman, Robert Johnson, made his recording debut in room 414 of the Gunter Hotel in San Antonio, Texas – one of only two recording sessions he would make in his short life, but whose sounds would ignite the entire post-war world, and – as the so-called devil’s music did its stellar work – signified the final stages of the re-paganising of Christendom.
An alternative "On This Day", On This Deity aims to bring light to and celebrate Culture Heroes, Outsider Icons, Beloved Immortals and Revolutionary Events in history.
Disclaimer: These are spirited and informed opinion pieces. Photos have been credited wherever possible, which hasn’t often been the case. Please contact me (via Comments) if you are the photographer of any pictures used by On This Deity and would like your photo to be credited or removed.
For a great book on Robert and the mythologizing of the blues, check out ‘Escaping The Delta’ by Elijah Wald. It not only justifies Robert’s musical legacy, but explains why he and his predecessors were ignored by their contemporary audiences, yet heralded by the pioneers of rock n roll.