Johann, Something I shared on Robert Johnson. Blog post: http://roscoereporting.blogspot.com/2020/06/in-search-of-blues-legend-robert-l.html Video:
Read your blog post and watched the video, Roscoe. I'm a fan - both of your reporting style - and always, the man himself, Robert Johnson. Thanks for posting this. You truly made my day!
Roscoe's fine article made me once again mindful of the fact that now, all the people who knew Robert Johnson have passed on. Not surprising, I guess, since Robert died at 27, in 1938. Some of his contemporaries led quite long lives - not always the norm for bluesmen. Robert 'Junior' Lockwood died at 91, Eddie 'Son' House at 86. and more recently, David 'Honeyboy' Edwards at 96 (d. 2011). All these people - and many more - are vital to blues history. And Blues history, I believe is important in American history. Blues are important musically, historically and sociologically. (I think blues may also be a psychological necessity. I know I feel better if I play some or listen for a while - or even read about them. ) Yes - there is a point to all this. I've wondered for years why there seems to be no place of higher education that offers a degree in blues. Yes, you could likely earn a graduate musicology degree with a thesis focused on some aspect of blues - or perhaps a grad degree in social sciences that involves Black life in the South or a detailed study of the Northern Migration, peppered with blues quotes to exemplify points. But you're not going to see a bachelor's anywhere I know of - majoring in all aspects of Blues. Some institutions have a few blues-related courses, possibly in some cases enough to make a minor, but none I know of offers complete degree programs as such. Berklee, the fine music school, offers a Professional Certificate in blues guitar, credits transferable to a degree. But the degree will not be in Blues. It will likely be a Guitar-related degree. It's been possible for years to get a Bachelor's degree (or higher) in Jazz or Country Music - and I mean a degree covering all bases - not solely performance. But no blues degrees. I'd love for someone to: (a) prove me wrong, or (b) offer an explanation Anyone feel like tackling it?
"I got a major in rhythm and a minor in soul - and a PhD in the blues... I'm a road scholar..." (Delbert McClinton sang it - Lee Roy Parnell wrote it.) Oh yeah. How I wish...
Gee, Rich, I'm disappointed. I was hoping that maybe there were 29 degree programs I'd overlooked. But I guess it's just a semi-cryptic reference to the number of songs Robert Johnson recorded. I have all 29 on a reissue-set. When he was in his teens, I gave my son a 41-song set as a present. That's the total with alternate takes and a very few sides that were not issued. Oh well, maybe info on all those degree programs is still in the pipeline...
