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Robert Jr. Lockwood, or Robert Lockwood Jr. as he prefers to be called, is one of the least heralded of the early electric guitar monsters. Having used a Gretch hollow-bodied electric for most of his career, possibly a Gretch Tennessean, Mr. Lock wood single-handedly created a jazzy blues style that was the backbone of nearly all the Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller) recordings and the live KFFA ``King Biscuit Time'' radio programs that could be heard throughout the South during the `50s. His unique phrasings can also be heard on numerous 1950s Chess Records releases, which included a number of classic Little Walter (Jacobs) cuts. There exists a photo of Lockwood playing a 12 string Gretch, but I don't believe any recording have been done in this instrument.
Robert Lockwood Jr. is the only living link to the infamous, influential bluesman Robert Johnson, who spent a great deal of time with Lockwood's mother and became a sort of stepfather to the musically inclined adolescent. With Johnson's appearance at his home, Robert Lockwood decided to switch from organ to guitar and then studied at the foot of the master. Lockwood learned quickly and by age 15 was touring with Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller).
I wish I knew exactly which cuts he did as a Chess Records sideman behind Little Walter Jacobs, but whatever songs you may be able to add to your collection by Little Walter will benefit you enormously. When listening, if you're not experiencing the genius of Robert Jr. Lockwood, then you are learning invaluable lessons from Walter's staple on the guitar, Louis Myers. With his older brother, David Myers on second guitar/bass and Fred Below on drums, Louis Myers helped created a wonderful style of modern Chicago blues. His ingenious single-note runs and sparse jazz tinged chordal changes can be heard on The Best Of Little Walter- MCA/Chess (CHC 9192), The Best Of Little Walter, Volume Two-MCA/Chess (CHD 9292), Kings Of The Chicago Blues, Volume One-Vogue (LDM 3017), I'm A Southern Man-Advent (2809), Tell My Story Movin'-Earwig (4920).
So be sure to check out any of the Little Walter (Jacobs) releases and you'll probably be comping along with either Louis Meyers, David Myers or Robert Jr. Lockwood. After leaving Chicago in 1961, Lockwood made a rather unfortunate decision by moving to Cleveland, Ohio where he resides today. However, his talent and contribution to the postwar electric blues has been acknowledged by his induction into the Blues Foundation's Hall of Fame. After releasing the album, `Whats The Score' on his own label, he recorded `Contrasts' (3307) for Trix Records in `74 which features a cool tune I used to do in the clubs of Detroit, `Little Boy Blue'. Robert Jr. Lockwood can also be heard on Mister Blues Is Here To Stay-Rounder (2026), Hangin' On (with Johnny Shines who used to perform with Robert Johnson)-Rounder (2023), Dust My Broom-Flyright (CD10), The Baddest New Guitar-P_Vine (PCD 2134) and Steady Rollin' Man-Delmark (DD 630).