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Blind Willy Johnson

Series: Blues Routes
From: Thom Butler
Length: 00:07:28

In time for Holy Week, we open with a piece on Blind Willy Johnson, a Texas street preacher who created the quintessential Good Friday blues gospel composition, Dark Was The Night And Cold Was The Ground. Read the full description.

Blindwilliejohnson_small

Haunting, enchanting, and evocative, Blind Willy Johnson’s Good Friday masterpiece, Dark Was The Night And Cold Was The Ground, survives as one of the strongest musical reflections on The Crucifixion ever created. It came from the imagination and guitar of Blind Willy Johnson whose gospel influenced compositions include such blues classics as John the Revelator, Soul of a Man, and Ain’t Nobody’s Fault But Mine.

 

In this piece we hear many of these tunes, by a wide range of artists, and learn about the street preacher/bluesman who recorded 30 gospel blues classics in under 3 years. 

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Piece Description

Haunting, enchanting, and evocative, Blind Willy Johnson’s Good Friday masterpiece, Dark Was The Night And Cold Was The Ground, survives as one of the strongest musical reflections on The Crucifixion ever created. It came from the imagination and guitar of Blind Willy Johnson whose gospel influenced compositions include such blues classics as John the Revelator, Soul of a Man, and Ain’t Nobody’s Fault But Mine.

 

In this piece we hear many of these tunes, by a wide range of artists, and learn about the street preacher/bluesman who recorded 30 gospel blues classics in under 3 years. 

Timing and Cues

This piece (and all shows in the daily Blues Routes series) fit the 7:45 Segment B for ATC and ME. A 10:30 extended version of the piece is also available.

Musical Works

Title Artist Album Label Year Length
Dark Was The Night And Cold Was The Ground Blind Willy Johnson 00:00
Dark Was The Night Ry Cooder 00:00
Take Your Burden To The Lord Blind Willy Johnson 00:00
John The Revelator Blind Willy Johnson 00:00
John The Revelator Harry Belafonte 00:00
John The Revelator Dirty Dozen Brass Band 00:00
Soul Of A Man Blind Willy Johnson 00:00
Soul Of A Man Bruce Cockburn 00:00
Ain't Nobody's Fault But Mine Blind Boys Of Alabama 00:00

Related Website

http://www.bluesroutes.com