The 2007 3rd Annual Robert Johnson Blues Festival will take place Saturday, May 5th in Johnson’s hometown of Hazlehurst, Miss. The one-day event begins at 9 a.m. and happens on Hazlehurst’s famous Ragsdale Street, highlighting an array of gospel, blues and rock music by such artists as four-time W.C. Handy Award-winner Rory Block, Rocky Lawrence, Billy “Soul” Bond, Jacqueline Nassar and Gibson New Generation Award-winner Patrick Droney.
Johnson, often referred to as “King of the Delta Blues Singers,” was born in Hazlehurst in 1911. Despite his brief life-Johnson was poisoned while playing a show in Greenwood, Miss., at the age of 27-he recorded numerous songs, including “Sweet Home Chicago” and “Crossroad Blues,” many of which have been adapted by famed contemporary artists such as Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton. The Robert Johnson Blues Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of blues music. For more information, or to purchase festival tickets, visit http://www.robertjohnsonbluesfoundation.org.
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