Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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JOHNSON, Blind Willie

(b '02, Marlin TX; d '49, Beaumont) Gospel singer and guitarist in country blues style. Blinded at age seven by his stepmother during a fight with his father, became a street musician; married Angeline '27, who sang on some of the records, taught him many songs from 19th- century hymnbooks. He recorded 30 sides for Columbia '27--30; he may also have recorded a couple of secular songs under the name Blind Texas Marlin which are now lost. Best-known sides incl. the first, 'Jesus Make Up My Dying Bed', also 'Let Your Light Shine On Me', 'You're Gonna Need Somebody On Your Bond'. His powerful style and integration of voice and guitar made him a legend in the '40s among blues collectors, but he continued to live in poverty. After Angeline put out a fire in their home they lay down on a wet bed; a few days later a hospital refused to admit him because he was blind: died of pneumonia. Compilations on Folkways and Yazoo; complete recordings on a two-CD Columbia set '93.