Robert Johnson - Where Did He Get His Gibson Kalamazoo Guitar?

Steele and Caruthersville are a little more than an hour from where I live...so when I heard that they (Robert Johnson and Johnny Shines) had visited the area in the late 30's, I became passionate about learning everything I could about it.
Unfortunately, besides what Johnny Shines said in an interview, there really isn't too much written or reserved about the visit. What's surprising is that Johnson bought his Kalamazoo guitar on this visit. This is the guitar he's holding in two of his known three photographs...and yet people still don't really know anything else about the visit.
I hope to change that.... I may not be able too, but if there is any factual information still out there about their visit, I hope to find it and preserve it for future generations..
What do you think about the information presented within the video?
Everyone knows and talks about the stories of Robert Johnson at the Crossroads, playing in the cemeteries with Ike Zimmerman, his time in the Delta, in Memphis or Texas... But what about his time in Missouri? This has become a real interest of mine.
Over the years, Gibson Guitars has made copies of the Kalamazoo Robert Johnson played. I hope to get the chance to play one some day.
Here is the link for my original research paper. Please check it out and let me know what you think...
• Robert Johnson and Joh...
"Robert Johnson - Where Did He Get His Gibson Kalamazoo Guitar?" is by John Seabaugh, and is part of my "Blues History in the Heartland Series"
Thanks for watching! Please click like, subscribe, and drop a comment down below! John‪@StillLivinTheBlues‬
#RobertJohnson
#GibsonGuitars
#Kalamazoo
#Missouri
#MO
#SoutheastMissouri
#Caruthersville
#Steele
#JohnnyShines
#SEMO
#Pemiscot

[@markmcmyn8967]

To find Robert Johnsons guitar would be something!

[@theharlequin2821]

I happen to be friends with RJ's grand-kids, and I'm sure they would be proud of your efforts in pin-pointing the location of where he, and Johnny Shines bought those guitars after that fire. -Great Video!

[@StillLivinTheBlues]

Thank you very VERY much! :) I really appreciate those kind words! :)

[@themeadowlarkminutewithpau8184]

Harlquin do you know if the museum is still running?

[@tomengebretson1664]

I have a friend who used to buy and sell vintage Gibsons. About 20 years go he brought an ancient, small bodied Kalamazoo to our workplace. I played it every day for a week. I don't have the best ear or the best way to describe sound, but It had a beautiful 'full' tone, I think he wanted 800 bucks for it. I didn't have the money, but if I would have known Robert Johnson's Gibson was the cheaper Kalamazoo 'brand' I might have found the money somehow.

[@StillLivinTheBlues]

It would be cool to have one!

[@jholcombe9753]

What an incredible video! I love stuff like this... a fantastic mix of history, research, and music. Well done!

[@StillLivinTheBlues]

Thank you very much for the kind words. I appreciate it a lot.

[@davidpeirce7914]

Thank you for creating context and history around this man and indelibly linked guitar ! Impressive

[@StillLivinTheBlues]

Thank you very much.

[@InfoArtistJKatTheGoodInfoCafe]

Cool video. I have a 1938 natural finish with original white pick guard Gibson L5 "G.U.T." guitar.

[@StillLivinTheBlues]

nice!!!

[@ted149]

The jeweller’s newspaper ad includes info on Elgin watches. Walkin’ Blues contains the line ‘She got an Elgin movement…’

[@StillLivinTheBlues]

Hey! Good eye! Thanks for posting that!

[@josephpashka7369]

In an 1989 interview, Johnny Shines said that Robert really preferred a Kalamazoo archtop, & they also played Polish (polka) music for Polish people. "I had a Kalamazoo like Robert had. The Kalamazoo had f-holes in it".

[@Splintor13]

Just came across your channel! Great work on this. One note, a maybe... The address for the jeweler is 308 1/2 most likely a second floor, or in the rear. Not wanting to be robbed, maybe not a big sign on the front. So the one you have from the 20s could still be while the store was there. Just a thought. Thanks for all the leg work.

[@StillLivinTheBlues]

Thanks, man! :)

[@WillieDines1]

Great video indeed sir and a lot of well versed research and effort gone into thos, too. From my understanding of what I have learned about Robert's life, the guitar that Robert lost in the fire at the hotel, was probably the guitar that he got from Ile Zinneman. Ike was known to be the best guitarist in the deep south and Robert lived with Ike and his family for about 8 months before returning to Robinsonville, but I have read from a few articles that Ike had given Robert his guitar to take and play with. I have heard a clip of Son House claiming that when Robert returned to Robinsonville after living and learning from Ike, the guitar had 7 strings on it instead of the traditional 6 strings. How much of Son House's claims to be true or not is a shot in the dark given that Son House also claimed that Robert wasn't any good on the guitar before meeting Ike and yet, it is known that Robert was already an average guitarist and was already playing some jook joints and hiuse parties for about 2 years before Son House moved to Robinsonville. It would be nice if it was possible to have a time machine and be able to go back and just observe what happened and have some way to record it on video so that it would help at least answer so many of the questions and mysteries about Robert's life. I do wonder if Robert may have been on the autism spectrum although being what's known as 'High Functioning' because there is clear evidence from Johnny Shines and others that account for Robert's Savant level ability to hear any piece of music just once and be able to play it on his guitar, while playing the guitar in a way that is more like a piano and not as a guitar would usually be played, plus Robert although was capable of having a regular conversation, but if he didn't like someone or didn't feel comfortable with them, he would tend to be quiet and just keep to himself. I can't help wonder that given that mental health in those days was barely known or talked about at all and there certainly wasn't as much known about mental health conditions as there are nowadays. Either way, it doesn't take anything away from how great Robert was as a musician, artist, composer and as a man, may he always be resting in eternal heaven 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@ACOUSTIC_4LOVE]

Cool Research👍Gibson started crafting Kalamazoo’s in the Early 30s. I’d say shines recollection is true. Likely it was purchased at that Jewelry/Pawn. No doubt There were pre-owned Kalamazoo’s floating around at that time. I picked up my first Zoo around 1983’ a KG-11. At that time they were kinda under the Radar. And most weren’t familiar with the Gibson Budget Brands. -Of Note: John Fogerty in one of Credence Rivals late 1960s songs mentions/sings about a Kalamazoo! I think it was Willie & poor Boy’s.

[@StillLivinTheBlues]

Thanks!

[@paulclose3426]

Great documentary. I can picture Robert Johnson walking through the front door (where you show the foundations). I hope you also ‘walked in’, following his footsteps? Do you think the jeweller told them off for playing Smoke on the water or Stairway to heaven whilst trying out the new instruments?!😎

[@StillLivinTheBlues]

Haha. You never know! Robert may have taken some requests and showed off his guitar skills for some change! Thanks!

[@hudzgh]

Add my special thanks for everything! Very cool.

[@stewartlinton7825]

this is top notch the bomb I know many appreciate your work here man! jah give thanks you dun know amazing g!

[@StillLivinTheBlues]

Thank you VERY much!

[@ricklatouch2263]

More importantly - where did it go? I own one myself and often wonder - could it be the one?

[@StillLivinTheBlues]

That would be awesome, but there is no telling. If you could somehow trace it's history back to the area where Carrie Thompson once lived, that might be a start...but just that in itself cant verify it.

[@ricklatouch2263]

@@StillLivinTheBlues Well I did buy it out of someone’s basement in the Boston suburbs around 2005 - but can’t remember where exactly. I know it’s not the same one but it’s nice to think what if?

[@StillLivinTheBlues]

@@ricklatouch2263 Oh yeah!

[@younkinjames8571]

You could examine the grain patterns. Not sure how much can be seen. Not familiar with that model.

[@AL-jg4pr]

Incredible video!

[@StillLivinTheBlues]

Thank you!

[@SteveArvey]

This is great!!

[@SteveArvey]

Great Research.

[@StillLivinTheBlues]

@@SteveArvey Thank you!

[@vickyvlrich]

Very cool

[@shavedmonkey9821]

it is written by Roberts step sister "Annye", in her book...that Roberts brother "Son" pawned his guitar in Memphis.a few years after Roberts death..there are quite a number of prewar Kalamazoo guitars still around...maybe someone still has it, unaware of its "Holy Grail" origins

[@StillLivinTheBlues]

That was the guitar Robert had at death. We don't know for sure if it was the Kalamazoo he bought in Southeast MO. There is no telling how many he owned during his lifetime. The one in this video is the Kalamazoo Johnny Shines said him and Robert bought down in Southest Missouri. This is how I understand it. Thanks!

[@boneyard-glasshouse-walk]

love the background music

[@darioatrovato]

Great video! congrats!

[@popslops2188]

Enjoyed this alot , thank you ! Very nicely done and good detective work ! I would be willing to bet that KG14 is still in the family . Robert supposedly gave it to his mother while on his deathbed in Greenwood MS . Or perhaps it's in an antique shop somewhere in the delta waiting to pick out it's new owner. As with Robert Johnson , everything is a mystery . Take care !

[@StillLivinTheBlues]

Thank you!

[@greghoppe3973]

Robert Johnson's step-sister, Annye Anderson, says Robert's guitar was given to his half-brother and he pawned it.

[@monty4336]

Or, Robert Johnson could have gotten his guitar from another guitar friend??? Since there isn't any notes on where he got it. Lots of not so wealthy guitar players buy them from either pawn shops or from someone they know.

[@StillLivinTheBlues]

Oh, yeah... It's very possible. No one knows for certain. But, Shines bought one also... and the style of guitar (His Kalamazoo) Johnson bought was still somewhat newly released. So, even if he had bought it off of someone, it wouldn't have been old. Oh, and not to mention the store ads released just prior to the bluesmen getting to town... stating the different Gibson's in stock. Even back then, the Bootheel wasn't like St. Louis... You won't find Gibson guitars as easily as you can now... etc... BTW: The Jeweler was like a pawn shop!

[@monty4336]

@@StillLivinTheBlues According to Paul McCartney, John Lennon lifted a guitar from some guy who's group was playing locally because John didn't have one and needed one asap. As Paul said, "John relieved him of his guitar that night." And I think it's the one John used in Hamburg Germany and at the cavern club. So for all we know, Robert could have "relieved someone" of their guitar. 😆

[@Bojan849]

Very nice!

[@MaximilianBocek]

Here's what I think is an essential question: why would Shines and Johnson hitchhike all the way to Steele from Memphis when there must have been plenty of guitars in that city?

[@StillLivinTheBlues]

Probably heading up to St. Louis. St. Louis was a good money$ town in those days. Shines even said so. In those days, they had to move around to make money. You can't stay in the same spot for too long. If I remember correctly, Shines said in the same interview that by the time they got to Steele, they had made enough money to buy new guitars.

[@TruckaBilly-TV]

Maybe i shouldn’t admit it, but I don’t think I knew Gibson guitars were made in Kalamazoo. I grew up in Battle Creek… 20 minutes away. 😊

[@leedee4968]

Great😊

[@haraldamsterdam1988]

Hi John! That was a nice piece of guitar history video. Maybe you should continue with those sorts of videos. I liked the background music. Was it yours, of Robert Johnsons? Cheers my friend.

[@StillLivinTheBlues]

Thanks, man. I will try to do more videos like this one... About the music... It's neither mine or Robert Johnson's. His music is all copyrighted. The music I used is some of the free music KZbin provides online. They have a little bit of everything you can use free for video making. It did seem to fit, didn't it? How you doing man? Everything ok?

[@singmenow4u]

@@StillLivinTheBlues Great job researching and recording all in the video.

[@vovagreen7414]

ролик очень интересный! как будто оказался в тех временах... роберт джонсон постепенно занимает место в моем сердце...🙂

[@supportingsmallyoutubers4300]

Did he take this guitar to the crossroads?

[@darcykelly7515]

Of course he did!Probably wrote the song on this guitar whilst conversing with devil right there at the crossroads.

[@greghoppe3973]

According to the recent book by Bruce Conforth and Gayle Dean Wardlow, "Up Jumped The Devil : The Real Life of Robert Johnson ", Johnson bought a Kalamazoo KG-14 for $14.99 and Shines purchased a Stella guitar for $9.99 in Steele, Missouri.

[@StillLivinTheBlues]

No offense, but I don't think the book worded it exactly like that. I believe Conforth's book just mentioned they bought guitars there, and then it quoted the average price of what the guitars are selling for in other places. I've talked to Bruce about the very subject and (at the time at least) he didn't have anymore information besides the qoute from Shines saying that they bought those guitars in Steele. Any catalog from the period would have general pricing details.

[@greghoppe3973]

@@StillLivinTheBlues page 233, first full paragraph.....

[@StillLivinTheBlues]

@@greghoppe3973 Can you please quote it? If it literally says it like you state it does, I'll flat out say it's incorrect simply because they don't know. They don't even known WHERE (the store or individual) they bought the guitars from, much less what they paid for them. Again, if you are quoting the book correctly, it won't be the only error in the book. Chapter 15, “When I leave this town I’m gon’ bid you fare, farewell", has a big one. The author wrote about how Johnson, Shines, and Calvin Frazier took 51 from Memphis, to Wickliffe, Kentucky. There they stayed a bit, (met some ladies/dance group) until they “...crossed over the Mississippi, into Missouri, and followed Highway 55 north to St. Louis.” OBVIOUSLY that was impossible in 1938. 55 didn’t run to St. Louis. The author was thinking about HWY 55 which began in the 1950's, and wasn't finished in that area until the early 1970's. Robert Johnson passed away in 1938. So, they didn't take 55 to St. Louis. The book fills in gaps with "facts". if don't have to believe me... Just go to the Missouri Department of transportation (MoDot) and look at the old street maps of Missouri on there. They have them dating back to Robert's day, and you can look for yourself. I like this book, but it fills in gaps with assumptions and states them as fact. Not cool, IMO.

[@StillLivinTheBlues]

Greg, you need to reread what the books states.. in Chapter 15, "When I leave this town I'm gon' bid you fare, farewell" "...SUCH guitars sold new for..." The book states that they bought guitars there in town, but then states "...such guitars sold new..." That doesn't say how much they paid for the guitars. It just says how much "SUCH" guitars usually sold for. No one knows how much for sure what they paid for those guitars. They don't know if they were brand new, bought from an individual or individuals, from a store, etc...

[@supportingsmallyoutubers4300]

The word “such” just makes it mean that is how much the guitars normally would cost in different stores. That doesn’t mean that was how much they paid for the guitar. Come on, man!

[@kenbash2951]

Nope it is a Gibson L-1. The binding around the sound hole is not correct to a Kalamazoo, sorry. And the pickguard- L-1 does not have one.

[@StillLivinTheBlues]

Incorrect. Look again. You are confusing the guitars in the studio portrait, and the dime store photos. Those are two different guitars. The studio photo is a Gibson, and dime store photos is the Kalamazoo.

[@kenbash2951]

@@StillLivinTheBlues Wikipedia and EVERYONE else seems to agree with me:)

[@StillLivinTheBlues]

@@kenbash2951 You must be having some serious comprehension issues then because I haven't seen one article that agrees with you.

[@StillLivinTheBlues]

@@kenbash2951 I looked it up on wikipedia, which YOU quoted as backing you up, and you obviously do have some comprehension issues. Here's the quote and link from wiki... "The guitar he is holding in the photo where he has a cigarette in his mouth is believed to be a Gibson Kalamazoo model KG-14, and some believe that he used a KG-14 in his legendary recording sessions in 1936 and 1937. Kalamazoo was a budget brand offered by Gibson during the depression era. The KG-14 originally sold for $12.50." link - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Johnson_(guitars) Like I said, every article I've read has that as the Kalamazoo.

[@derekgreenacre9530]

When I met Johnny Shines I asked him what type of guitar Robert Johnson played he told me that Robert played an "f" holed guitar.

[@StillLivinTheBlues]

He probably did when he was with Johnny. I'm sure over the years tho, he had several. just saying.

[@darcykelly7515]

Why play Blind Willie Johnson songs on a Robert Johnson story?

[@StillLivinTheBlues]

I didn't play a Blind Willie Johnson song on a Robert Johnson video. In fact, I didn't play any particular copyrighted song on the video...

[@dontgoout1434]

The guitars a prop in photo studio who doesn't know that

[@StillLivinTheBlues]

Nope. Sorry, you are incorrect. Annye Anderson wrote about how she was with him when this photo was made, and he had his guitar with him. Many books talk it about it being a Gibson-made, Kalazmazoo guitar. Johnny Shines said it was likely the guitar he bought in Steele. (Shines was with him.)

[@InfoArtistJKatTheGoodInfoCafe]

As if you know😅😂😮😢😊

[@dennisschell5543]

I bet you have a brick... 🤔

[@StillLivinTheBlues]

I do. I bet you do also.