The other photo, known as “the dime store portrait” or “the photo booth self-portrait,” was taken by Robert Johnson himself. NY TIMES – Claud Johnson, who became rich by winning a much-publicized court fight over the estate of his long-dead and belatedly celebrated father, the Mississippi blues artist Robert Johnson, died on Tuesday. Other relatives sued him in 2000, but the state Supreme Court said the lawsuit had been filed too late. Under Mississippi’s statute of limitation, the state supreme court ruled a … "We are saddened to report that Mr. Claud Johnson, son of Robert Johnson, passed away this morning at the age of 83," A statement from the family said. “Write A Hit”, Read all 60 pages of the 2020 Blues Festival Guide Digital Mag — Now Live, Blues Festival Guide Magazine Media Platforms Feature Livestreams & Online Concerts & more, Mike Zito’s Quarantine Blues is the Band’s Gift, Mississippi’s Cathead Distillery Donates Hand Sanitizer to Blues Artists in Poverty. Hines, without a trial, found in 2012 that the statute of limitations had run out on the legal challenge by Thompson’s heirs and the photos were Claud Johnson’s. A collection of his recordings won a Grammy Award in 1990, and the album cover featured one of the two known photos of Johnson, wearing a suit and holding his guitar. Posted: Jul 02, 2015 Under Mississippi’s statute of limitation, the state supreme court ruled a legal challenge should have been filed no later than 1994. It is why Claud Johnson's grandparents would not let him out of the house that day in 1937 when Robert Johnson, his father, strolled into the yard. Available for everyone, funded by readers. His death was confirmed by John Kitchens, who represented Mr. Johnson in the case. He lived a long, full life and is now reunited with his beloved Earnestine. The son of legendary Delta bluesman Robert Johnson can keep profits from the only two known photographs of his father, the Mississippi supreme court ruled Thursday. The case turned on a technicality. The supreme court found in 2004 that the question of whether the photos were the personal property of Carrie Thompson was never litigated. Use your Apple ID or create a new account to start using Apple services. The promoter later signed a deal with CBS Records to release a collection of Robert Johnson’s 29 recorded songs. Claud Johnson, Son Of Robert Johnson, Passes At 83. Robert Johnson did not leave a will when he died in 1938 at 27. In 1998, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled that Claud Johnson, a retired truck driver living in Crystal Springs, Mississippi, was the son of Robert Johnson and his only heir. A court declared the son, Claud Johnson, the musician’s sole heir in 1998. Start listening now! An official cause of death has not been determined and funeral arrangements have not yet been made, Kitchens said. "He lived a long, full life and is now reunited with his beloved Earnestine. Mr. Johnson’s wife of 60 years, Earnestine, died about two years ago, Mr. Kitchens said. We will miss him dearly and ask that you keep the Johnson family in your prayers. ", Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The court rejected arguments that the clock started when Claud Johnson was named sole heir. Claud Johnson, who was declared the sole heir of legendary bluesman Robert Johnson in 1998 after a lengthy court battle, died early Saturday morning at the age of 83 in Crystal Springs, according to the family attorney John Kitchens. © 2020 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. The court ruled other family members knew as early as 1990 about the photos and royalty payments. Supreme court presiding Jjustice Jess Dickinson, writing in Thursday’s decision, rejected arguments Thompson’s heirs that they didn’t sue because they thought they were the only heirs to the Johnson estate. Sign in to iCloud to access your photos, videos, documents, notes, contacts, and more. Claud Johnson, whose parents were not married, found out about his father’s estate in the early 1990s and was later named his father’s sole heir. “The only real change after was that his list grew bigger and the baskets were larger.”, Josh Smith “Voted as one of the top 20 Best Living Blues Guitar Players by Guitar World Magazine”, Texas Blues Rocker Clay Melton Releasing Guitar-Driven Live Performance Video, Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival “Festing in Place” October 16-15, 2020, Congratulations to our 2nd winner in the One-on-One contest, John Eric Adams of Fernandina Beach, FL, The Jimmys :: GOTTA HAVE IT feat. In return, Thompson was to receive royalties that resulted from the promoter’s efforts. The couple had six children. One of the photos is a studio portrait taken of the Mississippi bluesman by Hooks Brothers Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. CBS, later acquired by Sony, released a boxed set of Johnson’s recordings that sold more than a million copies and won the 1990 Grammy for Best Historical Album. He said Mr. Johnson had owned a barbecue restaurant and worked as a painter and a gravel truck driver. Leflore County circuit judge Ashley Hines ruled in 2001 that when Claud Johnson was declared the musician’s sole heir, the royalties specified in the 1974 contract were to go to him. The court heard that he had been born to Virgie Jane Smith (later Virgie Jane Cain), who had a relationship with Robert Johnson in 1931. “Even before he inherited his father’s estate, he would buy lots of fruits and nuts and put them in baskets and deliver them to elderly homebound people in the community,” Mr. Kitchens said. Son of a Bluesman The legend was that if you touched Robert Johnson you could feel the talent running through him, like heat, put there by the devil on a dark Delta crossroad in exchange for his soul. His estate is valuable, partly because of a collection of his recordings that featured a photo of Johnson on its cover and won a Grammy in 1990. Claud Johnson, Son of Blues Singer Robert Johnson, Dies at 83 Posted: Jul 02, 2015 Latest Blues News NY TIMES – Claud Johnson, who became rich by winning a much-publicized court fight over the estate of his long-dead and belatedly celebrated father, the Mississippi blues artist Robert Johnson… Robert Johnson — who is said to have sold his soul to the devil for prowess on the guitar and whose songs have influenced a host of famous musicians — was destitute when he died in Mississippi in 1938 at age 27. All rights reserved. Last modified on Fri 14 Jul 2017 23.33 BST. The Mississippi Supreme Court ruled in early 2014 that Claud Johnson could keep the profits from the only two known photographs of his father, who is widely credited as a forefather of rock ’n’ roll and whose compositions include “Me and the Devil Blues” and “Cross Road Blues.”. A full obituary will be posted at a later time.

Netherlands Vs Italy Results, The Batman (2021 Joker Actor), Odette Annable Two And A Half, Island Woman Boutique, Cheaper By The Dozen 3 Netflix, Blues Guitar Chords Pdf, Dominion Theatre Previous Shows, Napoli - Results, Matthijs De Ligt Age,