Portrait of a Phantom: The Story of Robert Johnson's Lost Photograph

Portrait of a Phantom: The Story of Robert Johnson's Lost Photograph

Portrait of a Phantom: The Story of Robert Johnson's Lost Photograph

Portrait of a Phantom: The Story of Robert Johnson's Lost Photograph

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Overview

While searching for vintage guitars on the internet, Zeke Schein came across what he believed was a photograph of one of the most influential blues musicians of all time. Schein, both a fan and historian of the Delta Blues, suspected that the image depicted the enigmatic Robert Johnson. His attempts to authenticate it inspired vitriolic debates among blues aficionados about its legitimacy. Schein's fascinating experiences documenting its history are entwined with his own journey of discovery and his unwavering belief in the truth of the image.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781455625499
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date: 08/10/2020
Pages: 224
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Zeke Schein is a true New Yorker, born, raised, and still residing there. In his long career at Matt Umanov Guitars, he has helped many of the greatest names in music to find their sounds, including Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Pete Townshend, Carlos Santana, Steve Earle, John Hammond, Jack White, John Mayer, Jeff Tweedy, Dion DiMucci, Lou Reed, Elvis Costello, and Citizen Cope. Schein plays slide guitar and has performed onstage with such luminaries as Patti Smith and Ronnie Earl. His love of music and appreciation of its history are what led him on the journey documented in this book.

Poppy Z. Brite is the author of numerous short stories and eight popular novels, including Lost Souls and Exquisite Corpse. Now going by the name Billy Martin, he works as a visual artist and herbalist in his hometown of New Orleans. His knowledge of Southern culture and folk magic lends this book an extra layer of mojo.

The incomparable Dion DiMucci provides a short foreword. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee is one of the most popular early-American rock and roll musicians. Still performing, he released New York Is My Home in 2016, praised for its mature blues sounds.

Table of Contents

Foreword 9

Introduction 11

Chapter 1 Down by the Highway Side 13

Chapter 2 Hello, Satan 17

Chapter 3 Return Again 25

Chapter 4 Mojo 33

Chapter 5 The Stuff I Got 39

Chapter 6 Played It on the Sofa 47

Chapter 7 Some Joker Got Lucky 57

Chapter 8 Kind-Hearted Woman 67

Chapter 9 Wind That Thing 75

Chapter 10 Ramblin' 81

Chapter 11 Stones in My Passway 87

Chapter 12 I May Be Right or Wrong 95

Chapter 13 What Evil Has the Poor Girl Heard? 101

Chapter 14 Can't You Hear That Wind Howl? 105

Chapter 15 Last Fair Deal Gone Down 109

Chapter 16 Come on in My Kitchen 115

Chapter 17 They're Red Hot 121

Chapter 18 Goin' to the 'Stil'ry 131

Chapter 19 Like Consumption 135

Chapter 20 Business All in a Trick 143

Chapter 21 From Four Until Late 151

Chapter 22 A Cold One Hundred 157

Chapter 23 Long, Long Distant Land 165

Chapter 24 The Crossroad 171

Chapter 25 Play 'Em Now 179

Chapter 26 Tell Me All About It 187

Chapter 27 Boys, Please Don't Block My Road 193

Chapter 28 Two and Two Is Four 201

Chapter 29 Deep Down in This Connection 211

Acknowledgments 217

Notes 218

Bibliography 222

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