For this week on the Delta blues, I focused mainly on Robert Johnson, researching his life and trying to understand where he came from. He died young, but managed to become a master of the blues in his short 27 years. He did not receive recognition for his skill and talent, however, until long after his death.
Robert did a lot moving around in his life. He lived in Memphis, TN and traveled to cities all around the country. What struck me the most about his life was that no matter where he went, he always ended up where he came from. He continuously moved around to different cities in Mississippi even after experiencing places like New York and Chicago, and died only two hours away from where he was born.
Robert Johnson's life got me thinking about the idea of home. It seems like he was very attached to the landscape of his childhood. I know some people that would never live anywhere but their hometown/region, and I think Rob was one of these people. He really loved where he was from and always came back, even if other places may have been better for him to develop as a musician (the chance to be around other blues musicians from different backgrounds, play more shows, etc). I started to reflect on my idea of home. I realized that I'm not attached to any singular place. I've lived in Chicago, New York, and now Berkeley and I have no particular yearning to live in any of these places for the rest of my life (not to say I wouldn't go back...). I am completely open to moving around and making a home wherever I end up. I guess me and Rob were different in that way...
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