Bruce Conforth - Robert Johnson B...

Bruce Conforth - Robert Johnson Biographer & Blues Historian

Talking Blues | Conversations & Oral History di Matt Cooper
E2
4 lug 2025
59:45

Note sull'episodio

His landmark work is Up Jumped the Devil: The Real Life of Robert Johnson, co-authored with Gayle Dean Wardlow. The result of over 50 years of chasing documents, recordings and oral histories, it destroys the crossroads myth and brings us a more complex, brilliant—and human—Robert Johnson

In this engaging conversation, Bruce Conforth, a lifelong bluesman and ethnomusicologist, shares his journey through the world of music, from his early influences in New Jersey to his pivotal role in the folk revival and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He discusses the profound impact of Robert Johnson's music, his experiences with Reverend Gary Davis, and the cultural shifts in music during the 60s. Throughout the discussion, he emphasizes the importance of authenticity in music and the rich history of blues and folk music.

Whether you’re a blues fan, a history buff, or someone seeking clarity in myth, this episode digs deep. Bruce Conforth doesn’t just tell stories—he lays the evidence on the table.

https://www.TalkingBluesPodcast.com - Listen to the Talking Blues Podcast – Stream it now or wherever you podcast.

Hit play, and then visit:

bruceconforth.com – visit to explore more from Bruce Conforth – award-winning author, musician, and ethnomusicologist and to buy music straight from the man himself

Amazon.com: Bruce M. Conforth: books, biography, latest update – visit to purchase book “Up Jumped the Devil: The Real Life of Robert Johnson”

Connect With Bruce Conforth:

Website: https://bruceconforth.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Bruce-Conforth-100040296168814/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bruceconforth8220

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Website: https://www.patreon.com/c/TalkingBluesPodcast/posts

Personal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Matt.Cooper.Broadcaster/

Talking Blues Podcast on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkingBluesPodcast/

If this conversation moved you or got you thinking, join the Talking Blues Backstage Pass at https://www.TalkingBluesPodcast.com’s free to join, and you’ll get early access, behind-the-scenes stories, and the chance to shape future episodes.

Parole chiave

Blues
Delta Blues
American Roots Music
Traditional Blues
Southern Blues
Bruce Conforth
Robert Johnson
ethnomusicology
folk revival
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Greenwich Village
Music History
Reverend Gary Davis
Rev. Gary Davis
Mississippi John Hurt
Skip James
Gaslight Cafe
Gerde's Folk City
King of the Delta Blues Singers
Dave Van Ronk
Up Jumped the Devil
American Folk Culture Scholar
University of Michigan American Culture
Vernacular Music Studies
Archival Blues Research
Delta Mythology Deconstruction
Musicology Meets Folklore
Cultural History Through Sound
Oral Tradition Preservation
Blues as Living Document