BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON - CEMETERY MARKER AND HISTORICAL MARKER DONATION LINK&INFORMATION

www.blindwilliejohnsonfund.com

HBS received an email from Shane&Anna (see below) regarding their efforts to erect a cemetery headstone and historical marker for Blind Willie Johnson (the content of which is copied below).  Please take a moment to read about their efforts.  No doubt,  our readership will appreciate the commitment and resolve it takes to make historical preservation of the blues culture a reality and will show  support financially.  HBS applauds their efforts.  At the next meeting of the Board (on Jan. 18th) we will discuss what HBS can do to support their venture.   Please read on ...

Our names are Shane Ford and Anna Obek. We are students at the University of Texas at Austin. We are both avid music lovers and are concerned with preserving music history. We are writing in regards to a project we have been working on diligently since 2007. We are writing to your organization (the Houston Blues Society) because we would like to have a memorial erected for Blind Willie Johnson in the cemetery where our evidence points to as his burial location. Additionally, we are trying to raise any amount over the memorial costs to help fund an historical marker for Johnson where he lived while in Beaumont. 

Here is a little background information on Mr. Johnson's life.

Mr. Johnson was born in Independence, near Brenham, Texas in 1897. When Johnson was only three or four, his mother died. It is unknown for sure how Johnson became blind but according to Angeline Johnson (his last wife), it was due to his stepmother throwing lye water into his face before the age of 10.  Johnson would make money by playing and singing on the streets of several Texas cities.  Johnson recorded 30 songs over a period of three years for Columbia records from 1927-1930, many with his first wife Willie B. Harris. His records sold well, but as the depression hit, the music industry was struck hard and Johnson would never record again.

In the last ten years or so of his life, Johnson lived with his wife Angeline in Beaumont, TX . He continued to sing and operated a House of Prayer (also their residence) at 1440 Forrest Street. He died in 1945 from pneumonia after sleeping on wet bedclothes in the ruins of his burned home.

Johnson's influence has had a tremendous impact on many musicians and popular music today. Some of the artists that have been affected by Johnson include Led Zeppelin ("Jesus Make Up My Dying Bed", "It's Nobody's Fault But Mine"), Eric Clapton, Ralph Stanley, Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead, and many, many more. Ry Cooder described Johnson's "Dark was the Night, Cold was the Ground," as "the most soulful, transcendent piece in all American music."

The Austin American Statesmen in 2003 quoted Jack White of the White Stripes as telling a sold-out audience at Stubb's in Austin, "It's good to be in Texas, the home of Blind Willie Johnson." Johnson's "Dark was the Night..." was also included on the Voyager Golden Record (launched into space in 1977) alongside Bach, Mozart, Chuck Berry and others to portray the diversity and culture of life on Earth, should any intelligent life form find it.

As stated earlier, in 2007, we made the trip to Beaumont to find the spot where he was buried with the hopes of maybe finding the grave and honor the man and his music. At that time we conducted research at the Jefferson County Clerk's office and took several photographs in the vicinity where we thought he may be (with assistance from his death certificate). We had a pretty good idea of the area based on this information but no exact grave marker was located.

We began correspondence with the Jefferson County Historical Commission in order to have a historical marker erected, however, we were told that for this to occur, an exact location would have to be found and have documented proof of the spot. A search through the many broken tombstones and high grass turned up nothing and we came back to Austin. But honoring Blind Willie Johnson for future fans of his music stayed with us. We continued our research and planned to return to Beaumont.

As we began making arrangements for a second trip to Beaumont, we read on a message board that the grave had been found. We were excited but skeptical, as this was something we had been working on off and on for two years and had been out to the area in question myself with no real results. The press release was vague and this only furthered my skepticism.  So, we sought out the man that claimed to find the spot in order to speak with him first-hand. Once we spoke, we were only left with more questions. In fact, there was no exact location and all his information did not correlate with the area that our evidence suggested the site would be located.  He had also been in contact with the Jefferson County Historical Commission as well to get a marker established. So, now it looked as though they had changed their requirements. Maybe an exact location would not have to be located in order to put up the historical marker. So before they put the marker in the wrong location (his location had no solid supporting evidence) and out of concern for history, we went to Beaumont immediately to see what I could find.

In September of 2009 we did extensive research to not only prove the vicinity of where we believed Blind Willie to be buried. We ordered old city maps, combed through the old books at the Beaumont courthouse, and searched tax records. We still didn't find Blind Willie in the graveyard but did, with more accuracy and evidence have a more convincing case for our location. (All can be provided).

Now, without an precise location of the grave, we decided the best thing would be to have a marker (if there was going to be one) in the spot where Blind Willie lived and preached while in Beaumont. There is documented proof that he lived and worked at 1440 Forrest. This is known as the "House of Prayer." It is also the location his death certificate claims as his last residence before his death. And the better idea for the grave location, we believed would be a memorial, the gravestone he never got.

We got back to Austin and contacted the Jefferson County Historical Commission immediately because we believed the prior application for the marker was being submitted on a spot that had no proof and the marker would be placed in an inaccurate location. It took some correspondence but after they looked at our evidence, they could no longer in good faith put the marker at the previously listed location. We told them of the idea for submitting a marker for the "House of Prayer." After some further research on their side, they agreed, as did the Texas Historical Commission. (This correspondence is also available). We are grateful that the Jefferson County Historical Commission has come to this conclusion. As of about a month ago, the application for the marker at the "House of Prayer" location has been accepted by the THC. We will have updates in the coming months and are awaiting them ourselves.

Back in September when we were Beaumont, we met with Donald Taft, the owner of what is now the funeral home that buried Blind Willie Johnson. He is also listed as the owner of the cemetery where we believe Blind Willie to be buried on official Jefferson County property records. We asked him if we could put a memorial in this area. He agreed and signed off on it. So, we designed a marker and now have an estimate for the cost and installation of the said memorial. Now, we just need the funds.

We have just launched a website,

www.blindwilliejohnsonfund.com  

to reach people through various methods to get the donations needed. The site shows the original design of the monument to be erected. We have also included pictures of the graveyard and the history of Blind Willie Johnson. The amount needed is listed on the site to pay for the marker and is constantly updated. Through the website we are asking people to support this cause, as it is long over-due, as well as to share their experiences with his music.

To us, a historical marker is an excellent and official way to designate where the man lived and worked. It is a part of Texas history as well as the history of blues and gospel music. Blind Willie Johnson deserves more; he deserves not only this city recognition but a marker our of love and respect from his fans who continue to listen to his music. We are asking for help in getting our mission and website out there to people all over the country. We are writing to you specifically because we know your organization is extremely respected in the music world.

Funds are still needed. A museum in Port Arthur is working on raising funds for the marker but they're going to need help. The memorial monument funds also need to be raised. It would be great to do them together. It's difficult for us as this this not our line of work and we do not have a non-profit set up to get all this taken care of. That's why we are asking for your help. If it helps as well, we have permission from an artist to use his rendering on t-shirts if we could get something together. We want to be a part of this until completion. We just are asking for any assistance to finally honor Johnson.  Blind Willie Johnson is an extremely important figure in the history of blues music, so if blues groups are not interested or willing to help, we honestly don't know who will be.

We appreciate your time and look forward to your response. We are happy to provide all documentation and photographs we have. We sincerely hope that you will visit our website as well and contact us with any questions you might have.

Thank you,
Shane Ford and Anna Obek