THE SEARCH FOR ROBERT JOHNSON - Film Event

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A special Black History Month event: celebrate one of the most influential musicians of all time!

Join the Strand Theatre at the crossroads for this very special blues and storytelling event: music, film and history with host Paul Benjamin of the North Atlantic Blues Festival. The evening begins drinks followed by a screening of the classic documentary, The Search for Robert Johnson.

The film explores for the first time the troubled life and mysterious death of this legendary bluesman, piecing together documentary footage, interviews, and music to tell the story of an elusive spirit who, according to folklore, sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads. Fellow bluesmen Jonny Shines, Honeyboy Edwards, and Eric Clapton share interviews, as does Johnson's girlfriend Willie Mae Powell. Classic tunes "Crossroads Blues," "Hellhound on My Trail," "Terraplane Blues," "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom," and many more are included. Narrator John Hammond leads the search for answers by retracing the steps of the original researchers—crisscrossing the Delta, introducing viewers to the man who may be Johnson's long-lost son, touring the sites of Johnson's only two recording sessions in 1936 and 1937, and finally investigating the circumstances of Johnson's murder on August 16, 1938.

The Search for Robert Johnson is a murder mystery, a musical road trip, a ghost story, and an amazing oral history all on screen, an incredible journey to the crossroads and into the soul of the blues.

Whether you are a die-hard blues fan, an American history buff, a music lover, or a casual listener, this event is not to be missed! Join us for an unforgettable journey through the depths of tradition, the power of storytelling, the history of the blues, and into the heart of African American culture.

Host Paul Benjamin will lead a short discussion following the film.