Search - Wallace Coleman :: Blues In The Wind ~ Remembering Robert Jr. Lockwood

In 1985, Wallace Coleman was 49 years old and approaching his 30 year mark with, and retirement from, his day job. When his schedule permitted, and every chance he got, Coleman would play harp in one of Cleveland's true Blues joints. One night doing just that would change his entire life. Soon he would be plucked out of that juke joint and find himself traveling the world playing his beloved Blues with one of the genre's cornerstone innovators. Robert Jr. Lockwood, one of music's most distinguished Delta Blues guitarists, dropped into this local blues club. Coleman had never met him but knew of his music, his recordings as a sought-after Chess session player, his signature sound, and his step-father, Robert Johnson. Lockwood made no bones about his distaste for harp players over the years...said he'd never have one in his band. Then, on this night, he heard Wallace Coleman play. Lockwood called Coleman over to his table and said it reminded him of the rich sounds and changes he had heard from the harps of Little Walter (Jacobs) and Sonny Boy (II). He asked Coleman to join his band on the spot. Coleman told Lockwood that he had almost 2 years to finish out on his day job, but would be honored to look him up after that. Two years later, Coleman took his place on Lockwood's stage as his first and only harmonica player...a post he proudly held for 10 years. This began Coleman's professional music career and an exciting new path which would eventually lead to the forming of his own band and the recording of his own music, at the urging of Lockwood himself. Coleman would go on to travel the world with his own music, garnering high praise from Blues critics and two Living Blues Award Nominations, with a win for Outstanding Harmonica. Lockwood would have two Grammy nominations, with a win. Coleman recorded with Lockwood on one of those two grammy-nominated CDs. Other than playing the same Festivals, Coleman and Lockwood saw each other only occasionally. So in 2006, it was a rare treat when Lockwood came in to one of Coleman's local gigs and stayed the entire night to listen. Coleman played heavily from the Chess catalog that night for his former boss and the knowing smile on Lockwood's face was a great reward. After playing his standing gig the next week, Lockwood fell ill and was hospitalized. A few short weeks later, Robert Lockwood passed away at the age of 91. Lockwood's impression on Wallace Coleman's life and his music is indelible. There are 10 tracks on this CD - 5 original compositions crafted by Coleman in homage to his late mentor. The remaining 5 tracks are chosen for a variety of reasons that Coleman said would be known to Lockwood and, he hoped, would make him smile. This includes the last track, a departure from Coleman's traditional Blues roots - the beautiful and haunting melody of Sting's Fields of Gold. For, as Coleman refers to Lockwood in his personal note on the CD, God bless him and may he forever walk in fields of gold.