Richard Johnston is a country blues
musician who won the 2001 International Blues Talent competition award, and
the 2001 Albert King Award for most
promising blues guitarist. His work as a street musician (see busking) on
Beale Street in Memphis, TN was documented in the Alabama PBS film Richard
Johnston: Hill Country Troubadour. The film, directed by Max Shores,
featured Johnston singing and playing his 'Lowebow' cigar box guitar. It won
first place in the professional documentary film category at the 2007 George
Lindsey film festival.
Johnston studied under blues artists including
R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough and
Jessie Mae Hemphill. His first
album, Foot Hill Stomp (2002) featured Hemphill on vocals and tambourine,
with assistance from R.L. Burnside's grandson, Cedric Burnside, and others.
His second album, Official Bootleg #1 (2004), was assisted by Hemphill and
by Cedric Burnside, as well a number of other artists.
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