Grandson of Robert Johnson to Record in San Antonio Hotel Room

The Gunter Hotel in San Antonio will host a three-day event from November 12 to 14 to mark the 90th anniversary of Robert Johnson's 1936 recording session. The celebration centers on Steven Johnson, the grandson of the Mississippi blues legend, who will return to the property where his grandfather checked in 90 years ago.

Steven Johnson plans to record in Room 414, the same room where the original 1936 session took place. He will also use the hotel's Gunter Studio to cut tracks for an upcoming album that the Robert Johnson Blues Foundation will release. The 1936 recordings by the 25-year-old guitarist have since influenced major acts including the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and Eric Clapton.

The recording process leads into a Saturday showcase in the Crystal Ballroom. Pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph, who recently won his first Grammy for his album Preacher Kids, will perform. He will be joined by Texas blues-rock guitarist Ally Venable and the Steve L. Johnson Band. Marco Cervantes, a professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio who performs as Mexstep, will emcee the event. Tickets for the showcase start at $59.

Programming extends beyond the ballroom with events scheduled throughout the hotel. On Thursday, November 12, producer Michael Ramos will lead Gunter Studio tours from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The Robert Johnson Revue featuring Nicky Diamonds will play in the Studio Lounge from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The Aaron Stephens Trio will perform at Bar 414 from 9:00 p.m. to midnight.

On Friday, November 13, a conversation with the Robert Johnson Family, moderated by Hector Saldaña, is scheduled in the Gunter Studio Lounge from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tomar & The FCs and Jordan Matthew Young will perform in the Crystal Ballroom from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Nick Brown & The Blues Cruise will take the stage at Bar 414 from 10:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

The Saturday schedule concludes the event. The ballroom showcase will run from 7:00 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. The Eve Monsees Trio will play at Bar 414 from 10:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. The Gunter Hotel reopened in 2025 after a $70 million renovation and has integrated its musical history into the guest experience. Every room now includes a turntable and a copy of King of the Delta Blues Singers.

Hotel owner Jiwon Choi stated in a release that the Gunter is honored to bring talented people together to celebrate the hotel's history and Robert Johnson's legacy. He added that the mission is to honor those who came before and encourage future generations of artists who may visit the property.