San Antonio's Gunter Hotel Plans Three-Day Tribute to Robert Johnson's 1936 Recording Session
Johnson's grandson will record in room 414 and the hotel's studio as part of a November 12-14 anniversary celebration marking 90 years since the blues legend's landmark session.
By Chinedu Okafor ·
San Antonio's Gunter Hotel will mark the 90th anniversary of one of the most consequential sessions in blues history with a three-day celebration from November 12 to 14. The weekend honors Robert Johnson, the 25-year-old Mississippi guitarist who checked into the hotel in November 1936 and recorded material that went on to shape popular music.
At the center of the festivities is Steven Johnson, the bluesman's grandson, who will return to the same room where the original session took place. He plans to record in room 414 and will also use the hotel's Gunter Studio to cut an upcoming album, which the Robert Johnson Blues Foundation is set to release. The 1936 session later inspired artists including Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin.
The recording work leads into a Saturday showcase in the Crystal Ballroom. Pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph, who recently won his first Grammy for Preacher Kids, will perform alongside Texas blues-rock guitarist Ally Venable and the Steve L. Johnson Band. Marco Cervantes, a University of Texas at San Antonio professor who performs as Mexstep, will serve as emcee. Tickets start at $59.
Programming will extend beyond the ballroom, with events throughout the hotel all weekend. On Thursday, November 12, producer and musician Michael Ramos will lead Gunter Studio tours from 5 to 7 p.m. A Robert Johnson Revue featuring Nicky Diamonds follows in the Studio Lounge from 7 to 9 p.m., and the Aaron Stephens Trio plays Bar 414 from 9 p.m. to midnight.
Friday, November 13, begins with a conversation with the Robert Johnson Family, moderated by Hector Saldaña, in the Gunter Studio Lounge from 6 to 7 p.m. Tomar & The FCs and Jordan Matthew Young perform in the Crystal Ballroom from 8 to 10 p.m., and Nick Brown & The Blues Cruise take the stage at Bar 414 from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
On Saturday, November 14, the ballroom showcase runs from 7 to 10:15 p.m., followed by the Eve Monsees Trio at Bar 414 from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
The Gunter reopened in 2025 after a $70 million renovation and has since leaned into its musical heritage. It has opened its recording studio to emerging artists and keeps a record lending library in the lobby. The hotel has also formed a music council that includes Adrian Quesada, a co-founder of Black Pumas; Will and Noel Bridges of Antone's Nightclub; and Garrett T. Capps. Every guest room is equipped with a turntable and a copy of King of the Delta Blues Singers.
Hotel owner Jiwon Choi said in a release that the Gunter is "honored to bring so many talented people together in one place to celebrate our hotel's history and Robert Johnson's legacy." Choi added: "It is our hope and our mission to celebrate those that have come before us, and encourage future generations of artists that may come through our doors."
Originally published by News Media House · Source: CultureMap San Antonio
