Topic: Johnson & Shines photo "authenticated!"

[outfidel]

Searching for Robert Johnson

photo of Johnson w/ Johnny Shines?

[doctorpep]

My immediate reaction: The man on the right definitely doesn't look like Johnny Shines to me. Whether the man on the left is Robert is questionable. Vanity Fair magazine stated that this is a photo of the two, or a photo which may possibly contain Robert and Johnny?

After looking at the photo again: I noticed the copyright symbol and the Johnson surname. So, this is definitely Robert and Johnny?

[waxwing]

It may be hard to tell, but the first line of Michael's post is a link to the online article. So, read it for yourself, eh? Then put your expert opinion into context.-G-

Edit - I've merged this with the previous topic.

All for now.
John C.

[Coyote Slim]

That fellow on the right looks nothing remotely like Johnny Shines in my opinion.  Had the person that found this photo ever even seen a photo of Shines?

[outfidel]

FYI here's the 3 supposed Robert Johnson photos...beats the heck out of me whether they're the same guy, but each seems blessed with loooong fingers...

   

[waxwing]

Yeah, that pic of Johnny Shines looks like a 20 year old. Everybody knows he looked like he was 80! I mean, he doesn't even have those trademark bags under his eyes and deep creases in his cheeks. Those old blues guys were always old blues guys, right? No body could get me to believe that Johnny Shines was every a fresh faced young kid. No way! Sprung full formed from the forehead of Zeus with a slide on his finger, I say.-G-

Uh, anybody Google Images of Johnny Shines?

All for now.
John C.

[waxwing]

Here's a somewhat earlier pic of Johnny with Little Walter. Not such a stretch any more, eh? This would have been 15 to 20 years after the pic in question. High Forehead, high cheekbones, smooth complexion?



All for now.
John C.

[dj]

That's Sam Lawhorn.  And the bullhorn was photoshopped in.  The picture was taken by Ray Flerlage at Mandell Hall, U. of Chicago, May 20, 1966.

[Coyote Slim]

Different jawline, different forehead -- Shines had a distinctive hairline and eyebrows.

Check out the photo of a 26 year old SHines in the liner notes to "Johnny Shines 'Live' in Europe 1975."

[dj]

Check out the photo of a 26 year old SHines in the liner notes to "Johnny Shines 'Live' in Europe 1975."

Any chance you could scan it and post it here for comparison?

[Coyote Slim]

If I had a scanner, I would, Pan.

But take a look at the guy in the Vanity Fair photo's forehead and then look at some photos of Johnny Shines.  I've never heard of a man's hairline increasing with age! Also.. Shines had those "chipmunk" cheeks. 

[Mr.OMuck]

Does anyone know the provenance of the photo? How was it determined that this is Johnny Shines?
I'm currently pumping up the pixels to compare earlobes but my initial response is that the complexion is too light,
and the mouth to small, and the face too triangular and thin, even with the all too familiar corrections for age and corpulence.. The complexion IS just about right for Robert Jr. Lockwood however.

[dj]

O'Muck, the picture was shown to Lockwood.  He didn't recognize either person.  You'd think if it was him, he would have said "Hey, that's me."  Honeyboy Edwards saw it at the same time and with the same result: he didn't recognize either person.

[banjochris]

If I may quote Nero Wolfe: "Pfui."
Chris

[CF]

I think the original Ebay sellar of the picture had it right the first time, looks more like a young B.B. King to me.