Bob Johnson And The Lonesome Travelers

Origin

Rossville, GA

Years active

1950s–1960s

Genres

bluegrass, country

Instruments

banjo, guitar, mandolin, bass

Biography

Bob Johnson And The Lonesome Travelers was a bluegrass group formed around banjo player Bob Johnson. Based in Rossville, Georgia, the group was active in the 1950s and 1960s. Johnson, a country and bluegrass musician, also acted as a backing musician for artists such as Bill Monroe and Johnny Cash at various times. He formed the Lonesome Travelers around 1958, and the group occasionally performed on the Grand Ole Opry.

The group is best known for the album "Twelve Shades of Bluegrass," originally released in 1963 by Parkway Records. This album featured guitarist Norman Blake, who also collaborated with Johnson as a duo on other occasions. The lineup of the Lonesome Travelers included Bob Johnson on banjo, David "Fingers" Johnston on guitar, Norman Blake on mandolin, and Roy Huskey Jr. on bass. The album was reissued in 2015 by ABKCO Records and is considered a bluegrass gem, featuring genre classics like "Little Maggie" and "Little Glass of Wine," as well as original compositions and unique arrangements such as "Auld Lang Syne."

Despite recognition in the bluegrass community, Bob Johnson retired from music in 1967 to pursue other interests, including becoming an antique machinery specialist. He passed away about ten years ago, according to reports. The influence of Bob Johnson and the Lonesome Travelers can be felt in the bluegrass scene, with their work remembered for its quality and contribution to the genre.