Grandson to Record in 1936 Room

Steven Johnson will return to Room 414 at the Gunter Hotel in San Antonio to record a new album. He is the grandson of Robert Johnson, the Mississippi guitarist who stayed at the hotel in November 1936. The recording session marks the 90th anniversary of the original visit.

Johnson plans to use both the historic guest room and the hotel's Gunter Studio for the project. The Robert Johnson Blues Foundation is scheduled to release the resulting album. The 1936 sessions produced material that influenced later acts such as the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and Eric Clapton.

The recording work precedes a three-day event running from November 12 to November 14. The centerpiece is a Saturday showcase in the Crystal Ballroom. Pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph, a recent Grammy winner, will perform alongside 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 serve as emcee for the Saturday event. Tickets for the showcase start at $59. The program includes additional performances across the hotel throughout the weekend.

Thursday's schedule begins with Gunter Studio tours led by producer Michael Ramos from 5 to 7 p.m. The Robert Johnson Revue featuring Nicky Diamonds will play in the Studio Lounge from 7 to 9 p.m., followed by the Aaron Stephens Trio at Bar 414 from 9 p.m. to midnight.

Friday features 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 will perform in the Crystal Ballroom from 8 to 10 p.m. Nick Brown & The Blues Cruise will take the stage at Bar 414 from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The Gunter Hotel reopened in 2025 after a $70 million renovation. Owner Jiwon Choi stated that the hotel is honored to celebrate its history and Robert Johnson's legacy. Every guest room currently includes a turntable and a copy of King of the Delta Blues Singers.