Johnnie Temple was one of the greatest blues singers ever. His mastery of intonation, timing, texture, and phrasing made him one of the very best, and he enjoyed major popularity in the 1930s— far more than blues artists who today are larger than life, but were obscure in their day, like Robert Johnson. Temple was a clear influence to Johnson, and many others, but his importance has been overlooked by collectors and those who have told the story of the pre-war blues. There is no mythology surrounding Johnnie Temple, and he is never called "legendary," but he was one of the best blues singers of all time.
The Blues File from WXPN Podcast
