Richard Johnston

Who is Richard Johnston?

Richard Johnston is an American country blues musician who won the 2001 International Blues Challenge, and the 2001 Albert King Award for most promising blues guitarist. His work as a street musician on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee was documented in the Alabama PBS film Richard Johnston: Hill Country Troubadour. The film, directed by Max Shores, featured Johnston singing and playing his "Lowebow" cigar box guitar. It won first place in the professional documentary film category at the 2007 George Lindsey/UNA Film Festival.

Johnston studied under blues artists including R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough and Jessie Mae Hemphill. His first album, Foot Hill Stomp, featured Hemphill on vocals and tambourine, with assistance from R.L. Burnside's grandson, Cedric Burnside, and others.

His second album, Official Bootleg #1, was assisted by Hemphill and by Cedric Burnside, and other artists.