Gunter Hotel schedules 1936 blues session anniversary

The Gunter Hotel in San Antonio has set dates for a three-day event commemorating the 90th anniversary of Robert Johnson's 1936 recording session.

Robert Johnson, a Mississippi guitarist who was 25 years old at the time, checked into the property in November 1936. He recorded material in Room 414 that later influenced major acts including Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin. The hotel will mark the milestone from November 12 to 14.

Steven Johnson, the grandson of the blues legend, is the central figure in the programming. He intends to return to Room 414 to perform and will utilize the on-site Gunter Studio to cut a new album. The Robert Johnson Blues Foundation is scheduled to release this upcoming record.

The weekend schedule extends beyond the recording studio into various hotel venues. On Thursday, November 12, producer Michael Ramos will lead tours of the Gunter Studio from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. A Robert Johnson Revue featuring Nicky Diamonds will perform in the Studio Lounge from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The Aaron Stephens Trio will play at Bar 414 from 9:00 p.m. to midnight.

Friday, November 13, features a moderated conversation with the Robert Johnson family in the Gunter Studio Lounge from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Hector Saldaña will moderate the discussion. Tomar & The FCs and Jordan Matthew Young will perform in the Crystal Ballroom from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. Nick Brown & The Blues Cruise are booked for Bar 414 from 10:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

The main showcase occurs on Saturday, November 14, in the Crystal Ballroom from 7:00 to 10:15 p.m. Pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph, who recently won his first Grammy for Preacher Kids, will perform. He will be joined by 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 the emcee. Tickets for the event start at $59. The Eve Monsees Trio will follow at Bar 414 from 10:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

The Gunter Hotel reopened in 2025 following a $70 million renovation. The property has integrated its musical history by opening the recording studio to emerging artists and maintaining a record lending library in the lobby. A music council now advises the hotel, including Adrian Quesada of Black Pumas, Will and Noel Bridges of Antone's Nightclub, and Garrett T. Capps. Every guest room contains a turntable and a copy of King of the Delta Blues Singers. Hotel owner Jiwon Choi stated in a release that the property is honored to celebrate the hotel's history and Robert Johnson's legacy.