Grandson Records in Room 414 for 90th Anniversary

Steven Johnson, grandson of Robert Johnson, will record a new album in Room 414 of San Antonio’s Gunter Hotel. The session marks the 90th anniversary of the original 1936 recording, where the 25-year-old Mississippi guitarist tracked material that influenced later acts including the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin.

The hotel scheduled a three-day tribute from November 12 to 14 to honor the milestone. Johnson will use the Gunter Studio to cut the record, which the Robert Johnson Blues Foundation plans to release. He will also perform in the main showcase on Saturday.

The Saturday event in the Crystal Ballroom features pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph, who recently won a Grammy for his work with Preacher Kids. He will share the stage with 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 emcee the show. Tickets begin at $59.

Events will take place throughout the hotel over the weekend. On Thursday, November 12, producer Michael Ramos will lead tours of the Gunter Studio from 5 to 7 p.m. The Robert Johnson Revue with Nicky Diamonds will play the Studio Lounge from 7 to 9 p.m., while the Aaron Stephens Trio performs at Bar 414 from 9 p.m. to midnight.

Friday, November 13, includes 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 follow at Bar 414 from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The Saturday showcase runs from 7 to 10:15 p.m. in the Crystal Ballroom. The Eve Monsees Trio will play at Bar 414 from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. The Gunter Hotel reopened in 2025 after a $70 million renovation and now includes a music council with Adrian Quesada, Will Bridges, Noel Bridges, and Garrett T. Capps. Every guest room contains a turntable and a copy of King of the Delta Blues Singers.

Hotel owner Jiwon Choi said the Gunter is “honored to bring so many talented people together in one place to celebrate our hotel's history and Robert Johnson's legacy.” He noted the goal is to “celebrate those that have come before us, and encourage future generations of artists that may come through our doors.”