Bob Johnson (musician)

Not to be confused with Robert Johnson (musician) or Bob Johnston.

Robert Michael Leonard Johnson (18 March 1944 – 15 December 2023) was a British guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was a member of the British folk rock band Steeleye Span from 1972 to 1977, and again from 1980 to 2001.

Early life

Robert Johnson was born in Clapham, South West London; his mother was a music teacher. He was educated at Westminster City School in London and the University of Hertfordshire.

Musical career

Johnson played acoustic and electric guitars and sang on Appalachian dulcimer player Roger Nicholson's 1972 album Nonesuch for Dulcimer, credited as Robert Johnson. He went on to become a member of the successful English electric folk band Steeleye Span in 1972, after being introduced by fiddler Peter Knight.

Johnson first appeared on the group's fourth album, Below the Salt, where he took lead vocals on the track "King Henry". Along with "King Henry", he introduced many of the band's better-known songs into the repertoire, such as "Thomas the Rhymer", "Alison Gross", "Long Lankin" and "Gaudete".

Despite taking lead vocals on many songs, he was something of a background member. Johnson left Steeleye Span temporarily in 1977 to work on a concept album, The King of Elfland's Daughter, along with Peter Knight. However, he returned in 1980 to record Sails of Silver. After Tim Hart's departure from the band in 1980, Johnson became the sole guitarist and a more prominent member, taking on a central role for the albums Back in Line (1986) and Tempted and Tried (1989).

Owing to health reasons, he left Steeleye Span in 2000, but returned the following year to record Present – The Very Best of Steeleye Span. However, his remaining health issues prevented him from touring, so he was replaced by Ken Nicol. Nevertheless, he continued to be involved with the band, contributing songwriting and vocals to their studio albums, most recently Wintersmith in 2013.

In 2023, Steeleye Span released a new recording of the track "The Green Man", which was written by Johnson in the 1980s but never officially released. The guitar riff was repurposed by Johnson for the song "Well Done, Liar" on the 2000 album, Bedlam Born.

Personal life and death

Johnson was a qualified psychologist, having completed a degree at the University of Hertfordshire. He had two children, Barnaby and Holly, with his first wife, Jane. At the time of his death, he was married to his second wife, Mandy.

Johnson died on 15 December 2023, at the age of 79. On 16 December, the Steeleye Span Twitter account released a statement announcing his death, saying “he had been poorly for a few months now but finally left us in search of the rainbow’s end”.

External links

• Bob Johnson discography at Discogs