The
Reverend Robert Wilkins was born in January 1896 in Hernando, Mississippi
and was part Cherokee Indian in origin. When he was in his teens he moved
with his mother to Memphis and by the 1920's he was one of the most popular
blues artists performing on Beale Street. In 1928, when he was 32 years old
Wilkins recorded four songs for Victor records, and a year later Vocalion
visited Memphis and he recorded eight sides for them. The most famous song
he recorded was 'That's No Way To Get Along' which was later covered by the
Rolling Stones as 'Prodigal Son'. He made his last recordings of this period
in 1935 when he recorded five titles. About that time his wife became very
seriously ill and Wilkins, who was already disillusioned by the frequent
violence at blues parties, offered his life to God in exchange for that of
his wife. His wife survived and Wilkins kept his pledge and joined the
Church of God in Christ and became an ordained minister, specializing in
healing and herbal remedies. Wilkins
never stopped playing but changed to gospel numbers, keeping his old guitar
arrangements but changing the lyrics. He was "rediscovered" in the early
1960's and was persuaded to record an album of religious material. He died
in Memphis in 1987 at the age of 91.
The
Reverend Robert Wilkins was born in January 1896 in Hernando, Mississippi
and was part Cherokee Indian in origin. When he was in his teens he moved
with his mother to Memphis and by the 1920's he was one of the most popular
blues artists performing on Beale Street. In 1928, when he was 32 years old
Wilkins recorded four songs for Victor records, and a year later Vocalion
visited Memphis and he recorded eight sides for them. The most famous song
he recorded was 'That's No Way To Get Along' which was later covered by the
Rolling Stones as 'Prodigal Son'. He made his last recordings of this period
in 1935 when he recorded five titles. About that time his wife became very
seriously ill and Wilkins, who was already disillusioned by the frequent
violence at blues parties, offered his life to God in exchange for that of
his wife. His wife survived and Wilkins kept his pledge and joined the
Church of God in Christ and became an ordained minister, specializing in
healing and herbal remedies. Wilkins
never stopped playing but changed to gospel numbers, keeping his old guitar
arrangements but changing the lyrics. He was "rediscovered" in the early
1960's and was persuaded to record an album of religious material. He died
in Memphis in 1987 at the age of 91.