Gunter Hotel Hosts Blues Anniversary Events

Steven Johnson, grandson of blues legend Robert Johnson, will return to the Gunter Hotel in San Antonio to record a new album. The three-day event, scheduled for November 12 to 14, marks the 90th anniversary of the original 1936 session. Johnson plans to work in room 414, the specific location where his grandfather recorded, and will also utilize the hotel's Gunter Studio.

The Robert Johnson Blues Foundation will release the resulting album. Robert Johnson, a 25-year-old Mississippi guitarist, checked into the hotel in November 1936. His recordings from that era influenced major acts such as Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin. The Gunter Hotel reopened in 2025 following a $70 million renovation and has since emphasized its musical history.

A central performance on Saturday, November 14, will feature pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph. Randolph recently won his first Grammy for his work with Preacher Kids. He will share the Crystal Ballroom stage with 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 host the event. Tickets for the showcase begin at $59.

Additional activities will occur throughout the hotel during the weekend. On Thursday, November 12, producer Michael Ramos will lead tours of the Gunter Studio from 5 to 7 p.m. A Robert Johnson Revue featuring Nicky Diamonds is set for the Studio Lounge from 7 to 9 p.m., while the Aaron Stephens Trio plays 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.

Saturday concludes the weekend programming. The ballroom showcase runs from 7 to 10:15 p.m. The Eve Monsees Trio will perform at Bar 414 from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. The hotel maintains a music council that includes Adrian Quesada, Will and 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 stated that the Gunter is honored to bring talented individuals together to celebrate the property's history. He noted that the mission is to honor past artists and encourage future generations who may enter the building.