Page 6 - BiTS_03_MARCH_2021_Neat

Sherman Robertson
October 27, 1948,- Thursday 28th January 2021

Born in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, United States) was an American blues
guitarist, songwriter and singer, who has been described as "one
part zydeco, one part swamp blues, one part electric blues and
one part classic rhythm and blues”. Sherman had been in ill
health for 10 years and was cared for with great dedication by his
wife Marybeth.

At the age of 13, he watched a performance on television by Hank
Williams. Duly inspired and equipped with a cheap guitar purchased by
his father, he started playing the songs previously performed by
Freddie King and Floyd London.

In 1982, Clifton Chenier heard Robertson's band playing at the
Crosstown Blues Festival. Robertson moved back to
Louisiana, learned to play slide guitar, and toured for several
years in the 1980s with Chenier.

Robertson's guitar work appeared on Paul Simon's
Graceland album, and he
was on the bill at the
1994 Notodden Blues
Festival.

More recently, Sherman performed with
a band called BluesMove featuring British
musicians and performed the Harvest Time
Blues festival in Monaghan, Ireland. In 2011,
Robertson and BluesMove appeared at the
Rhythm Festival in Bedfordshire, England.

In 2011, Sherman apparently suffered two strokes.

Sherman’s widow, Marybeth told BluesMove
drummer Mike Hellier, “People come and go. Our time here on Earth is merely borrowed from a being
that is greater than all of us. We do not have a say on when we go, how we go or why, because

everything happens when we least expect them to. So, when our time is finally up, we’re bound to
leave a mark in another person’s life one way or another. But despite the little time spent together or
a lot of times spent together, what matters most is how you made all those years, months, and days
count. When we lose someone, remembering them for who they were becomes a priority.

Sherman was a man who spoke with excitement but also with passion when it came to his music and
friends. Life on the road is not for everyone but Sherman made it work for 42 years of playing music.
Life is never certain, but he sure made a go of it and touched a lot of souls that truly loved his music
in the Blues genre.”

Ian K. McKenzie