Steven Johnson to Record in Room 414 for 90th Anniversary

Steven Johnson, the grandson of Robert Johnson, will return to the Gunter Hotel in San Antonio this November to record new music in the exact room where his grandfather worked in 1936. The three-day celebration runs from November 12 to 14, marking the 90th anniversary of the session that produced material shaping modern popular music.

Johnson plans to cut tracks in hotel room 414 and utilize the Gunter Studio for an upcoming album. The Robert Johnson Blues Foundation is scheduled to release the recording. The original 1936 session by the 25-year-old Mississippi guitarist influenced major acts including Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin.

The weekend culminates in a Saturday showcase in the Crystal Ballroom from 7 to 10:15 p.m. Pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph, who recently won his first Grammy for Preacher Kids, will perform. He will join Texas blues-rock guitarist Ally Venable and the Steve L. Johnson Band on stage. Marco Cervantes, a professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio who performs as Mexstep, will emcee the event. Tickets for the showcase start at $59.

Programming extends throughout the hotel property across the weekend. On Thursday, November 12, producer Michael Ramos leads Gunter Studio tours from 5 to 7 p.m. The Robert Johnson Revue featuring Nicky Diamonds plays in the Studio Lounge from 7 to 9 p.m. The Aaron Stephens Trio performs in Bar 414 from 9 p.m. to midnight.

Friday, November 13, begins with a conversation involving the Robert Johnson Family in the Gunter Studio Lounge from 6 to 7 p.m. Hector Saldaña moderates the discussion. Tomar & The FCs and Jordan Matthew Young perform in the Crystal Ballroom from 8 to 10 p.m. Nick Brown & The Blues Cruise take the stage at Bar 414 from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Saturday, November 14, features the main ballroom showcase followed by the Eve Monsees Trio at Bar 414 from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. The Gunter reopened in 2025 after a $70 million renovation. The property has integrated its musical history by offering studio access to emerging artists and maintaining a record lending library in the lobby. Every guest room includes a turntable and a copy of King of the Delta Blues Singers.

Hotel owner Jiwon Choi said in a release that the Gunter is honored to bring talented people together to celebrate the hotel's history and Robert Johnson's legacy. Choi stated that the mission is to celebrate those who came before and encourage future generations of artists who pass through the doors.