In June of 1972, Robert Johnson purchased a 1953 Les Paul Gold Top guitar from a local Memphis music teacher.That guitar eventually became known as Jeff Beck's Oxblood Les Paul.
After purchasing the Les Paul, Johnson had John Evans, the former Boxtops keyboardist, modify the pickups & bridge & Tom Keckler spray painted the guitar at Strings & Things Music Store using auto-paint to match Johnson's 1960 Oxblood shoes.
Johnson did not like the color or the guitar & put the guitar on consignment.
On November 7th 1972, Johnson drove to Little Rock to see his friend Billy Gibbons & ZZ Top open a show for Beck, Bogart & Appice, all acquaintances of Johnson. Johnson sold Beck a 1967 Fender guitar in 1971 & had played a studio session with Beck previously in NYC.
Beck asked Gibbons & Johnson about any good guitars for sale.Johnson replied that he had seventeen, including the Oxblood Les Paul at Strings & Things.
Beck had a friend take him to Strings & Things the next day. Beck loved the Oxblood Les Paul & his manager bought it.
On January 31st 1975, Johnson saw Jeff Beck and the Oxblood Les Paul together.Johnson & Beck had both been invited to a recording session with The Rolling Stones in Holland, unaware that the other would be attending. Jagger invited Johnson & Richards invited Beck, neither told each other. Beck's primary guitar at the session was the Oxblood Les Paul. Beck & Johnson played on several tracks. Neither Johnson nor Beck could have imagined that the guitar would sell for 1.3 million dollars. Beck & Johnson played together for 2 days.
From 1970-1976, Johnson sold guitars to British & American Rock Stars including, Marc Bolan, Andy Powell & Ted Turner (Wishbone Ash), Leslie West, Ronnie Montrose & and over 100 guitars to Guitar Village & Top Gear in London.
Johnson is currently producing Billy Gibbons on the missing 1971 Albert King Stax record album, featuring the Muscle Shoals Swampers. Johnson is also remixing a live 1973 Lynyrd Skynyrd recording he engineered in Memphis.Both projects will be released by Regent Sound Records Summer 2025. Johnson is also working with Ann Wilson & Tanya Tucker.
Interview by writer-musicianHulley Gulleyhulleygulley@gmail.comwww.hulleygulley.comhttps://www.regentsound.com/
To view pictures for this press release click here: https://postimg.cc/gallery/zqY3gJQ
https://c212.net/c/img/favicon.png?sn=CL08869&sd=2025-01-30
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/guitarist-producer-and-regent-sound-ceo-robert-johnson-discusses-his-history-with-jeff-becks-oxblood-les-paul-guitar-which-just-sold-for-1-315-708–the-50th-anniversary-of-beck–johnson-playing-together-on-the-rolling-sto-302365087.html
SOURCE Regent Sound
https://rt.newswire.ca/rt.gif?NewsItemId=CL08869&Transmission_Id=202501302344PR_NEWS_USPR_____CL08869&DateId=20250130