Legacy
Johnson's records have become influential, and his songs have been covered by several popular artists, including Led Zeppelin. "John the Revelator" was also recorded by delta blues musician Son House, and "Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning" was recorded by another delta blues musician, Fred McDowell.
"If I Had My Way I'd Tear The Building Down" was recorded by Peter, Paul, and Mary; retitled as "Samson and Delilah". The song was frequently performed by the Grateful Dead and appears on their studio album Terrapin Station; Gary Davis also recorded a version; and Bruce Springsteen has performed a version of the song live with the Seeger Sessions Band.
"Dark was the Night" was also included on the Voyager Golden Record, copies of which were mounted on both of the Voyager spacecraft which are currently exploring the outer edges of our solar system, on their way to interstellar space. The story of Blind Willie Johnson and the inclusion of his music on Voyager is referenced in the episode The Warfare of Genghis Khan of the television series The West Wing.
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Famous quotes containing the word legacy:
“What is popularly called fame is nothing but an empty name and a legacy from paganism.”
—Desiderius Erasmus (c. 1466–1536)