Gunter Hotel Owner Invests in Robert Johnson Legacy Through New Recording Sessions

The Gunter Hotel in San Antonio will host Steven Johnson for a three-day event from November 12 to 14 to mark the 90th anniversary of his grandfather’s 1936 recording session. Johnson, a blues musician, will use the hotel’s facilities to record a new album that the Robert Johnson Blues Foundation plans to release. The session takes place in room 414, the same location where Robert Johnson recorded material in 1936 that influenced later bands such as the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin.

The hotel completed a $70 million renovation before reopening in 2025. Owner Jiwon Choi stated in a release that the property aims to celebrate its history and encourage future artists. The renovation included the installation of a recording studio and a record lending library in the lobby. Every guest room now contains a turntable and a copy of King of the Delta Blues Singers. The hotel has also formed a music council to guide its programming. The group includes Adrian Quesada of Black Pumas, Will and Noel Bridges of Antone’s Nightclub, and Garrett T. Capps.

The weekend schedule features a mix of professional performances and public access events. 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 will perform in the Studio Lounge from 7 to 9 p.m. The Aaron Stephens Trio will play at Bar 414 from 9 p.m. to midnight. Friday programming includes a moderated conversation with the Robert Johnson Family in the Gunter Studio Lounge from 6 to 7 p.m. Hector Saldaña will moderate the session. Tomar & The FCs and Jordan Matthew Young will perform in the Crystal Ballroom from 8 to 10 p.m., followed by Nick Brown & The Blues Cruise at Bar 414 from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The main showcase occurs on Saturday, November 14. Pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph will perform in the Crystal Ballroom from 7 to 10:15 p.m. Randolph recently won his first Grammy for Preacher Kids. He will share the 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 serve as emcee for the event. Tickets for the ballroom showcase start at $59. The Eve Monsees Trio will follow the main set at Bar 414 from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The hotel’s strategy aligns with its physical infrastructure changes. The addition of the studio and the music council reflects a commitment to supporting emerging artists. Johnson’s recording work serves as the anchor for the anniversary weekend. The property continues to integrate musical elements into its guest experience through the turntables and lending library. The events provide a structured schedule for attendees to engage with the history and current practitioners of the blues genre.