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Johnny Shines, born April 26, 1915 in Frayser, TN, was better known for his travels with blues legend Robert Johnson than for his own gifts as a blues musician, and his contribution to the genre has often been overlooked. Early on Shines was a top Delta blues slide guitarist and vocalist in Memphis, with his own unique, energetic style. Later in Chicago he also excelled in electric blues, but was under-recorded and eventually left the music business until being rediscovered in the late 1960's. Despite suffering a stroke in 1980, he toured and recorded until 1991. He died in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on April 20, 1992.