Roberto Luti: Playing For Change

By Jim Weaver:

“Street musician Roberto Luti of Livorno Italy

playing Blind Willie Johnson’s “Dark Was the Night (Cold Was the Ground)”.

A re-recording of the Johnson version is on the Voyager satellite as an example of human music.

I think Voyager left our galaxy ten or fifteen years ago.”

Here’s the description for this video:

“The Playing For Change crew first met this unbelievably talented musician by a happy coincidence eight years ago. Mark Johnson, Jonathan Walls and Whitney Kroenke were heading to New Orleans in search of musicians and inspiration, and long-time friend of the project Keb’ Mo’ offered to put them in touch with someone.

When Mark dialed the number Keb’ Mo’ had given him, an Italian man answered. He told Mark that the person he was calling for was on the road with a band, but that he himself was a street musician in New Orleans and would love to be involved in our project.

In the eight years following that initial conversation, Roberto Luti has become one of the musical pillars on which Playing For Change has been built. We hope you enjoy his hauntingly beautiful slide guitar on this soulful piece. And if you ever find yourself in Livorno, check to see if he is performing– it’s an experience you wouldn’t want to miss!”