From the Delta to Chicago, from gospel tents to Bourbon Street — the voice of Ezekiel ‘Papa Zee’ Johnson lives on.
Papa Zee – The Voice of the Blues
Ezekiel ‘Papa Zee’ Johnson (1910–1987) was more than a bluesman — he was a bridge across traditions. From raw Delta laments to electrified Chicago nights, from gospel revival fire to New Orleans swing, Papa Zee’s gravelly voice carried the weight of survival, joy, and sorrow.
This site is dedicated to preserving his music, his story, and his legacy. Explore the timeline of his life, hear rare recordings, and step into the smoky rooms where the Blues was born.
Lost & Found
Papa Zee’s music was nearly lost forever.
When his label Delta Crown Records folded in the late 1970s, boxes of master tapes were abandoned in storage. A warehouse fire and flood left many damaged — and after his passing in 1986, it was believed his catalog had vanished.
But in 2018, a crate of reels resurfaced at an estate sale in Memphis. Inside were session tapes, rare acetates, and even unreleased songs. After careful restoration, Papa Zee’s voice and resonator guitar can finally be heard again — bringing his timeless blues back to life for a new generation.
In 2025 when Papa Zee appeared on streaming media, more music is appearing as friends, collectors, fans and old neighbors bring forth more recordings to be digitized, remastered and released
This is the only known copy of Papa Zee's album covers to have survived the warehouse fire and flood. Only the front of the cover of this album was found.