Johnson, Robert (c. 1912-1938)

US blues guitarist, songwriter, and singer. His intense, eerie playing and short, mysterious life made him a legend. His work has been studied by countless guitar players and his songs include ‘Love in Vain’, ‘Terraplane Blues’, ‘Crossroads’, and ‘Hellhound on My Trail’ (all 1936-37).

Born in rural Mississippi, Johnson was an exponent of acoustic delta blues, though his style, with distinctive bottleneck slide playing, foreshadowed the development of urban blues. He worked intermittently on a plantation, but also spent time on the road and performed with the blues musicians Howlin' Wolf and Sonny Boy Williamson II (1899-1965), among others. Many myths have sprung up around the figure of Robert Johnson, of whose life little is known. Legend has it that he sold his soul to the devil in exchange for his musical gift. All his 29 recordings were made in Texas 1936 and 1937; he was murdered 1938.