Did Robert Johnson, renowned Blues musician, allegedly strike a deal with the Devil to obtain his extraordinary talent?
Robert Johnson: The Man, the Myth, and the Music
Robert Johnson, born in May 1911 in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, is a figure shrouded in mystery and legend. His life and death have contributed significantly to the enduring myth that he sold his soul to the devil [1][2][4].
Johnson's exceptional guitar ability and songwriting impressed audiences and musicians alike. His songs often referenced devilish and supernatural themes, such as “Hellhound on My Trail” and “Me and the Devil Blues,” which fueled speculation about dark forces influencing his music [1].
The most famous legend claims that Johnson made a deal with the devil at a crossroads (most often cited as the intersection of Highways 49 and 61 in Mississippi) to gain his musical prowess. This intersection has symbolic and folkloric significance in southern and African American cultural traditions [4].
However, it is important to note that this story is largely a legend, and scholars and historians have worked to distinguish fact from folklore [2][4]. Johnson was a young black musician developing his art in the challenging social context of the Deep South, and the “selling the soul” story is a legend that grew partly from cultural storytelling and exaggerated accounts by later musicians trying to emulate his persona [2][4].
Johnson's life was marked by tragedy and hardship. At a young age, he lost his wife and child during a difficult birth, and his wife's ultra-religious family blamed their deaths on his "devil's music" [1]. His musical ambitions came to a halt when he married his first wife, Virginia Travis, at the age of 17 [1].
In 1936, Robert Johnson landed a chance to record his music with the American Record Company in San Antonio, Texas [1]. His first single, "Terraplane Blues," sold 5,000 copies and earned him another recording session [1]. In 1961, Columbia Records released a 16-track compilation of Johnson's greatest tunes, which sparked a blues revival and inspired artists like Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton [1].
Johnson spent a lot of time at juke joints, stores, and private homes where black residents could mingle and dance after hours [1]. His influence can be found in hard rock bands like Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones [1]. Johnson is credited with adapting the boogie-woogie style of piano playing for the guitar [1].
Despite his success, Johnson's life ended tragically. He died suddenly at the age of 27 in Greenwood, Mississippi in 1938, but his death certificate didn't list a cause [1]. Popular stories say he was poisoned at a juke joint, possibly out of jealousy, and other more mythic versions suggest supernatural causes for his demise [3][5].
In summary, the myth that Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil was largely shaped by the combination of his musical genius, mysterious death, lyrical content, and cultural storytelling traditions [1][2][4]. This legend has since become an iconic part of his legacy and blues folklore [1][2][4].
References: [1] https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-Johnson [2] https://www.history.com/news/robert-johnson-devil-crossroads-myth [3] https://www.biography.com/musician/robert-johnson [4] https://www.pbs.org/wnet/american-epic/artists/robert-johnson/1568/ [5] https://www.npr.org/2013/06/10/190269043/the-true-story-of-robert-johnson-and-the-crossroads
- The mystique surrounding Robert Johnson's life extends beyond his exceptional music, as rumors of his deal with the devil intertwine with history and entertainment, making his story a captivating mix of fact and legend.
- Despite the persisting myth, Johnson's profound impact on music, particularly on blues, hard rock, and even modern guitar-based entertainment, is undeniable, as his innovative guitar style and powerful lyrics continue to resonate across generations.
