Profession: Singer and guitarist
Biography: Robert Johnson was an early and influential Delta Blues singer who died young but who left behind a selection of recordings that have inspired fellow musicians ever since.
Bought up mostly in Memphis, Johnson became a travelling musician in the 1930s. Folklore says he met the Devil at a crossroads and sold his soul for musical mastery.
In 1936 and 1937 he recorded tracks that would later become Blues standards with music producer Don Law. These tracks included "Dust My Broom" and "Cross Road Blues", brought to wide notice by Eric Clapton in the 1960s. In these recordings Johnson shows his talent for complex guitar playing, particular for incorporating the boogie-woogie piano Blues style into his playing.
Johnson's work was rediscovered in 1960s and taken up by Rock n Roll musicians as Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones. Johnson died in mysterious circumstances in 1938.
Born: May 8, 1911
Birthplace: Hazlehurst, Mississippi, USA
Generation: Greatest Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Pig
Star Sign: Taurus
Historical Events
- 1936-11-23 Legendary Delta blues musician Robert Johnson's first recording session with producer Don Law at the Gunter Hotel, San Antonio, Texas
- 1937-06-19 Second of two legendary recording sessions by Delta Blues musician Robert Johnson with producer Don Law at the Vitagraph Studios, Dallas, Texas
- 1986-01-23 Inaugural class of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees: Chuck Berry; James Brown; Ray Charles; Sam Cooke; Fats Domino; The Everly Brothers; Buddy Holly; Jerry Lee Lewis; Elvis Presley; Little Richard; Robert Johnson; Jimmie Rodgers; Jimmy Yancey; Alan Freed; John Hammond; and Sam Phillips
Brian Jones
Maurice Gibb
Richie Sambora
Annie Lennox
Jennifer Hudson
Melanie Brown