Robert Johnson is one of the most celebrated blues artists. He is known for his singing, composing, and guitar skills as well as the legend that surrounds his life. As the story goes, Robert Johnson was a young man living on a plantation in rural Mississippi. He had a burning desire to become a great blues musician and was instructed to take his guitar to a crossroad near Dockery's plantation at midnight. There he was met by the Devil who took the guitar from Johnson, tuned it, and handed it back to him. In exchange for his everlasting soul, Robert Johnson would become the king of the Delta blues singers, able to play, sing, and create the greatest blues. Robert Johnson did indeed gain success as a blues performer. After growing up watching local bluesman like Son House and Charlie Patton, Johnson developed his own style of playing. He made a great contribution to Blues music by inventing the boogie base line, a style of guitar playing, playing on the bottom strings of the guitar, the is recognized by most people as the sound of down-home blues. Robert Johnson traveled throughout Mississippi, ventured to St. Louis and as far as Chicago, Detroit, and New York City playing the blues. His first recording was "Terraplane Blues". Unfortunately he was poisoned at an early age before he could record much of his music.
Discography: King of the Delta Blues Singers. 1961, Columbia. King of the Delta Blues Singers Vol. 2. 1970, Columbia. Robert Johnson: The Complete Recordings. 1990, Columbia. |
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