-robert johnson-

Studio portrait c. 1935, one of only three verified photographs of Johnson

*’8 may 1911′ – ’16 august 1938’*

Overlooked No More: Robert Johnson, Bluesman Whose Life Was a Riddle - The New York Times

(‘robert leroy johnson’ was an american blues singer-songwriter / musician)

(his landmark recordings in 1936 and 1937 display a combination of singing, guitar skills, and songwriting talent that has influenced later generations of musicians)

(Johnson’s shadowy and poorly documented life and death at age 27 have given rise to much legend)

(1 ‘faustian myth’ says that he sold his ‘soul’ to the ‘devil’ at a local crossroads of ‘mississippi highways’ to achieve success)

(as an itinerant performer who played mostly on street corners, in juke joints, and at Saturday night dances, Johnson had little commercial success or public recognition in his lifetime)

(after the reissue of his recordings in 1961, on the LP King of the Delta Blues Singers, his work reached a wider audience)

(‘Johnson’ is now recognized as a master of the blues, particularly of the Mississippi Delta blues style)

(he is credited by many rock musicians as an important influence; the blues and rock musician ‘Eric Clapton’ has called Johnson “the most important blues singer that ever lived”)

(‘Johnson’ was inducted into the ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’ in its first induction ceremony, in 1986, as an early influence on ‘rock and roll’)

(in 2010, ‘david fricke’ ranked ‘johnson’ 5th in rolling stone magazine’s “100 greatest guitarists of all time”)

“thanks david fricke!”

*this is a ‘forgery’…*
(shane on you!)