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Robert Johnson: The Legendary Bluesman Who Invented the Blues

Haruki Murakami

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Published in Escaping The Delta: Robert Johnson And The Invention Of The Blues

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Early Life and Career

Robert Johnson was born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, on May 8, 1911. His parents were Julia Dodds and Charles Dodds, but Johnson's father left the family when Johnson was young, and Johnson was raised by his stepfather, Dusty Willis. Johnson began playing guitar at a young age, and he quickly developed a unique style that was influenced by a variety of musical genres, including blues, ragtime, and folk music.

Escaping the Delta: Robert Johnson and the Invention of the Blues

by Elijah Wald

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	673 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
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Print length	:	425 pages

In the early 1930s, Johnson began playing in local juke joints and at parties. He quickly gained a reputation as a talented guitarist and singer, and he soon began to attract the attention of record companies. In 1936, Johnson signed a contract with Vocalion Records, and he recorded two sessions for the label that produced some of his most famous songs, including "Cross Road Blues" and "Sweet Home Chicago."

Musical Style

Johnson's music was a unique blend of blues, ragtime, and folk music. He was a master guitarist, and he developed a distinctive picking style that was characterized by its use of syncopated rhythms and slides. Johnson's lyrics were often dark and introspective, and they explored themes of love, loss, and redemption.

Johnson's music had a profound influence on the development of the blues. His unique style and his powerful lyrics helped to define the sound of the Delta blues, and his songs have been covered by countless artists, including Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, and the Rolling Stones.

Death and Legacy

Johnson died on August 16, 1938, at the age of 27. The circumstances surrounding his death are unclear, but it is believed that he was poisoned by a jealous husband. Johnson was buried in an unmarked grave in Greenwood, Mississippi, but his music has lived on to become one of the most important and influential bodies of work in American music history.

Johnson's legacy is immense. He is considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time, and his music has had a profound influence on the development of the blues. Johnson's songs have been covered by countless artists, and his music continues to inspire and move people around the world.

Robert Johnson was a legendary blues musician who invented the blues style that would later become known as the Delta blues. His unique guitar style and his powerful lyrics helped to define the sound of the Delta blues, and his songs have been covered by countless artists. Johnson died tragically at the age of 27, but his music has lived on to become one of the most important and influential bodies of work in American music history.

Escaping the Delta: Robert Johnson and the Invention of the Blues

by Elijah Wald

4.5 out of 5