Robert johnson blues musician biography template
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“He was so good,” marveled House.
Early Life and Education
Robert Johnson was born on May 8, 1911, in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, into a family deeply rooted in the Southern music tradition. The following June, he returned to Texas, this time working with Law at a studio in Dallas.
These sessions – taking place over a total of five days – produced Robert Johnson’s entire catalog of recordings, nearly all of which have become standards in the blues canon.
The recorded songs he produced in the late 1930s, notably hits like "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom" and "Sweet Home Chicago," have made him a pivotal figure in shaping the blues genre and have contributed significantly to his posthumous net worth. Countless artists (including almost everyone mentioned in this story) have covered Johnson’s songs, while many of rock’s greatest guitarists, including Clapton and Jimi Hendrix, have cited Johnson as an influence.
The tale of his alleged meeting at the crossroads of Highways 49 and 61, where he supposedly made a deal with the devil, remains an enduring part of his mythology, adding an air of mystery to his origins. His few documented relationships may provide insights into his character, but they remain a minor facet of the broader narrative centered on his contributions to blues music.
His ability to reinterpret and refine the ideas of others raised his music to a new level of sophistication.
Adapting and Perfecting
Johnson was known for his creative use of other artists' recordings. In a more recent account, published in 2006 in the British Medical Journal, Dr. David Connell argues that, based on Johnson’s appearance in photos, the artist may have suffered from Marfan Syndrome.
According to blues scholar Bruce Conforth, Johnson spent the better part of a year living with Zimmerman, and studying his craft.
How has Robert Johnson’s music impacted modern music, who did he influence, and what is his legacy?
In 1961, Columbia released King of the Delta Blues Singers, a compilation of Johnson’s music. He spent his formative years learning to play and experimenting with various musical styles.
His mother, Julia Dodds, had birthed ten children ahead of him – all with her sharecropper husband, Charles.
Robert Johnson | Biography
Who is Robert Johnson?
Robert Johnson, born on May 8, 1911, in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, is widely regarded as one of the greatest blues musicians of all time. They were so utterly fluid.
They played informal “juke joints,” parties, and dances, just as they had always done, before heading back to Mississippi. Documentaries and films, including "Can't You Hear the Wind Howl?" and "Hellhounds on My Trail," have explored his life and artistry, underscoring the impact of his work and ensuring that Robert Johnson's legacy continues to resonate with generations of musicians and fans alike.
The genetic disorder, which affects the body’s connective tissue, could have contributed to Johnson’s early death.
Johnson’s final resting spot is also just as confusing as his death.
Personal Life: Married Life
Robert Johnson's personal life remains largely obscured by the myths that surround his musical career.
Other highlights include “Love in Vain” (later adapted by The Rolling Stones), the oft-covered “32-20 Blues,” and “I’ll Believe I’ll Dust My Broom,” which Elmore James famously recorded in 1951. Like many of his contemporaries, Johnson wished to put his music on tape. Sadly, she too would pass away within a few years.
How did he establish himself as a musician?
After his foundational years in Memphis, Johnson continued to practice the guitar, while classmates remembered him playing the jaw harp and the harmonica in school.
One of the earliest accounts of Johnson as a musician comes from Delta blues pioneer Son House, who first encountered the young artist around 1930 in Robinsonville, Mississippi.