Robert Leroy Johnson, one of the greatest blues musicians of all time, was born on May 8, 1911 in Hazlehurst, Mississippi to Julia Major Dodds and Noah Johnson.
Robert Leroy Johnson, one of the greatest blues musicians of all time, was born on May 8, 1911 in Hazlehurst, Mississippi to Julia Major Dodds and Noah Johnson. Although his records sold poorly during his lifetime, and enjoyed little commercial success or public recognition, his landmark recordings from 1936–1937 display a combination of singing, guitar skills, and songwriting talent that have influenced later generations of musicians. Robert Johnson played mostly on street corners, in juke joints, and at Saturday night dances in rural Mississippi. His musical skills was so profound, that legend said that he met the devil at the crossroad near Dockery Plantation at midnight. In exchange for his soul, Robert Johnson was able to create the blues for which he became famous. The crossroads detail was widely believed to come from Johnson himself, as it would explain his high emotions and religious fervor in "Cross Road Blues" when simply hitchhiking at night; the myth offers a literal explanation. Robert Johnson is today considered a master of the blues, particularly of the Delta blues style. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame included four songs by Robert Johnson in the 500 songs that shaped rock and roll.