Deal with the Devil
October 9, 2023 2023-12-27 17:07Deal with the Devil
The myth of Robert Johnson
More than a century ago, one of the most influential blues performers arose from seemingly nowhere. Robert Johnson’s name is remembered for many things, most notably his impact on blues. Although, in his lifetime, he would also contribute to spawning one of the most profound demonic tales in American history.
Robert Johnson had a strange childhood, moving back and forth between his parents’ houses. Around 11 years old, Robert would move from Tennessee back to Mississippi with his mother and new husband, a sharecropper. He despised laboring on his stepfather’s plantation, often being punished for not working. Despite this, his friendly cheer never faded with impressive skill in the harmonica.
Johnson was 18 years old in the late 1920s when he pursued blues music, one of the most controversial genres of the era. At the time, blues was universally associated with the Devil and malice. Simply playing it was considered at the expense of one’s soul. This accusation was promoted by Black and White churches alike, shunning any bluesman that would entertain the Devil’s symphony.
As time passed, Robert continued practicing the guitar, eventually being recognized in 1930 by the Mississippi musician Son House. Johnson was sought for his talent with the harmonica. However, listeners noted him as a terrible guitarist. But this would change when Robert returned from his three-year travels and played for Son House, becoming so good that he left everyone speechless.
Witnesses described his debut as if three people had played his guitar all at once. His bass, main score, and rhythm were extraordinarily tempered in a tune that seemed accomplished by multiple players. Listeners were mesmerized by his melody but puzzled at how he could possess such skill out of nowhere.
Johnson would continue to play, creating a discography that would revolutionize blues forever and captivate fans beyond the South. But in his three years of absence, people began to speculate. Rumors spread of Johnson’s “deal with the devil” at a crossroad, where he suspectedly sold his soul to possess his musical gift. Violinists Niccolo Paganini and Giuseppe Tartini were significant figures with rumors mirroring Johnson’s, although he was the first to immortalize this belief in American history.
Word of Johnson’s legacy spread throughout, and his name would forever echo as a keystone trailblazer of blues. Although, his notoriety did not prosper until after his mysterious death on August 16th, 1938. The King of the Delta Blues Singers would continue to inspire many artists, such as Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, and the Rolling Stones. Despite his short career, his music had a profound impact on the blues genre and influenced numerous artists with his distinctive voice, playing style, and songwriting.
