Robert Johnson

(1911-1938) 

A number of books have been written about  American blues singer and guitarist Robert Johnson. Born in Mississippi in 1911, Robert Johnson established a unique style of guitar playing based on infectious rhythms, boogie riffs and slide technique.  One of his songs "Sweet Home Chicago" has been recorded by various artists and Eric Clapton even dedicated a two entire CDs to him entitled "Sessions for Robert J" and "Me and Mr. Johnson".

After growing up and working on plantations and labor camps throughout his early years, Robert Johnson married at the age of 18.  He lost his wife in 1930 due to a complicated child birth. While living in Arkansas. Robert Johnson later became a professional traveling musician in the 1930s and lived a life of a hobo, while earning a living with his music. Sadly, Johnson died at the early age of 27 while producing only 29 songs.

His worked was influenced by the recordings of Lonni Johnson, Son House, the sounds of Skip James, and Hambone Willie Newbern. Johnson made a number of influential recordings  in Texas that reflected the Mississippi blues of the mid-1930s. Such recordings, it could be argued, link Mississippi Delta blues to modern Chicago blues.

Johnson's guitar technique combined dramatic rhythms with special effects produced by a bottleneck slide. He was noted for using a walking bass rhythm. His recording influenced the post war generation of blues players, including various British guitarists of the 1960s, such as Eric Clapton and John Mayall.

Some of Robert Johnson's greatest recordings included: 2·20 Blues (1936), If I had possession over Judgment Day (1936), Hell Hound on my Trail (1937). Kind Hearted Woman (1936), I believe I’ll dust my broom (1936), Ramblin’ on my Mind (1936). He also played popular songs, such as My Blue Heaven.