Born in Hazelhurst, Mississippi in 1911, Robert Johnson came to prominence in the 1930s, recording his 26-song catalog during two recording sessions in 1936 and 1937. The blues songs Johnson recorded over the course of those sessions went on to influence two generations of blues masters and became the foundation upon which much of rock and roll was built. He passed away in 1938 at the age of 27.
From early blues craftsmen like Muddy Waters and Elmore James to modern blues/rock innovators like Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones, no one has escaped the wide-ranging influence of this blues master.
Recommended recordings:
The Complete Recordings (The Centennial Collection)
King of Delta Blues Singers
King of the Delta Blues Singers Vol. 2
Videos:
The Search for Robert Johnson
Can’t You Hear the wind Howl? The Life & Music of Robert Johnson
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
