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Robert Johnson |
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| Although there never was a shortage of rumors
about Johnson, the facts about his life remain sketchy. Reportedly Robert
Johnson was born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, on May 8, 1911. Johnson was
the result of an extramarital affair- his mother, Julie Ann Majors had
been deserted by her husband for another woman. His father was rumored to
be a local farm worker, Noel Johnson. At the age of sixteen Robert was working in the cotton fields and was already using several aliases. This compounds the difficulty in tracking his history. According to Biographers, Johnson was married twice. His first wife, Virginia, died in childbirth. It was during this tumultuous time between his first and second marriage that Robert began to play the blues. Johnson demanded that his second wife keep the marriage secret to not adversely affect his image. This marriage was short lived, as Johnson soon deserted his wife, and began the life he is known for. Initially Johnson's instrument was the harmonica. Later he tried a guitar, which was not the instrument of choice for blues artists. Soon other Legends allowed him to sit in with them- reluctantly enough though. To them he was nothing more than a wanna-be bluesman. Some even avoided contact with him. Mysteriously, Johnson disappeared for six months. Some say that he attempted to find his father: others said that this is when he met with Satan to make his deal. Upon his return, his contemporaries were dumbfounded by his improvement. This fact is probably most responsible for the rumors. Johnson gained notoriety as a first rate guitarist, and packed blues clubs everywhere he played. The events surrounding his death only added to the rumors. On August 16, 1938, Johnson reportedly fell to his knees, barked, and howled like a dog before dying in excruciating pain. Historians believe he was poisoned with wood alcohol or strychnine by a jealous husband. If that date rings familiar, don't be surprised. That is the same date on which Elvis Presley died 42 years later. Like Elvis, Johnson became more famous after his death. Both musicians were fascinated by the occult and their own deaths. Another famous person to share that death date is Babe Ruth. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has put together a timeline of his life- see that here. |
| References: http://webdvl.com/johnson/bio.html http://www.blueflamecafe.com/default.htm |
| By: Candace Odom |
