In the history of the Blues there are few musicians as revered as the great Robert Johnson. Although he saw little success in his own lifetime, his music would go on to influence generations of singers, songwriters, and guitar players. Legend has it that Johnson gained his great talent after he sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads. His tragic life and violent death are often explained as the dark fallout of his ill advised contract with Satan. What can be said for certain about the most mysterious figure in American music? Tune-in and find out how fake mothers, poisoned whiskey, Levon Helm, and guy named “Honeyboy” all play role in the story.

Works Cited

Graves, Tom, and Robert Johnson. Crossroads the Life and Afterlife of Blues Legend Robert Johnson. Memphis, TN: Rhythm Oil Publications, 2012. Print.

Lomax, Alan. The Land Where the Blues Began. New York: New, 2002. Print.

“Mack McCormick Still Has the Blues.” Texas Monthly. 01 Apr. 2002. Web. 21 Feb. 2017.

Pearson, Barry Lee., and Bill McCulloch. Robert Johnson: Lost and Found. Urbana, IL: U of Illinois, 2008. Print.

Wald, Elijah. Escaping the Delta: Robert Johnson and the Invention of the Blues. New York: HarperCollins, 2005. Print.

Wald, Elijah. Robert Johnson: Standing at the Crossroads of the Blues. New York: Amistad, 2004. Print.

Wardlow, Gayle Dean. Chasin’ That Devil Music. San Francisco, CA: Backbeat, 2001. Print.