Greatest bluesman ever? Probably, but one of the absolute first to be recognized for his sweaty Mississippi licks and an empathetic conjuring of Everyman’s drudgery through his tumbling odes to oppression. Johnson is the first figure you greet if you do the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame on its correct trajectory. He is the foundation of Delta blues, juke joint, old school country, 1950s rock ‘n roll and the early whiffs of soul.

Robert Johnson was gifted beyond words as a maverick musician of The Great Depression. He only had two recording sessions in 1937 and 1938, originally pressed on the ancient 78 rpm acetate records of the times. Johnson died at the far too young age of 27, the same age as future rock legends Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison. Let that factoid sink in a moment. All of them, masters of their craft in the prime of their youth, snuffed out at exactly the same age. Conspiracy theorists may even have a go with the “J” factor in linking the freaky weird deaths of all four artists.

You may have heard rumors Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil himself to acquire his gifts, for which a brutal tender came due. Lighting in a bottle spelling immortality for history, if not a substantial lifespan. Johnson had hellhounds on his trail, after all. I bet the other “J’s” did too.

–Ray Van Horn, Jr.