A Great American Myth

 Robert Johnson, a blues musician supposedly sold his soul to the Devil in Clarksdale, Miss., at the crossroad of highways 49 and 61.  It is perhaps the greatest American myth.  It is said, as the story goes, that Robert Johnson wanted to be the best and may have been the first rock and roll artist in the world.  But he didn't start out that way.

As the story goes he was good on the harmonica, but as a blues guitarist he was considered poor at best.  He played with Son House and Willie Brown one night and as the story goes he was not received well at all by the crowd at the local club.

His song "Cross Roads Blues" tells the story about meeting a man at the cross roads at midnight.  Why this is an American myth is that no one knows for sure, but Robert Johnson is a legend in music history and most who have researched his life believe the story to be true.  Clarksdale is the birthplace of the blues as the legend goes.  Robert Johnson sought to make it big with his blues guitar playing style.  One night in 1930 Johnson played with his wo buddies, and he performed so poorly that he decided to do something about it.

The song he wrote about it doesn't mention the Devil, and in fact his family discounts the myth he sold his soul to the Devil.  But he disappeared for about three years and emerged back in Clarksdale to record some blues music.  His song of note was of course "Cross Radss Blues."  He then became one of the most famous guitar players influencing many like Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, and so many others that he has been given his place in the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.

The song doesn't mention the Devil, but a man, and it is believed this man was the Devil, and as the story goes, he sold his soul to the Devil that night.  He went on to a very successful career in music.  His death is as auspicious as his life.  It is reported that he was born in 1911 and died in August of 1938.  His death certificate says he died of Syphillis because of his love of Whiskey and women.  But there are those who insist he was poisoned by an irate husband of one of his mistresses.  

The fact is that he is credited with having accomplished much in his short life.  But his absence of three years could be explained by the loss of his wife and son who both died when she was giving birth.  It is said it was then that he wrote his blues in the middle of the Great Depression and emerged as the one who gave birth to Rock and Roll.  

I don't have the space here to write all about Robert Johnson as there are many articles to be found about him and this legend.  I won't write any more about him here, but as a segue, maybe he should have smoked a pipe, as I am smoking my Gettysburg pipe this morning with some Tropical Export and some Peterson Early Morning Pipe.  Thank you for your time and Peace to each one of you.

Dave