Robert Johnson........The worlds first Bluesman and Rock Star

[Defense54]

With all the election crap going on here I'm gonna take a stab at the direction started by that other thread and try to start some conversation on something Near and dear to me.........The Blues.  Here's is a GREAT Link to a story on the very first Bluesman and really the Grandfather of Popular music as we know it .

http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2008/11/johnson200811?currentPage=1



 ALL music Popular music today, Country, Rock, Most Jazz and of course Blues comes from what Mr Johnson created.  I say created because back in the 1920's no one had ever played these chords or fingerings before. Guys like Eric Clapton , Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page all did things that no one had done before but they all took from others before them and what the modern technology of the time was and created a new way to play.   But what makes Mr Johnson So unique, and such a Genius was that NO ONE has ever done it before. He had No reference point , nothing. He actually created the Blues by listening to the Field hollering of the slaves and transposing those notes and harmonies to the guitar. He instinctively knew that these notes and chord progressions sounded right and just designed the blueprint for what was to become the building blocks of all modern music as we know it today.

If you could just imagine the amount of creativity it took to do what he did in a relatively short period of time. People say he made a deal with the Devil right there at the crossroads in Mississippi to be able to come up with that instantly like he did. His recording career was about 5 years and there is Way less know about him then actual fact. I think there are maybe 2 pictures of the man in existence today.

One thing is for sure he was seriously underpaid. Everybody from Elvis to Prince owes his estate a royalty check as far as I'm concerned.  Bands like Led Zeppelin and Eric Clapton and Many others copied his music and made millions improvising on what he created.

Robert Johnson is simply one of America's most influential songwriters of all time if not in THE world. 

[bsmooth]

Has there been any indications where he got his inspiration from if any?

[Phishfan]

I don't know much about the man other than his influene on so many musicians.

[Defense54]

Has there been any indications where he got his inspiration from if any?

Mostly from what he heard from the slaves and people working in the fields. The Hymns, and the vocal phrases and harmonies were really pleasing to his ears. He took an old spanish acoustic and just from listening to the slaves was the first person to translate that to the guitar. People heard it and it blew their minds. Terms like , Man is he wailing! Came from when he played and could make it sound like someone was crying on the guitar. He backed it with really great lyrics that everyone from Clapton , to Zeppelin used .

[Defense54]

I don't know much about the man other than his influene on so many musicians.

You know more then you think bro.  Ever hear Claptons Crossroads, or Zepplins Travalin river sides blues, or even The Blue Brothers , sweet Home Chigago is All Robert Johnsons original material.  The stones , Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac , ZZ Top and so many Others have copied his songs.

[StL FinFan]

"Come on Robert Johnson
Though we're worlds apart
You and I know what it's like
With the devil in our heart
You sold your soul at the crossroads
Kept a little of mine on hand
I'm wading out this muddy water
Been stranded in the Wasteland"