Robert Johnson

Robert Johnson - Songwriters, Timeline and Family

Violet FieldHome › AmericanRobert JohnsonMay 8, 19111,137 views

0 based on 0 rates
Robert Johnson Biography Stories 

Robert Johnson's Personal Details

Robert Johnson was an American blues singer-songwriter and musician

InformationDetail
BirthdayMay 8, 1911
Died onAugust 16, 1938
NationalityAmerican
FamousAfrican American Singers, Black Musicians, Black Singers, Died Young, Musicians, Guitarists, Singers, Songwriters
City/StateMississippi
SpousesCaletta Craft (m. 1931–1938), Virginia Travis (m. 1929–1930)
Known asRobert Leroy Johnson
ChildrensClaud Johnson
Universities
  • Tunica's Indian Creek School
Birth PlaceHazlehurst, Mississippi
GenderMale
FatherNoah Johnson
MotherJulia Major Dodds
Sun SignTaurus
Born inHazlehurst, Mississippi
Famous asMusician, Songwriter
Died at Age27

// Famous Songwriters

Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O’Connell is an American singer and songwriter. Check out this biography to know about her childhood, family, personal life, birthday, etc.

Isac Elliot

Isac Elliot

Isac Elliot is a Finnish pop singer-songwriter and dancer. Let’s have a look at his family & personal life including age, date of birth, girlfriends, net worth, and fun facts.

Laura Marano

Laura Marano

Laura Marano is an American actress and singer-songwriter. Let’s have a look at her personal & family life including age, net worth, boyfriends, and fun facts.

Robert Johnson's photo

Who is Robert Johnson?

Robert Johnson was an American blues composer, guitarist, and singer whose eerie falsetto voice and masterful, rhythmic slide guitar influenced both his contemporaries and many later blues and rock musicians. In Robinsonville, where he spent the bulk of his youth, he came in contact with Delta blues masters Willie Brown, Charley Patton, and Son House, who were not particularly impressed by his talent. They were, however, astonished by his musical ability when he returned to his town after being away for a year. According to legends, during that period he made a deal with Satan at a crossroad, acquiring his prodigious talent as a guitarist, singer and songwriting in exchange for the stipulation that he would have only eight more years to live. He traveled throughout Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas and Tennessee and as far north as Chicago and New York, playing at house parties, juke joints and on the street. In 1936–37, he made a series of recordings in a hotel room in San Antonio, Texas, and at a warehouse in Dallas. His repertoire included several blues songs but his original numbers, ‘Hellhound on My Trail’, and ‘Terraplane Blues’ are most compelling pieces. Despite the limited body of work, he had a major impact on several other brilliant musicians, including Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Eric Clapton, and the Rolling Stones.

// Famous Guitarists

Israel Houghton

Israel Houghton

Israel Houghton is a Grammy award-winning American Christian music recording artist, songwriter, producer and worship leader. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family, personal life, etc.

Muddy Waters

Muddy Waters

Muddy Waters was a blues musician referred to as the 'father of modern Chicago blues.' Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.

Syd Barrett

Syd Barrett

Syd Barrett was an English musician best known as a member of the band Pink Floyd. Check out this biography to know about his birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.

Childhood & Early Life

Robert Johnson was born on May 8, 1911 in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, to Julia Major Dodds and Noah Johnson, a laborer in a local sawmill.

Robert’s mother was married to Charles Dodds, who had been forced by locals to leave Hazlehurst. He was living in Memphis as Charles Spencer.

Julia brought Robert to live with her husband Charles Spencer in Memphis in 1913. Three years later, he started attending school there, quite possibly St. Peter’s elementary school.

At Memphis, his older brother Leroy spent time in the musical establishments in the area (dance halls, bars, etc.) and played the guitar. He probably taught Robert a few elements of guitar playing.

1920 Census records show him living with his mother and her new husband, William “Dusty” Willis in Crittenden, Arkansas, where he attended Indian Creek school in Commerce, Mississippi.

Career

By 1928, he learnt one of his first guitar songs, ‘I’m Gonna Sit Down and Tell My Mama’, from Harry Hard Rock Glenn and could also play harmonica, Jews harp piano, pump organ, and guitar.

In 1930, Son House, a blues singer and guitarist, moved to Robinsonville. House remembered Johnson as a 'little boy' who was a competent harmonica player but an embarrassingly bad guitarist.

In 1931, he left the Delta to find his biological father Noah. He arrived in Martinsville, close to his birthplace Hazlehurst and met Ike Zimmerman who took him home and taught him guitar.

When Johnson next appeared in Robinsonville, he seemed to have acquired a miraculous guitar technique. In a later interview, Son House attributed Johnson's new technique and progress to the Devil pact.

Between 1932 and 1938, he moved frequently between large cities like Memphis, Tennessee and Helena, Arkansas and the smaller towns of the Mississippi Delta and neighboring regions of Mississippi and Arkansas.

In 1935, he met Johnny Shines whom he inspired to return to music. They travelled south and headed as far north as Ontario where they appeared on a local radio program.

When he made up his mind to record in 1936, he approached H. C. Speirs, a white record store owner in Jackson, MS. Speirs sent him to Ernie Oertle, an ARC scout. Oertle and Johnson went to San Antonio.

In his first recording session in 1936 at a makeshift studio in the Gunter Hotel, San Antonio, Texas, Johnson recorded songs including ‘Come On In My Kitchen’, ‘Kind Hearted Woman Blues’ and ‘Terraplane Blues’.

He returned to recording in 1937, in Dallas and recorded classics including, ‘Hellhound On My Trail’, ‘Little Queen of Spades’, ‘Malted Milk’, ‘Drunken Hearted Man’, ‘Me and the Devil Blues’, and ‘Love in Vain’.

Major Works

‘Terraplane Blues’, recorded in 1936, was Johnson’ first single. A moderate regional hit, selling 5,000 copies, he used the car model Terraplane as a metaphor for sex with clear sexual innuendos.

“Hellhound on My Trail", a song recorded by him in 1937 in Dallas, is considered his greatest. It was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in the "Classic of Blues Recording" category.

Awards & Achievements

In 1990, The Complete Recordings, released by Sony/ Columbia won the Grammy in the Best Historical Album category while his song ‘Cross Road Blues" has been inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame included four songs by him, ‘Sweet Home Chicago’, ‘Cross Road Blues’, ‘Hellhound on My Trail’, ‘Love in Vain’, in the 500 songs that shaped rock and roll.

The Complete Recordings won the 1991 The Blues Foundation Awards in the Vintage or Reissue Album category. It is a compilation album released on Columbia Records, recorded in the Dallas and San Antonio sessions.

He has been inducted into the Blues Hall Of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, and the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame, and in 2006 presented the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Personal Life & Legacy

Johnson married Virginia Travis in 1936. She died during child-birth. Later, he married Calleta Craft but left her to become an itinerant musician and had relationship with numerous women wherever he happened to be.

There is little evidence to believe that he had any family. However, the blues singer Robert Junior Lockwood was said to be the son of one his ‘girl friends’ as also Claude Johnson.

He died on August 16, 1938 after drinking poisoned whisky allegedly given to him by friends of a man on whose wife he showed too much interest. The exact location of his grave is, unfortunately, officially unknown.

Trivia

The character that Chris Thomas King played in the film, ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’, written, and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, of Tommy Johnson is loosely based on this legendary Blues singer.

His poorly-documented life has given rise to much legend, including the story that he sold his soul to the devil in order to learn to play the blues.

// Famous African American Singers

Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg is an American rapper and actor who emerged as one of the best-known figures in gangsta rap during the 1990s. This biography of Snoop Dogg provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline

Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder is an American musician, singer and songwriter, considered to be one of the most creative musical performers of the 20th century. This biography provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline

Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Noelle Hill is a famous hip-hop female artist from America who is into singing, songwriting, rapping, production and acting. Check out this biography to get detailed information on her life.

Robert Johnson's awards

YearNameAward

Other

01990 - Grammy Award for Best Historical Album
0 2006 - Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

Robert Johnson biography timelines

  • // 8th May 1911
    Robert Johnson was born on May 8, 1911 in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, to Julia Major Dodds and Noah Johnson, a laborer in a local sawmill.
  • // 1913
    Julia brought Robert to live with her husband Charles Spencer in Memphis in 1913. Three years later, he started attending school there, quite possibly St. Peter’s elementary school.
  • // 1920
    1920 Census records show him living with his mother and her new husband, William “Dusty” Willis in Crittenden, Arkansas, where he attended Indian Creek school in Commerce, Mississippi.
  • // 1928
    By 1928, he learnt one of his first guitar songs, ‘I’m Gonna Sit Down and Tell My Mama’, from Harry Hard Rock Glenn and could also play harmonica, Jews harp piano, pump organ, and guitar.
  • // 1930
    In 1930, Son House, a blues singer and guitarist, moved to Robinsonville. House remembered Johnson as a 'little boy' who was a competent harmonica player but an embarrassingly bad guitarist.
  • // 1931
    In 1931, he left the Delta to find his biological father Noah. He arrived in Martinsville, close to his birthplace Hazlehurst and met Ike Zimmerman who took him home and taught him guitar.
  • // 1932 To 1938
    Between 1932 and 1938, he moved frequently between large cities like Memphis, Tennessee and Helena, Arkansas and the smaller towns of the Mississippi Delta and neighboring regions of Mississippi and Arkansas.
  • // 1935
    In 1935, he met Johnny Shines whom he inspired to return to music. They travelled south and headed as far north as Ontario where they appeared on a local radio program.
  • // 1936
    When he made up his mind to record in 1936, he approached H. C. Speirs, a white record store owner in Jackson, MS. Speirs sent him to Ernie Oertle, an ARC scout. Oertle and Johnson went to San Antonio.
  • // 1936
    In his first recording session in 1936 at a makeshift studio in the Gunter Hotel, San Antonio, Texas, Johnson recorded songs including ‘Come On In My Kitchen’, ‘Kind Hearted Woman Blues’ and ‘Terraplane Blues’.
  • // 1936
    ‘Terraplane Blues’, recorded in 1936, was Johnson’ first single. A moderate regional hit, selling 5,000 copies, he used the car model Terraplane as a metaphor for sex with clear sexual innuendos.
  • // 1936
    Johnson married Virginia Travis in 1936. She died during child-birth. Later, he married Calleta Craft but left her to become an itinerant musician and had relationship with numerous women wherever he happened to be.
  • // 1937
    He returned to recording in 1937, in Dallas and recorded classics including, ‘Hellhound On My Trail’, ‘Little Queen of Spades’, ‘Malted Milk’, ‘Drunken Hearted Man’, ‘Me and the Devil Blues’, and ‘Love in Vain’.
  • // 1937
    “Hellhound on My Trail", a song recorded by him in 1937 in Dallas, is considered his greatest. It was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in the "Classic of Blues Recording" category.
  • // 16th Aug 1938
    He died on August 16, 1938 after drinking poisoned whisky allegedly given to him by friends of a man on whose wife he showed too much interest. The exact location of his grave is, unfortunately, officially unknown.
  • // 1990
    In 1990, The Complete Recordings, released by Sony/ Columbia won the Grammy in the Best Historical Album category while his song ‘Cross Road Blues" has been inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame.
  • // 1991
    The Complete Recordings won the 1991 The Blues Foundation Awards in the Vintage or Reissue Album category. It is a compilation album released on Columbia Records, recorded in the Dallas and San Antonio sessions.
  • // 2006
    He has been inducted into the Blues Hall Of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, and the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame, and in 2006 presented the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

// Famous Black Musicians

Muddy Waters

Muddy Waters

Muddy Waters was a blues musician referred to as the 'father of modern Chicago blues.' Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.

Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder is an American musician, singer and songwriter, considered to be one of the most creative musical performers of the 20th century. This biography provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline

Wale

Wale

Wale is an American rapper of Nigerian descent. Check out this biography to know more about his childhood, family, personal life, etc.

Kanye West

Kanye West

Kanye West is an American hip-hop musician, rapper, lyricist, record producer, film director and fashion designer.

Dizzy Gillespie

Dizzy Gillespie

Dizzy Gillespie was one of the greatest jazz trumpeters of all times. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and other facts related to his life.

James Brown

James Brown

James Brown was an American musician and recording artist regarded as ‘The Godfather of Soul’. This biography provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Robert Johnson's FAQ

  • What is Robert Johnson birthday?

    Robert Johnson was born at 1911-05-08

  • When was Robert Johnson died?

    Robert Johnson was died at 1938-08-16

  • Where was Robert Johnson died?

    Robert Johnson was died in Greenwood, Mississippi

  • Which age was Robert Johnson died?

    Robert Johnson was died at age 27

  • Where is Robert Johnson's birth place?

    Robert Johnson was born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi

  • What is Robert Johnson nationalities?

    Robert Johnson's nationalities is American

  • Who is Robert Johnson spouses?

    Robert Johnson's spouses is Caletta Craft (m. 1931–1938), Virginia Travis (m. 1929–1930)

  • Who is Robert Johnson childrens?

    Robert Johnson's childrens is Claud Johnson

  • What was Robert Johnson universities?

    Robert Johnson studied at Tunica's Indian Creek School

  • Who is Robert Johnson's father?

    Robert Johnson's father is Noah Johnson

  • Who is Robert Johnson's mother?

    Robert Johnson's mother is Julia Major Dodds

  • What is Robert Johnson's sun sign?

    Robert Johnson is Taurus

  • How famous is Robert Johnson?

    Robert Johnson is famouse as Musician, Songwriter