Robert Johnson

American Delta blues singer-songwriter (1911–1938) whose 29 recorded songs profoundly influenced later blues and rock musicians.

Born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi in 1911 and died August 16, 1938. Recorded 29 songs (mainly in 1936–1937). Subject of the crossroads legend and later compilations: John Hammond compiled King of the Delta Blues Singers (1961) and Columbia issued The Complete Recordings as a box set (1990). Widely cited as a key influence on later blues and rock musicians such as Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones.

DeBaser reviews present Robert Johnson as a foundational Delta blues figure whose small recorded corpus reshaped later blues and rock. Reviewers praise the original compilations and their historical weight while dwelling on myth (the crossroads) and Johnson's stark, desperate lyricism. The Complete Recordings and the 1961 King of the Delta Blues Singers compilations are highlighted. Reviewers uniformly recommend the original-sounding releases over modern remasters.

For:Blues fans, music historians, rock musicians, collectors