Robert Johnson, known as the King of the Blues, was definitely not born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He also apparently wasn’t born with musical talent!
So are the mysterious legends about how he became a guitar virtuoso true?
Johnson couldn’t play guitar at all, according to other musicians of his era – until he mysteriously “disappeared” and returned with incredible talent. There’s no confirmation of what really happened, but Black blues musicians and historians alike agree on one thing.
He was unequivocally one of the best guitarists to ever walk the Earth! He influenced the likes of Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, and even Jimi Hendrix.
He also influenced urban legend and folklore because of white people’s inability to honor his talent. What did they say?
A Black man couldn’t possibly be that superior – so apparently Johnson made a deal with the Devil during that mysterious disappearance! The price for his incomparable talent was his soul.
Johnson’s rise to fame ended when he died young at 27 – for many, this was the Devil reclaiming his due.
Urban legends are one thing, but crediting Johnson’s talent to the Devil is a symptom of white superiority. Is it so hard to believe that we have talent or can dominate an entire industry without “cheating?” We’re amazing, and it shows!