In the
Composer/Musician category, Jim Garrison's Briefs selects:
Robert Johnson (May 8, 1911? – August 16, 1938)
Robert Johnson was a Mississippi bluesman has had more influence on rock, blues, and black music in than anyone in history. Ask any guitarist with a blues background, and one of their influences will be Robert Johnson.
What makes Johnson remarkable in my eyes is how short his life and career were, yet his legend remains. There are 42 known Johnson recordings of only 29 songs. I imagine it was that deal with the Devil...
The mystery behind his life, death and after make him a fascinating member of musical history. The above pictures are the only confirmed pics of Mr. Johnson.
Succinct little bio:
http://hs.riverdale.k12.or.us/~dthom...robertjohnson/
R&R HOF:
http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/robert-johnson
Quote:
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The entirety of his recorded output was cut in three days worth of sessions in November 1936 and two days in June 1937. His life came to a premature end when he was poisoned by the jealous husband of a woman he began seeing during a stint at the Three Forks juke joint in Greenwood, Mississippi.
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Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Johnson_(musician)
Quote:
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Considered by some to be the "Grandfather of Rock 'n' Roll", his vocal phrasing, original songs, and guitar style have influenced a broad range of musicians, including Muddy Waters, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Johnny Winter, Jeff Beck, and Eric Clapton, who called Johnson "the most important blues singer that ever lived". He was also ranked fifth in Rolling Stone's list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. He is an inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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Quotes about Johnson and his influence:
Traveling Partner Johnny Shines:
"Some of the things that Robert did with the guitar affected the way everybody played. He'd do rundowns and turnbacks. He'd do repeats. None of this was being done. In the early '30s, boogie on the guitar was rare, something to be heard. Because of Robert, people learned to complement theirselves, carrying their own bass as their own lead with this one instrument."
Keith Richards:
“When I first heard [him], I was hearing two guitars, and it took me a long time to realize he was actually doing it all by himself.”
Eric Clapton:
“Robert Johnson to me is the most important blues musician who ever lived....I have never found anything more deeply soulful than Robert Johnson. His music remains the most powerful cry that I think you can find in the human voice.”
Robert Plant:
"[Robert] Johnson is part of why I am what I am."
George Harrison:
"...Ravi Shankar and Robert Johnson are the only guitar players I listen to."