While it’s unknown precisely what killed Johnson, he also suffered from an ulcer which may have contributed to his death. Before being laid to rest in a pine box, Johnson’s final words were, “ I pray that my redeemer will come and take me from my grave.”
How did blues singer Robert Johnson die?
A death certificate recovered by the researcher Gayle Dean Wardlow showed that he died on Aug. 16, 1938, at a plantation near Greenwood, Miss. The cause was complications of syphilis , according to a note on the back of the certificate that was attributed to the plantation’s owner.
What disease did Robert Johnson have?
In 2006, a medical practitioner, David Connell, suggested, on the basis of photographs showing Johnson’s “unnaturally long fingers” and “one bad eye”, that Johnson may have had Marfan syndrome , which could have both affected his guitar playing and contributed to his death due to aortic dissection.
Who was Robert Johnson first wife?
| Robert L. Johnson | Born Robert Louis Johnson April 8, 1946 Hickory, Mississippi, U.S. | Alma mater University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (BA) Princeton University (MPA) | Known for Co-founder of BET | Spouse(s) Sheila Johnson (1969 – div. 2001) Lauren Wooden (m. 2016) |
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Is Robert Johnson story true?
‘Brother Robert’ Tells True Story Of Childhood With Blues Legend Robert Johnson Annye Anderson, the stepsister of Robert Johnson, whose life became a founding myth of American music, has written a memoir about the real life behind the legend.
Did Robert Johnson use a pick?
Regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time, Delta blues wizard Robert Johnson recorded only 29 songs (plus 13 alternate takes, in two sessions) during his 27 years of life. ... Johnson played his Gibson L-1 using a thumb pick and occasionally used a slide.
How much is Robert Johnson worth?
In 2001, Johnson became a billionaire after selling the station to Viacom for $3 billion, which catapulted his net worth to an estimated $1.3 billion .
Where did Robert Johnson sell his soul?
Legend has it that Johnson took his guitar to the crossroads of Highways 49 and 61 in Clarksdale, Mississippi where the devil retuned his instrument in exchange for his soul. He returned with a formidable technique and a mastery of the blues.
What is the story about Robert Johnson?
Robert Johnson, (born c. 1911, Hazlehurst, Mississippi, U.S.—died August 16, 1938, near Greenwood, Mississippi), American blues composer, guitarist, and singer whose eerie falsetto singing voice and masterful rhythmic slide guitar influenced both his contemporaries and many later blues and rock musicians.
Did Robert Johnson have syphilis?
And in 1936, he got a chance to record in Texas. “Terraplane Blues” was a minor hit, and he was invited back for a second recording session. Johnson died a year later at age 27, under mysterious circumstances. Some think he was poisoned, although a note on the back of his death certificate says the cause was syphilis .
Where is Robert Johnson buried?
Robert Johnson is buried in Little Zion Baptist Church’s cemetary, in Greenwood, Mississippi . Studied since 1965, it took until the early 2000s to truly confirm his final resting place.
How long did Robert Johnson disappear for?
There are conflicting reports over how long Robert Johnson disappeared. Some say he was gone for six months , others say it was closer to a year and a half. Zimmerman and his wife, Ruth, took Johnson into their home in Beauregard, Mississippi, while the established player mentored Johnson.
Did Son House know Robert Johnson?
One of the earliest accounts of Johnson as a musician comes from Delta blues pioneer Son House, who first encountered the young artist around 1930 in Robinsonville, Mississippi.
How many pictures did Robert Johnson have?
There have only ever been two published photos of Robert Johnson, the man whom Eric Clapton famously called “the most important bluesman who ever lived.”
Did Robert Johnson use 7 strings?
In June 1937 he was again recorded in Dallas, and although he was reported to be playing a seven string, guitar by this time, it wasn’t used on the sessions .
