Robert Johnson and the Devil’s Crossroads | The Full Story and All Locations
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- čas přidán 2. 11. 2022
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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.
Johnson was the product of a confusing childhood, with three men serving as his father before he reached age seven. Little is known about his biological father (Noah Johnson, whom his mother never married), and the boy and his mother lived on various plantations in the Mississippi Delta region before settling briefly in Memphis, Tennessee, with her first husband (Robert Dodds, who had changed his surname to Spencer). The bulk of Johnson’s youth, however, was spent in Robinsonville, Mississippi, with his mother and her second husband (Dusty Willis). There Johnson learned to play the jew’s harp and harmonica before taking up the guitar. In 1929 he married 16-year-old Virginia Travis, whose death in childbirth (along with that of their baby) in April 1930 devastated Johnson.
In Robinsonville he came in contact with masters of the Mississippi Delta blues Willie Brown, Charley Patton, and Son House-all of whom influenced his playing and none of whom was particularly impressed by his talent. They were dazzled by his musical ability, however, when he returned to town after spending as much as a year away. That time away is central to Johnson’s mythic status. According to legend, during that period Johnson made a deal with Satan at a crossroads, acquiring his prodigious talent as a guitarist, singer, and songwriter in exchange for the stipulation that he would have only eight more years to live. (A similar story circulated in regard to another Mississippi bluesman, Tommy Johnson.) Music historian Robert Palmer, in his highly regarded book Deep Blues (1981), instead ascribes Robert Johnson’s remarkable musical attainments to the time he had to hone his skills as a guitarist under the instruction of Ike Zinneman as a result of the financial support he received from the older woman he married near Hazlehurst, Mississippi (Johnson’s birthplace), and to the wide variety of music to which he was exposed during his hiatus from Robinsonville, including the single-string picking styles of Lonnie Johnson and Scrapper Blackwell.
His repertoire included several blues songs by House and others, but Johnson’s original numbers-such as “Me and the Devil Blues,” “Hellhound on My Trail,” “Sweet Home Chicago,” “I Believe I’ll Dust My Broom,” “Ramblin’ on My Mind,” and “Love in Vain”-are his most compelling pieces. Unlike the songs of many of his contemporaries-which tended to unspool loosely, employing combinations of traditional and improvised lyrics-Johnson’s songs were tightly composed, and his song structure and lyrics were praised by Bob Dylan. Despite the limited number of his recordings, Johnson had a major impact on other musicians, including Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Eric Clapton, and the Rolling Stones.
He had only one moderate hit song during his lifetime (“Terraplane Blues”), but, after Columbia Records released a collection of his recordings, King of the Delta Blues (1961), the man and his music both achieved near-mythic status. Columbia later issued the box set Robert Johnson: The Complete Recordings (1990). Johnson was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in its inaugural class (1980), and he became a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.
Johnson died on August 16, 1938, at the age of 27, near Greenwood, Mississippi, of unknown causes. Johnson's death was not reported publicly. Almost 30 years later, Gayle Dean Wardlow, a Mississippi-based musicologist researching Johnson's life, found Johnson's death certificate, which listed only the date and location, with no official cause of death.
The exact location of Johnson's grave is officially unknown; three different markers have been erected at possible sites in church cemeteries outside Greenwood.
More recent research by Stephen LaVere (including statements from Rosie Eskridge, the wife of the supposed gravedigger, in 2000) indicates that the actual grave site is under a big pecan tree in the cemetery of the Little Zion Church, north of Greenwood along Money Road. Through LaVere, Sony Music placed a marker at this site, which bears LaVere's name as well as Johnson's. Researchers Bruce Conforth and Gayle Dean Wardlow also concluded this was Johnson's resting place in their 2019 biography. - Zábava
I sold my soul to the sugar fairy. 🇺🇸🇺🇦❤🤍💙💛
I sold mine to Daryl Hall from Hall & Oates
@@SCOTTONTAPE so did my husband 😂
@@SCOTTONTAPE Haha, lol. My wife has my B@@@s and me soul... hahahah. Friday Funnies.
I gave my soul to Jesus
And now you have sugar in your tank
I lived in the Delta, and my father was living in Clarksdale when he passed, he retired from Parchman. All my family played music.
You don’t find the blues, they find you. Picture yourself in the middle of the night at a crossroads, maybe sitting on a stump with only the guitar. Close your eyes, all is silent but one thing. You hear a train, you don’t see it you hear it. It is far away, the sound is train car wheels on steel rails, the rails slapping the tracks. One slapping noise in one place, another slapping noise farther down, another, and another. Be patience, and all the slaps will start keeping perfect time with each other. There is your rhythm. That is the delta blues.
You're close to Money where Emmitt Till was murdered. Also the Tallahatchie Bridge made famous by Bobby Gentry.
Love it thank you for writing that
This is an awesome comment, I sat in my room closed my eyes and pictured what you were describing - feels so peaceful and magical
@@Ania-cd2sh I'm from the South. The Delta is beautiful. It's not creepy. I've been to Dockerys crossroads at night. It's a peaceful place.
woah lol awesome
You could turn that into a film, I see script here.
As a black musician this really gives you a chance to see the birth place of the blues. I heard of Robert Johnson in the past, and I never knew about his early childhood or where he played the blues Thanks Scott for posting this video!!!!!
You’re so welcome Walter!
They still talkin about that devil legend. A true Robert Johnson fan know Robert worked hard to play like that. I've been out there to Dockerys at night. Ain't no devil
Birthplace of ALL American Popular music: Blues Folk Rock n Roll and eventually Hip Hop
@@deeking9610 country is America's oldest and first popular music. It is from East Tennessee. Most of these blues artists are influenced by Jimmy Rodgers who is a white man. He's howlin wolf's main influence.
As a black man It shows you slavery 1 on 1
I absolutely love this kind of history. Blues and folklore. Awesome ❤❤
As a white man who’s favorite music is the blues, I have so much respect for the older generations of black Americans. I can not imagine the hell they went through. It was definitely different times. God rest their souls. I’m so appreciative of the past generations of Americans. I come from immigrants of Czechoslovakia who were extremely poor sharecroppers. Times were so tough back then. I’ve heard so many stories from my late grandpa. On another note, the man in the hat is wrong about the devil. R J admitted he met the devil on the crossroads. I assure you Satan is a real being. Some people think that if they haven’t seen something it doesn’t exist. There are many strange things that happen. For example… Do you think it’s a coincidence that many famous people died at 27?
alot of crazy history of people just trying to get by one way or another
he traveled, learned new things and came back
People die at age 27 all of the time. Nothing strange about it. Allot more people that aren't famous die at age 27 then famous people.
My dad was a blues historian and had taken trips to visit these places and watching this is bringing back memories of him, thanks
Ooh hell yes. One of my favorite music stories
PS - His music reminds me of Odetta Holmes. She was also an incredible trailblazing bluesy/folksy singer that I loved. I had a boyfriend in the 70's that was in love with the woman. I surprised him for his birthday and took him to a show she was doing at a small venue in Chicago. After the lights dimmed, I passed a note to the usher that asked if we could somehow meet Odetta as a surprise for my boyfriend's birthday. He whispered to me to stay in our seats after the show. We did just that, and when all the audience was gone the usher brought us backstage to Odetta's dressing room where we got to meet her. The look on my boyfriend's face was priceless and I sure wish I had a camera! We chatted with her for about a half an hour before leaving and my boyfriend got a great big kiss from her. It was an awesome night!!
What a wonderful story!!!❤❤❤
I love Robert Johnson and have spent many nights reading about his life. Thank you so much for this!! ❤
Always Love hearing his Story
I’ve been obsessed with Robert’s story and music for several years. It’s something that I treasure and maintain in privacy. I have yet to meet someone who holds the significance of his origin story to the regard that few of us do. It’s a story of tragedy juxtaposed by absolute brilliance.
Thank you for this video, Gentlemen!
I remember hearing about this story on the supernatural (TV series) a while back. Can't wait to watch this whole video.
For those of us like me that don’t live in America 🇺🇸 this is just incredible, thank you guys. I came across the name Robert Johnson after hearing his name in the opening part of a song by Tim McGraw called “How Bad Do You Want It?” The Robert Johnson story is incredible 😊
Scott & Randy this is amazing thank you for taking us with you to the Place of the Blues....As soon as I heard Robert Johnson's voice and the rhythm of the Blues I was blown away. I am so happy that he is remembered and memorialised there. It is so tragic that he died so very young.
You can learn a lot of history watching his videos folks , my man has done his homework
Enjoyed this very much I taught myself the blues from listening to his records for hours and hours as a young boy.
I'm so intrigued by the history and stories of Robert Johnson so thank you for doing this and I'm unbelievably jealous of you being at these places. I've been dreaming of a trip down from 🇨🇦 for a long time. Hopefully one day before I die 🤞. Great job.
I hope you get there someday Ben! Go Leafs!!
I have to say, as a person who isn't a fan of blues music, I could not have enjoyed this more. I learned a lot and enjoyed seeing parts of the old south and the cool cemeteries. You never fail to impress me Scott.
Thank you Diane
I have always been fascinated by Robert Johnson's story and how much he has influenced the music that we still hear today. Your video has the most information I have ever seen or heard. Thank you both for the diligent research you have done on this subject. Very well done! Loved the background music also!
He didn't influenced anybody. It was satan
Robert's home should be preserved. Looks like the original little door too. Bob Dylan has talked about the crossroads as well. Mississippi has given us alot of wonderful artists but the one thing that hurts my heart that happened here is Emmett Till. Thanks Scott for this video 💜
Thanks Scott
Not trying to be a hater but what does Bob Dylan know about the BLUES?
@@hillbillymetaldetectors wth do u know about metal detecting
Nothing
I know more about the BLUES and alot of other things than you think I promise you. You need to research who you're talking to
That is some of the best music ever created. Nothing like the blues to get your foot to tapping.
There was an episode about him on Supernatural--CW's longest running show & one of may ALL time faves, love me some Dean. 😁 Uh-umm...anyway, it was in the second season of the show, enjoyable episode. I didn't think it was possible but your vids seem to be improving all the time, SO enjoyable & masterfully done, love you Scott! Love, hugs & God Bless you 💕💕
The crossroads is also in supernatural, not sure it’s the real one, but that’s where thy go to make a deal with the devil.
This makes the second time I have watched this. Rose's husband dug the grave, and both are also buried in that cemetery, Thank you, Scott and Randy. Safe travels.-Joe from Joplin MO
Thank you Joe! A little late but just seeing this !
I’ve never been so excited to click on a video. What a beautiful soul this man was. Wish we could’ve had more time.❤
I'm a Brazilian lover of the old Blues. Nice tribute you made to this incredible musician! I love the Blues!! Robert Johnson is in our hearts forever!!!
Robert Johnson created some of the best music that's ever been made. Only the devil could make a man that good with a tune.
Heck yeah, Scott! Awesome video,as always. Hope you are getting your rest also. Love ya' man! You ROCK! THANX!👍🤗🙏✌🏻
Dang! 45 minutes!?.... We're in for it now. 💯.... I love this legend. Scott you really did your homework 🔥
Absolutely loved this story so interesting and the places so quite and peaceful. It's actually a nice cemetery even though it has no grass around probably because its so hot there. I loved the music you played especially the guitar I do like blues music aswell as the old motown regae. Thanks for sharing this I've loved watching and listening take care. ❤️ love from Gill West Yorkshire UK ❤️ 🇬🇧
Good Evening Scott 🙋🏽. I've seen this before, but nobody puts it together quite like you do ‼️😃👍🏽 Enjoy the rest of your night. Hi Randy 🙋🏽.
Hi Carole!
I love to play the Blues...especially Crossroads. What a ripper this one was, thank you Scott for the effort you put in.
What I love about your channel is that you bring forth history and information that some of us had no idea about. It increases my curiosity and makes me want to learn more about so much! Keep being great!
great video Scott
My Mom's side of the family are all from Columbus, Ms and I learned of the myth and the legend of Robert Johnson at an early age. You guys have done what I always wish I had time to do. Great job and thank you from a big blues and Robert Johnson fan.🎸🎤🎵🎶
Thanks Scott for doing such a beautiful tribute to the man who gave the world so much.
This a really impressive video. Thanks to you & Randy for sharing. Robert Johnson’s life and music influenced so many artists, while he was almost forgotten. So glad to see these locations are being memorialized.
Take care.
As someone with a long time love of the blues I loved this video. Wonderfully made with loads of detail. Really hope his childhood home is restored, given its historical significance. Excellent work!
R.i.p robert, bless you, such a young age, your soul is free now xxx debbie uk
Great video Scott, I'm a huge Robert Johnson fan and his legend ever since i saw the movie Crossroads with Steve Vai as the devil's guitar player. Would love to visit the Grave of Robert Johnson, thank you so much for making this video. Total respect.. peace ✌️😎🎸🎵🎶🎶
Scott, you nailed it again brother. Excellent, excellent video lovingly documenting all of the Mississippi Delta points of interest in the life of Robert Johnson. Thank you Bro! Very important stuff.
Thank you Glenn!!
And Yet Another Awesome Video Scott & Randy !
Robert Johnson I Have Heard Of And I Love The Blues!
Such An Amazing Story Of His Life & Music. Passed To Soon What An Artist He Would Be Today!
Thank You Both For This
Tribute Video To Robert.
Birthplace of the blues. Thoroughly researched that even Keith Richard would be impressed. Thanks for the upload Scot.
Thank you !
So happy you covered Robert Johnson. Love the Delta Blues!
Awe shit! Now we talkin'! 🔥😎🎸
🤘👹❤
Scott has to have frequent flyer miles 🤣. This dude be everywhere
Thanks fellows for letting us all join y'all on such a special trip. I enjoyed every minute. Just like being there. Lots of good stories.
This is one of your best my friend. Everything about it is great. From the story to the editing to the music. You guys gave so much information even I as an old blues fan learned more. I hope one day to get down there. Thank you for the great job!!
Oh thank you. I have been trying so hard to see that country and hear as much as possible about Robert Johnson.
Amazing Video, Robert Johnson is a legend that will never be forgotten. Great video, it was like watching a Film. I enjoyed this very much. Great job Scott & Randy. RIP Robert Johnson 🙏🕊️
This is so good, I have black family members I adore, I think the music is class. I can't believe he made people drink out of the trough. 😢 bless you robbert r.i.p. xxx thanks our scott and Frank for bringing this to us xx your class as you know xxxx
I saw Buddy Guy last year he was telling the audience about his journey, no schools, no libraries, no local Shop, no shoes and told us he drank water from the creek..... I actually had tears in my eyes.. and boy did he put on a good performance.... 🇦🇺🌹♥️😂👍
Robert Johnson! Awesome!,🎸🎸
Thanks Scott and Randy. This is a good video. Appreciate you both going to the locations.🥰🥰
thank you. amazing video as always @Scoty On Tape - Your Pop Culture Tour Guide!
Scott I just started going through your video library and I can tell you I have learned more about history from you than I did in school. Thank you!😊
Beautiful story, Beautiful music. I never liked blues music. But what i heard on the video, i loved it. Thank you Scott for sharing. I appreciate the blues now. May Robert rest in peace 💞
Rest in peace Mr. Johnson
Sent this to my dad even before I watched it let's go Scott
Tell your dad hi!
First member of the 27 club.
I have heard about the devils crossroads before but like always you go into more detail. Very interesting and educational. Thank you Scott
What an amazing story. A true blues legend. Who knows...it's a hell of a story. Great video!✌️🎼
I'm rockin’! Quite literally!🎉
Very interesting video!! What a great man!! Love the locations my friend!! Love listening to you and your friend!! Love you and your channel!! Thank you my friend!! Much love! Peace!! 🙏🙏💜💜❤️❤️💖💖💙💙💕💕💕💕✌️✌️✌️✌️
I am a HUGE Blues FAN/Love of Blues Music. I will have to travel here just to experience one of the many Blues legend folklores. I would be too excited!!!! Another, Absolute Amazing Video!!!! 🙌👍🙌
First One Here!! Great Job on the video.. On all your videos.. I’m always here for every last one. You really do your research. I love it!! Always here for it😊 Keep up the great work! So inspiring😊❤
Very well done! Thank you both.
I totally enjoyed this video and thank you very much for the story. Thanks to Randy also you both did an excellent job! Robert Johnson would be proud❤
The communal trough for all life to drink from, lovely!
I'm just now seeing this! Ughhh lol I love it! I don't live far from here. So awesome you came to my home state! This makes my heart happy 💖
Nice to see a collab with Big Bake😊
Thank you Scott. I really enjoy everything that you do. Appreciate your hard work. This was great.
Such a crazy story and legend. Thank you!
Loved this video! Extremely interesting and fascinating. I've love the blues. You boys done a excellent job at explaining the life of Robert Johnson! Thank you so much ❤❤❤❤❤
You've got me on a blues kick. It'll be nothing but old blues tonight for me. You're the best.
Edit: the building on Dockery Farms looks like an old juke joint. I bet it was a happening place! I love being a Gen xer, but sometimes I wish I lived in those old days.
Here as usual Scott! ♥️♥️♥️
👏🏼Thanks for the mini documentary. A musician friend of mine just returned from San Antonio. He stayed at the Gunter Hotel where Robert Johnson recorded several of his original songs in 1936 including Crossroads. I knew immediately who my friend was talking about and said “you mean the guy in all the movies, like Oh Brother Where Art Thou?” Yeah-that’s him!
Scott thank you this was both fascinating and entertaining, I’d just like to add that it’s clear making videos on CZcams is your calling much as you said it’s for the love and passion of travel and story telling you do this well it definitely comes across ❤
Absolutely Fabulous Blog, The BLUES!!!!!!!!!!
Am a big fan even more now didn't know about Robert this was a great video❤
Thank you Daniel !
Been to the Delta a few times now and loved this video. Very informative and interesting. Nice job on all the research and can't wait to go back down there some day.
Scott mate, you've done it again! This one should be on the History Channel, nice work guys! And thanks to Randy too!!
Awesome Job Scott, I love the work you do and always look forward to watching your content. :)
Scott, this was incredible! What a great story and a perfect presentation!! You're as genius as Robert Johnson was. You did the deep south and Robert Johnson perfect justice. Great job!!
Aww thank you Flo 😊
Awesome you did this. The father of the blues and the delta blues doesn't get the respect he deserves
Excellent video Scott! Loved the way you guys presented it!
Scott this was a good story and video that you shared with us and blues intro was on point i loved it. This was an awesome video that you did.
I love this and learned some information I hadn't known. Thank you!!!
This was great! Another item on my list. Coool to see it though😎🤘
Wow! This is why Blues History and any other History is so Important, Everyone can learn. RIP Robert Johnson 🙏🏾
Thank you
Thank you for this video! Since I don't have the chance to visit these places myself, it's great for me to see this documentary. A really fascinating story.
Just was there! Great Video! And every blues fan - just go there!
Brilliant collaboration guys. Scott do more Randy!😂❤
Love when you visit my home state!
I Thank you So much Scott for Sharing this Story. I would have never know who he was If it weren't for you 🙇🏻♀️🙏🏻❤ God Bless & Safe Travels Scott.
Scott, all ur videos are awesome. But man something about this one was EPIC. Yes sir indeed.
Whether a person wants to believe a young man met the devil at a railway crossing and was given the gift of the Blues music to become eternally famous, doesn't really matter. It's a fantastic story, maybe one of the greatest promotional ideas in history, God Bless Robert Johnson. I'm curious to know when the train tracks were removed from the real crossroads? One of your best videos Scott.
Oh yes it matters, and if he did that - which most likely he did because his songs clearly SAY it- then he’s not blessed. Because that means he’s in hell.
I’m from Mississippi born n raised never heard about Robert Johnson until I saw the documentary of him and I watched it once and never watched it again it scared me a little. I even hear that clarkston Mississippi is like a ghost town til this day and being at the cross road there at midnight is witch hour( the devil’s hour)
Greenwood Mississippi is where my mother side of the family originated from I have family there still ❤ thank you Scott you guys are amazing ❤
my second concert ever was bb king my mom took me and my brother mike, they put us up on the stage because we couldnt see...and the rest is ,history..... lv ya scott🙂
Crossroads was 1 of my late uncle's favorite movies
Great video Guys. This is on my bucketlist.