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Robert JohnsonAmerican singer, bluesman, guitarist and songwriter
Date of Birth: 08.05.1911
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Robert Johnson: An American Blues Icon
- Recording Sessions and Legacy
- Technical Brilliance and Interpretive Genius
- Adapting and Perfecting
- The "Corner Loading" Technique
- The "Walking Bass" Style
- A Tragic End
- Influence and Legacy
Robert Johnson: An American Blues Icon
Early Life and InfluencesRobert Johnson was born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, and began playing guitar as a teenager. His musical influences included Charlie Patton, Son House, and Ike Zinnerman. Johnson absorbed techniques from these bluesmen, shaping his own unique style characterized by intricate fingerpicking and haunting vocals.
Recording Sessions and Legacy
Between 1936 and 1937, Johnson recorded 29 songs during five sessions for the American Record Corporation. These sessions showcased Johnson's exceptional talent as an interpreter and innovator. His songs became influential models for future blues musicians, including Muddy Waters, Elmore James, and countless others. Despite his brief career, Johnson's impact on blues music remains profound.
Technical Brilliance and Interpretive Genius
Johnson's guitar playing was exceptional, marked by a blend of intricate fingerpicking and rhythmic complexity. He transformed simple musical forms into works of art, demonstrating his deep understanding of the blues tradition. His ability to reinterpret and refine the ideas of others raised his music to a new level of sophistication.
Adapting and Perfecting
Johnson was known for his creative use of other artists' recordings. He adapted and perfected their ideas, recasting them in his own unique style. Songs that inspired him became synonymous with Robert Johnson, as his masterful interpretations transformed them into his own creations.
The "Corner Loading" Technique
During recording sessions, Johnson would often face away from the microphone, singing into a corner. This technique, known as "corner loading," allowed him to project his voice and guitar with greater clarity and depth. It became one of the hallmarks of his distinctive sound.
The "Walking Bass" Style
Johnson employed a simplified rhythmic structure, later adopted by post-war Chicago blues musicians. He adapted the "walking bass" style, typically performed by boogie-woogie pianists, to his guitar playing.
A Tragic End
Just a year after his final recording session, Johnson was poisoned by a jealous husband while performing at a juke joint in Three Forks, Mississippi. By this time, Columbia Records executive John Hammond was searching for Johnson to invite him to perform at the "From Spiritual to Swing" concert at Carnegie Hall.
Influence and Legacy
Robert Johnson remains an unparalleled figure in blues music. His influence extends to countless musicians and the genre as a whole. Despite the brevity of his career, Johnson's music has left an enduring mark on American culture. The reissue of his complete recordings in the 1980s ensured that his legacy would continue to inspire generations to come.
