Robert Johnson, Essay Example

Robert Johnson was a charismatic man who attracted others with his appearance and his talent, but what truly made him stand out as unique was the originality of his music. There had been previous blues musicians, but Robert Johnson’s style of Mississippi Blues was distinctive. Part of his style was hard work, having taught himself to become a musician while lacking formal education. He met with other blues singers, and further enhanced his craft through observation. An intelligent musician that knew how to utilize his talents for financial gain, he was adept at noting current trends of popular music, incorporating those trends when writing his songs. Through all of his influences, however, what was most notable was his exceptional talent that was obvious from early on in his life. His style of guitar playing was transcending and ahead of its time, augmented by thin fingers that enabled him to play his guitar in a way that sounded more akin to a piano. It is no wonder why so many throughout the history of Blues and Rock n’ Roll, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, and The Rolling Stones, among others, have desired to emulate his craft.

The music and culture of the Mississippi Delta were intertwined in Johnson’s era. He was immersed within the influences of popular Blues music, a culture with strong traditions of hard work and spirituality, also coupled by his own life experiences of tragedy and racial inequality. His family life was a strong influence, notably the loss of his wife and child which returned him to a path of faith. Robert Johnson pulled from all of these sources to craft the art of his music, a style of personal storytelling that has transcended eras in a way that makes his songs as relevant now as they were when first written.