Sometime in the 1930s, Robert Johnson (b. May 8, 1911), an itinerant blues player, went to “the” crossroads and met with the Devil — or with an African spirit-being named Papa Legba — and “sold his soul” in exchange for supreme skills as a musician.

So the story goes. Nevermind that the same tale had been told about other, earlier musicians, or that there are literally hundreds of crossroads throughout the Mississippi Delta. The legend has stuck to Johnson partly because of his early, mysterious death and because his recorded legacy of 29 songs has become one of the major influences in modern popular music.

Learn more about Johnson by taking the Delta Blues Museum's Field Trip and follow his life in our interactive biography in the “Explore and Learn” section of our website.

Note: The Delta Blues Museum has other virtual tours and a gift shop in Clarksdale, Mississippi and online.

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Listen to Robert Johnson. He recorded 29 songs during his brief career.