Robert Johnson was a man out of time; his dual guitar playing and singing skills lit a fire under future generations of musicians. He never found commercial success while he was alive, playing on street corners and dive bars until he died far too young at the age of 27 on August 16, 1938. His life has been loosely documented, remembered mostly through word of mouth and through rumors about his deal with the devil at the crossroads, which influenced the film Crossroads. It wasn't until 1961 when his albums were reissued that he reached audiences far and wide and gained the appreciation of a world that had passed him by.
Perhaps Robert Johnson did sell his soul, perhaps he was just an unlucky genius. Whatever the case, he is forever remembered as a legend.
Keeping in line with my added twist, I also offer original songs dressed up by other people, just like our own beings that don costumes for, normally, one night of the year (but we are all far from normal around here). This time we have guitar virtuoso Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big, Racer X) paying homage to the late Jimi Hendrix whom Gilbert credits for being a giant influence on his style and overall passion for the guitar. This is Paul Gilbert's version of Jimi Hendrix's "Red House."
You can catch me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TurdFjerstad
Or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/davidsbraindump
No comments:
Post a Comment