Robert Johnson

Unfortunately, I was unfamiliar with Robert Johnson before reading this article, but I do believe there is a very interesting story behind this man. For him to be one of the first and greatest blues musicians, one would think there would be more information about him. The details of Robert Johnson's life seem like legends themselves. It seems like no one really knew about his true identity or existence. When I was reading the article, I thought it was interesting how people interpreted his "Cross Road Blues" song as Johnson saying he had sold his soul to the devil in order to receive greater playing abilities, but the truth was that he was really begging God for help. From what is known about his life, his life did not seem all that great, especially after the loss of his first wife and child. The interpretation of the song being about pleading to God may actually make more sense when compared to events in his life. Robert Johnson was a mysterious man. It is like he wanted to not be seen. He wanted to play his songs and entertain a crowd, but afterwards, he wanted to be an average African American man that no one really paid attention to. Since not much is known about his life, I understand why Schein's find of that photo was so important. If the picture was really of Robert Johnson, it was really something worth keeping a close eye on. But as good as the find me seem, it may be followed by an agonizing process to authenticate it as well as to determine its actual value and who should be left in charge of it since there is already a growing dispute over his estate. Robert Johnson was definitely one of the greatest. At least his legacy lives on even though most of his life is unknown. He is a man that also proves you don't have to be alive to be famous.