Folklore has it that Robert Johnson sold his to the devil in lieu of the devil tuning his guitar for him at the crossroads. In doing so, it made Robert Johnson one of the best delta bluesman. He could sing and play the greatest blues music that anyone had heard at the time. His music went on to influence generations of musicians including Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, and Eric Clapton, as well as the Allman Brothers.

This myth of Robert Johnson selling his soul has been used in movies. The crossroads concept has been featured in movies like Crossroads and Oh Brother Where Art Thou. Furthermore, several lyrical references from Robert Johnson’s songs appear in modern rock. Led Zeppelin stole a lyric from Johnson in the well known Lemon Song. Additionally, Eric Clapton remade Johnson’s song Traveling Riverside Blues, renaming it Crossroads.

None of this proves that Johnson sold his soul to the devil. However, a legendary Mississippi Delta bluesman was born by saying so.

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