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Robert Johnson

Legend tells us that Mississippi-born Robert Johnson went down to the crossroads and sold his soul to the devil in exchange for the ability to play the guitar like no one had ever heard before. No one can say for certain whether or not the devil exists, but one ... morething is certain: Robert Johnson played the guitar (and sang) like no one had ever heard before, and left his mark on several generations of blues players since. An authentic American original, Johnson's musical innovations influenced the blues, rock 'n' roll, R&B, country & Western, gospel and folk styles. He died -- reportedly after being poisoned by the husband of a woman he was courting -- August 16, 1938.