New plans have emerged to turn the birthplace of blues legend Robert Johnson into a museum.
More than seventy years after his death, Robert Johnson remains an alluring enigma. The blues guitarist found little success in his own lifetime, dying relatively unknown at the age of just 27.
However the singer’s music has enjoyed a curious life of its own. Almost immediately recognised as a performer of great power and style, Robert Johnson’s music would become the cornerstone of the blues.
Later covered by both The Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton, the blues singer’s material hints at the mysterious life he led. Frequent references to the Devil gave rise to the legend that he sold his soul.
In the song ‘Crossroads Blues’ Robert Johnson claims that he went down to the crossroads at midnight, selling his soul in exchange for the ability to play guitar. The blues guitarist later died young, either re-claimed by the Devil or poisoned by a jealous husband whose spouse he had seduced.
Now the singer’s birthplace is to be turned into a museum. Robert Johnson was born in 1911 in a well-crafted home built by his stepfather in the Mississippi town of Hazlehurst. That house is now dilapidated, but could be set to be restored in the form of a museum to the singer’s life.
“It’s amazing that after all these years, people still talk about Robert Johnson on the level that they do,” said the bluesman’s grandson, Steven Johnson to Associated Press.
Grammy-winning pianist George Winston is set to headline a benefit concert for the museum. “Everything with Robert is mysterious, but the more we can demystify, we can get down to the truth,” said Winston.
“He was an inspired musician. He took a quantum leap.”
