On this day (16th August) 1938 Robert Johnson died.
Born c. 1911, Hazlehurst, Miss.
He is said to have died, at age 27, after drinking strychnine-laced whiskey (possibly the work of a jealous husband) in a juke joint. His eerie falsetto and masterly slide guitar influenced countless blues and rock musicians decades later.
The story of his discovered playing is told in the classic song "Crossroads".
Legend has it a deal with the devil in exchange for his soul, Robert Johnson was able to create the blues for which he became famous.
The song was famously covered by Cream in the late sixties.
Here's Johnson's original -
