Robert Leroy Johnson was an American singer-songwriter and musician. His landmark recordings in 1936 and 1937 display a combination of singing, guitar skills, and songwriting talent that changed blues forever, and were a major influence on later generations. The mysterious, mythical chronicles of his life and death at age 27 have given rise to legend, including the Faustian myth that he sold his soul at a crossroads to achieve success.My in-laws lived just off of Route 61, not too far south from its intersection with Route 49, the crossroads where, one midnight, Johnson pledged his soul to Satan in return for his singular ability to play the guitar. I visited the spot once, although not at midnight. That was probably a good idea since, while I was musing on Johnson's legacy, a barking dog startled me and gave me the willies. That was in broad daylight, imagine what it would have been like after dark.
[According to the myth, it's the hellhounds that come for you when it's time for your soul to be collected.]