<Tr> <Th> Instruments </Th> <Td> Guitar, vocals, harmonica </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Years active </Th> <Td> 1929--1938 </Td> </Tr> <P> Robert Leroy Johnson (May 8, 1911--August 16, 1938) was an American blues singer - songwriter and musician . His landmark recordings in 1936 and 1937 display a combination of singing, guitar skills, and songwriting talent that has influenced later generations of musicians . Johnson's poorly documented life and death at age 27 have given rise to much legend . One Faustian myth says that he sold his soul to the devil at a local crossroads of Mississippi highways to achieve success . As an itinerant performer who played mostly on street corners, in juke joints, and at Saturday night dances, Johnson had little commercial success or public recognition in his lifetime . </P> <P> After the reissue of his recordings in 1961, on the LP King of the Delta Blues Singers, his work reached a wider audience . Johnson is now recognized as a master of the blues, particularly of the Mississippi Delta blues style . He is credited by many rock musicians as an important influence; the blues and rock musician Eric Clapton has called Johnson "the most important blues singer that ever lived ." </P>

Sold soul to the devil to play guitar