1911 – 1938

Robert Johnson

American blues singer and guitarist

blues singerblues musicianstreet artistguitaristsinger-songwriter

Born

1911-05-08, Hazlehurst

Died

1938-08-16

Birthplace state

Mississippi

Biography

Robert Leroy Johnson was an American blues musician and songwriter. His singing, guitar playing and songwriting on his landmark 1936 and 1937 recordings have influenced later generations of musicians. Although his recording career spanned only seven months, he is recognized as a master of the blues, particularly the Delta blues style, and as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame describes him as perhaps "the first ever rock star".

Occupation

Robert Johnson is recorded as a blues singer, a blues musician, a street artist, a guitarist, a singer-songwriter, a musician and a composer, born in Mississippi (1911–1938).

Connections to Mississippi

Robert Johnson was born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi in 1911. Explore other notable figures from Mississippi, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Mississippi›Mississippihistory ›Historic sites in Mississippi›

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Everything a full report reveals about Hazlehurst

Robert Johnson came from Hazlehurst. A full Aubrey report on Hazlehurst pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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More notable figures from Mississippi

Other historical figures born in Mississippi, ranked by historical prominence.

Elvis Presley

American singer and actor (1935–1977)

William Faulkner

American writer (1897-1962)

Tennessee Williams

American playwright (1911–1983)

James Earl Jones

American actor (1931–2024)

Muddy Waters

American blues musician (1913–1983)

John Lee Hooker

American blues musician (1912 or 1917–2001)

Jim Henson

American puppeteer (1936–1990)

Frequently asked about Robert Johnson

Who was Robert Johnson?

Robert Johnson was American blues singer and guitarist, born in Mississippi (1911 – 1938).

When and where was Robert Johnson born?

Robert Johnson was born on 1911-05-08 in Hazlehurst.

When did Robert Johnson die?

Robert died on 1938-08-16.

What was Robert Johnson known for?

Robert Johnson is recorded as a blues singer, a blues musician, a street artist, a guitarist, a singer-songwriter, a musician and a composer.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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