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Robert Johnson

'Brother Robert' Reveals True Story Of Growing Up With Blues Legend Robert Johnson

Annye Anderson — stepsister of Robert Johnson — published her memoir Brother Robert: Growing Up with Robert Johnson in June. Ben James hide caption

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Ben James

Music Interviews

'Brother Robert' Reveals True Story Of Growing Up With Blues Legend Robert Johnson

Annye Anderson, the stepsister of Robert Johnson, whose life became a founding myth of American music, has written a memoir about the real life behind the legend.

'Brother Robert' Reveals True Story Of Growing Up With Blues Legend Robert Johnson

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Robert Johnson And Pablo Casals' Game-Changers Turn 75

Spanish musician and composer Pablo Casals, playing the cello in 1936. Fox Photos/Getty Images hide caption

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Fox Photos/Getty Images

Music Interviews

Robert Johnson And Pablo Casals' Game-Changers Turn 75

Two hugely important recordings, made by pivotal musicians an ocean apart, were made on the same day in 1936.

Robert Johnson And Pablo Casals' Game-Changers Turn 75

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Robert Johnson At 100, Still Dispelling Myths

One of the two known photos of Robert Johnson. This portrait was taken by the Hooks Bros. Photography Company in Memphis, Tenn., circa 1935. Courtesy of the Delta Haze Corporation hide caption

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Courtesy of the Delta Haze Corporation

Music Interviews

Robert Johnson At 100, Still Dispelling Myths

Despite hardy rumors that the bluesman sold his soul to the devil, Johnson's most important legacy is his mastery of recorded music.

Robert Johnson At 100, Still Dispelling Myths

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Mississippi Delta Blues: American Cornerstone

One of the two known photos of Robert Johnson. This portrait was taken by the Hooks Bros. Photography Company in Memphis, Tenn., circa 1935. Courtesy of the Delta Haze Corporation hide caption

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Courtesy of the Delta Haze Corporation

Take Five: A Jazz Sampler

Mississippi Delta Blues: American Cornerstone

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Influencing everyone from The Rolling Stones to Cassandra Wilson, the blues recordings that came out of the Mississippi Delta from the late 1920s through the late '30s have had an enormous impact on American music. Hear songs from Charley Patton, Robert Johnson, Son House and more.

Music Interviews

A Blues and Country Collection for Collectors

A new CD gathers rare early blues and country records, including some that have never before reached the general public. Richard Nevins, who compiled The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of, tells Debbie Elliott about the collection.

A Blues and Country Collection for Collectors

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Music Interviews

Eric Clapton Takes on Robert Johnson's Blues

Eric Clapton once wrote that Robert Johnson's best songs have "never been covered by anyone else, at least not very successfully — because how are you going to do them?" Now the rock guitarist has recorded Me and Mr. Johnson, a CD of the legendary bluesman's works that Clapton calls a labor of love.

Eric Clapton Takes on Robert Johnson's Blues

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'Hellhound On My Trail'

One of two existing photographs of Robert Johnson. Courtesy of the artist. hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist.

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'Hellhound On My Trail'

Robert Johnson's famous blues tune inspired musicians like John Lennon and Jim Morrison.

'Hellhound On My Trail'

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