American Robert Johnson played badly in the guitar until he disappeared for a time, many people suspected he had made a deal with the devil.

Robert Johnson was born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi around May 11/1911, an illegitimate child because his mother had an affair. Johnson had an interest in guitar since childhood. He spends a lot of time at black bars where they listen to music and dance after work. A fan of Delta blues pioneers such as Son House and Willie Brown, Johnson aspires to pursue professional music.

At the age of 17, Johnson married Virginia Travis, 14, both of them made false declarations in his marriage certificate. When Travis was about to give birth, she went back to her mother's home in Penton to take care of the baby. Johnson followed her but stopped several times in the middle of the road to perform music.

When Johnson arrived at Travis's house, his wife and children were buried, both of whom died of difficulty in giving birth. When Travis's devout family saw Johnson appear with a guitar in hand, they blamed the deaths of the two on Johnson's "evil music".

Scholars believe that the death of his wife and children motivates Johnson to pursue his music ambition. At the age of 19, Johnson performed on the street but was not well received by the audience. However, he is very confident and always ready to perform anytime, anywhere. During the break between Son House and Willie Brown's concert in Robinsonville, Johnson took one of their guitars and forced the audience to listen to his awkward tunes.

The audience said, "Why didn't you go out and make him put down the guitar? He drove us crazy," House said. The screams and ridicule of the audience made Johnson leave the stage and leave the town.

No one knew about Johnson's whereabouts until a few months later, when he appeared at another House and Brown show in Banks, Mississippi. Johnson asked House for permission to let me play a part on the stage and House agreed, probably feeling guilty about the previous incident.

As soon as Johnson started playing music, he proved he was no longer a "fuzzy" artist before. Long slender fingers, skillfully plucked up mesmerizing melodies. The lyrics are lively and full of emotion. "He played very well, we all gasped," House said.

In 1936, Johnson had the opportunity to record when working with the American Record label in San Antonio, Texas. The first single sold 5,000 copies.

But before he could enjoy success, Johnson suddenly died a year later at the age of 27 - the age when many music legends died. The reason Johnson died was also a topic of speculation. Many believe that the husband of a woman who had an affair with Johnson poisoned him. In Johnson's death record there is a note stating that he may have died of syphilis.

The media called Johnson one of the greatest blues artists. Unique playing styles and creative lyrics influenced many generations of artists like B.B. King, Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. Well-known British singer Eric Clapton said: "When I first listened to Johnson's recording, I immediately realized that I had found a master."

There is much speculation about the sudden progress in Johnson's ability to play music. A popular anecdote is that he sold his soul to the devil. After Johnson was booed during a performance in Robinsonville and had to leave town, he went to an intersection in Mississippi at midnight and summoned a demon. The demon promised to give him supernatural music, as long as Johnson gave up his soul.

However, historical records show that Johnson learned to play the guitar from an artist named Isaiah "Ike" Zimmerman. Zimmerman asked Johnson to practice playing the piano in the graveyard so as not to disturb others. There are various accounts of Johnson's disappearance, some saying he had gone for 6 months, others claiming he was gone for 1.5 years.

However, anecdotes about the devil have been with Johnson for decades. His training in the graveyard is also said to be in contact with the devil. Not only that, Johnson's lyrics sometimes refer to supernatural powers.

Johnson sang about "ghosts" and "sins", sometimes explicitly referring to "the devil." Some songs mention African magic, such as a charm bag used by women to control their lovers.

However, some believe that the story of the exchange with the devil is only intended to lower Johnson's legacy. "That's a way of suggesting that 'unlike us, working seriously to understand music, these blues guys just sell their souls to the devil," said musician Elijah Wald. "Such gossip is an insult to the artist".