The Death of Robert Johnson

Robert was acknowledged as a musical genius by just about everybody who met him. However, he couldn't stand his own success, and it has been said it was his downfall. Modern day rock stars turn to drugs to handle the success and pressures success brings. Robert turned to women to give him comfort. Unfortunately he turned to one too many.

On Friday, August 12th, 1938, Robert and David 'Honeyboy' Edwards were booked to play at a dance in Three Forks, near Greenwood, Mississippi. Robert was apparently showing too much interest in somebody's wife or girlfriend. The next night, the jealous husband had his friends give Robert some poisoned whiskey. Another eyewitness, Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller), claims that Robert was openly displaying affection for some particular lady, who was, indeed, the wife of their employer. Sonny Boy claims that a pint of whiskey was sent to Robert. He drank it, while Sonny Boy stood by helplessly and watched. Honeyboy Edwards, who showed up after the poisoning, said that around 1.00am, Robert became sick while playing, but the audience wanted him to carry on. By 2.00am, he was so ill they had to take him into Greenwood, but there was no money for a doctor. Robert survived for several days, but finally died on Tuesday, August 16th, 1938.

The Certificate of Death contains several inconsistencies (e.g. age, date of birth), however the cause of death is recorded as 'No Doctor'. No one was ever brought to trial, although, researcher Robert Burton 'Mack' McCormick more recently located a black man who confessed to the crime. Mack refuses to reveal any more details of the man's identity, but suggested that he may do after the man's death.

Whilst the legend claims that Robert howled like a dog before he died (clearly alluding to the black arts), this is at odds with a contemporary report from Honeyboy Edwards who said he died alone.

From www.earlyblues.com