--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj <vajradh...@...> wrote: > > > On Apr 14, 2009, at 12:19 PM, curtisdeltablues wrote: > > > What I always hated about the "Robert Johnson sold his soul to the > > devil in order to play guitar as well as he did" myth, is that it > > shortchanges his hard work. It turns the labor of guitar mastery > > into magic. A quick fix instead of hours of finger numbing effort. > > > Rather than imagining it referred to the imaginary Judeo-Christian > devil, perhaps the story is just a way the ignorant would parse that > Johnson had some connection with Baron Samedi, Lord of the Crossroads > and voudoun. Many people are inspired by their God, why not RJ being > inspired or "mounted" by a Loa?
I've read that interpretation too but I think it is over-analyzed. We know the historical root of this rumor, it was Son House in the 60's revival. Since Tommy Johnson was the one who actually used this marketing hype, not Robert, I think it is easier just to conclude that Son was confused and it added punch to his story about Robert being bad at guitar, disappearing for up to 2 years, and then being good at it. But the poetry of your description is appealing to me and does help trace the root of this myth which did exist. <"mounted" by a Loa?> Nice addition to our gay discussion! >
