There seems to be some doubt about his origins, in the best Robert Johnson tradition. Yesterday BBC World Service gave his age as 83, but later a BBC domestic bulletin said "his age was uncertain, but between 80 and 85." I think I've heard somewhere that he was born in Mississippi,but only took up the music some years after he'd left the delta.

Anyway, more than quite a few others, this death closes an era. With any luck, it will kick-start another, with retrospectives, re-releases etc, and really put blues and R&B back on the agenda.