Robert Johnson is perhaps the most important figure in 20th century music. Big statement, yes, but let me make this arguement.

Without RJ, there wuld be no proliferation of Delta blues northward. There would be no Kansas City Blues, no Chicago Blues. There would be no Elmore James...no Muddy Waters...no Albert King...No B.B King

Following that thought.. There would therefore be no Chuck Berry, no Rolling Stones, No Eric Clapton, no Led Zeppelin, etc. etc.

Someone who spawned such pillars of contempory music was/is truly special different.

I always recoiled at the tale of RJ selling his soul at the crossroads, but when one totals up the impact this one man and his scant recordings have meant to music this century, one has to take a step back and say: "hummm maybe.....??????"