每一种艺术的流传，到最后总有几位代表性的人物，有的以开创者身分受人景仰，却也有极少数人的身世、发迹、作品独特性、奋斗过程、甚至猝死成谜而倍增传奇色彩，60年前遭女友下毒致死的罗伯．强生（Robert Johnson）便是蓝调乐坛中最具表性的例子。 　　 生年仅27岁的罗伯．强生，是公认最具原创性的乡村蓝调（Delta Blues）大师并兼具作曲家、游唱歌手以及伟大的共鸣吉他好手的身分，其作品虽然浅显粗糙，却充满了蓝调乐曲表达中最不可或缺的自然、纯朴与率真。有关 他生长的背景，至今仍旧众说纷纭，有传言云：他在某个夜晚以自己的灵魂和邪恶之神交换歌唱与吉他技巧，接著又碰到Columbia唱片公司的星探製作人John Hammond于1936-1937年间，大老远从密西西比州将他带到纽约，进录音室灌录数十首蓝调史上最重要的歌曲，还在1938年，请他参加卡内基厅『灵歌－摇摆乐演奏会』（Spirtuals To Swing Concert）的演出，让世人得以有机会认识这个瑰宝。 　　 这张『乡村蓝调之王演唱集』（King Of The Delta Blues Singers）是Columbia 唱片公司最早于1961年所发行一第张罗伯．强生的歌曲合辑，姑且撇开有关歌手超现实的传闻，他不但将前辈如Charlie Patton与Son House一脉相传共鸣吉他滑奏弹法发扬光大，而且在创作上注入了更多个人情绪上的表现深度，缔造了一支支著名的蓝调经典：“Cross Road Blues”、“Walking Blues”、 “Kind Hearted Woman Blues”、“Ramblin' On My Mind”、“Traveling Riverside Blues” 、“Hell Hound On My Trail”从失魂落魄到困阨潦倒，罗伯．强生活生生地刻划出人世间最无奈的折磨苦痛，其原创性亦成为众多白人蓝调歌手、团体诸如John Mayall、Eric Clapton、Fleetwood Mac、Rolling Stones取法、翻唱的『圣经』。 King of the Delta Blues Singers is a compilation album by American blues musician Robert Johnson, released in 1961 on Columbia Records. It is considered one of the greatest and most influential blues releases ever. In 2003, the album was ranked number 27 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. The album compiles sixteen mono recordings, nine of which were previously available as 78s on the Vocalion label, originally recorded during two sessions in 1936 and 1937. The records sold well in their target market of the American south and southwest, with "Terraplane Blues" something of a regional hit, but their sales figures were never beyond 5000 or so in total.By the time this album appeared, Johnson was mostly rumor, if known at all, except to a small group of collectors and those who had purchased the original 78s. An advance copy of the album was given by its instigator, John Hammond, to his newest signing to Columbia, Bob Dylan, who had never heard of Johnson and became mesmerized by the intensity of the recordings.