Robert Johnson

I could not find credible evidence of a prominent American psychologist named Robert Johnson born May 8, 1911 and dying August 16, 1938. The biographical data you provided (May 8, 1911 – August 16, 1938) more closely match Robert Leroy Johnson, the American blues musician.

Here is what is known about Robert Leroy Johnson (1911–1938), and some notes about the mis-attribution:

Robert Leroy Johnson – (Not Psychologist)

Robert Leroy Johnson (1911–1938) was an iconic Delta blues guitarist and songwriter whose influence on modern music has been profound. His short life, mysterious demise, and musical legacy have become the stuff of legend.

Introduction

Robert Leroy Johnson, born around May 8, 1911, and dying on August 16, 1938, was an American blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Though he died young, his recordings and mythos would go on to deeply influence future generations of blues, rock, and popular music.

While there is no substantial record of a psychologist of that name with those dates, the name is strongly associated with the blues musician — so it seems likely there was a mix-up in your additional information.

Early Life and Family

Robert Johnson’s early life is shrouded in mystery and ambiguity, largely because documentary records are sparse. He was probably born May 8, 1911 in Hazlehurst, Mississippi (though alternate birth years are sometimes proposed) .

His mother was Julia Major(s); his father is believed to have been Noah Johnson, though that is not certain. Johnson grew up in the Mississippi Delta region, where he would be exposed to rural Black musical traditions and the strains of the early blues.

He married Virginia Travis in 1929, though she died in childbirth or shortly thereafter. Later he is thought to have been married to Callie (or Coletta) Craft on a marriage license in 1931.

Johnson worked various odd jobs, traveled, and migrated around Mississippi and possibly Arkansas, performing locally and absorbing musical influences.

Career and Achievements

Musical Style & Recordings

Robert Johnson’s major legacy stems from his recordings between 1936 and 1937 when he recorded a small number of songs that would become legendary.

His guitar style—employing slide, intricate fingerpicking, rhythmic drive, and expressive vocals—was groundbreaking for blues. Many of his songs explore themes such as the supernatural, love, betrayal, and existential struggle.

Some of his most famous songs include:

• “Cross Road Blues”

• “Hellhound on My Trail”

• “Sweet Home Chicago”

• “Love in Vain”

• “Me and the Devil Blues”
  These songs are considered foundational to blues and later modern guitar music.

Mystery, Myth & Influence

Because Johnson recorded only a few sessions and died young, much of his life is enveloped in legend. The story that he sold his soul to the devil at a crossroads to gain mastery of the guitar is among the most enduring myths, though it is folkloric rather than factual.

After his death, his music lay relatively obscure until the 1960s, when a new generation of blues and rock musicians rediscovered his recordings. Artists such as Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, and many others acknowledged Johnson’s influence.

Johnson was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame (posthumously) and later into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. His songs have frequently appeared on lists of the greatest blues or guitar songs.

Death & Legacy

Johnson died on August 16, 1938, in or near Greenwood, Mississippi, at the age of 27. The cause of his death is uncertain; one common theory is that he was poisoned (possibly by a jealous husband of a woman he was involved with), but no definitive proof exists.

His gravesite is unknown or unmarked; multiple markers have been placed in candidate sites, but no consensus exists.

His musical influence, however, has far outlived his lifetime: from blues revivalists to modern rock guitarists, his recordings are treated as sacred texts of American music.

Personality & Interpretation

Johnson was intensely private. Because so little is documented, his biography has many gaps and speculative narratives.

Musically, he combined technical mastery with emotional rawness, often conveying a haunted, raw, and urgent voice that resonated deeply with listeners.

The mythology around him—selling one’s soul, vanishing without trace—further elevated him in popular imagination. His life becomes as much legend as fact.

Quotes & Words

Because Robert Johnson was primarily a musician and not known as a public speaker or writer, he is not widely quoted in the way an author or psychologist might be. There are relatively few recorded statements attributed to him.

However, through scholars and analysts of blues and psychology, a few poignant reflections attributed to “Robert Johnson” (or interpreted through his songs) appear in discussions of inner life. Some quotes attributed to him (though somewhat modern interpretations) include:

“A man will treat a woman almost exactly the way he treats his own interior feminine. In fact, he hasn’t the ability to see a woman, objectively speaking, until he has made some kind of peace with his interior woman.”
“History has always been a series of pendulum swings, but the individual doesn’t have to get caught in that.”

These lines are likely extrapolations or modern commentaries building on Johnson’s mythic status rather than direct quotes he himself left.

Lessons & Reflection

1. Legacy doesn’t require longevity.
   Though he died very young and recorded little, his influence grew over decades. Impact isn’t always tied to volume.

2. Myth-making amplifies memory.
   The stories around his life (crossroads, mystery death) contributed to a mythic aura that kept his name alive in culture.

3. Art transcends biography.
   Johnson’s music continues to speak to listeners far removed from his historical context. Emotion, technique, and resonance matter above all.

4. Uncertainty invites fascination.
   The gaps in his biography invite speculation, analysis, and reinterpretation, sustaining interest across generations.

Correction Note

Given your original description (“American – Psychologist, May 8, 1911 – August 16, 1938”), it likely represents a conflation or error. There is no well-documented psychologist matching those dates. The better match is Robert Leroy Johnson, the blues musician, whose life dates closely align with those you provided.

If you intended a different Robert Johnson (a psychologist with similar dates), or if you have other identifying details (middle name, major works, institutions), I’d be happy to search again and produce a dedicated biography.