Tommy Johnson

Tommy Johnson was one of the most important and influential Delta blues musicians of the late 1920s, second only to Charley Patton in his impact on the early Delta tradition. He recorded just 18 sides for Victor and Paramount in 1928-30, but these recordings ('Canned Heat Blues,' 'Cool Drink of Water Blues,' 'Big Road Blues,' 'Maggie Campbell Blues') are among the foundational documents of Delta blues. His falsetto vocal technique, in which he leaped from a deep moan to a high, keening cry, was widely imitated and directly influenced Howlin' Wolf. He was also the original claimant to the 'crossroads' legend (selling his soul to the devil at a crossroads) which was later attributed to Robert Johnson. He spent his later years performing locally in the Jackson, Mississippi, area and died in 1956. The 1960s band Canned Heat took their name from his song about drinking Sterno.