This day in music history.

August 16, 1938, Blues musician Robert Johnson died. His wife had died in 1931 during child birth after which Robert disappeared from public for several years. When he reemerged he was a gifted blues guitarist, people say he sold his soul to the Devil for his new and improved guitar playing others say he probably practiced.
Robert hit the open road playing for anyone that would pay him. On August 13, 1938, while playing a house party in Three Forks, Mississippi someone laced Roberts whisky with strychnine. Most people think it was the jealous husband of a women Johnson had an affair with. According to Johnny Shine (Johnsons traveling companion), "I heard that it was something to do with the Black Arts. Before he died, Robert was crawling along the ground on all fours; barking and snapping like a mad beast. That's what the poison done to him". Johnson was buried in a small cemetery on the edge of town.
Love In Vain by Robert Johnson
And I followed her to the station
with a suitcase in my hand
And I followed her to the station
with a suitcase in my hand
Well, it's hard to tell, it's hard to tell
when all your love's in vain
All my love's in vain
When the train rolled up to the station
I looked her in the eye
When the train rolled up to the station
and I looked her in the eye
Well, I was lonesome, I felt so lonesome
and I could not help but cry
All my love's in vain
When the train, it left the station
with two lights on behind
When the train, it left the station
with two lights on behind
Well, the blue light was my blues
and the red light was my mind
All my love's in vain