The legendary crossroads? Marker for the crossroads in Clarksdale, Mississippi, where blues musician Robert Johnson is said to have sold his soul to the Devil in exchange for musical talent. (more) Why Is Blues Called the Devil’s Music? Written by René Ostberg René Ostberg is an associate editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. René Ostberg Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Mar. 20, 2026 •History The story is a familiar one to many music lovers. A bluesman meets a sinister, shadowy figure at a crossroads late at night. The mysterious figure takes the musician’s guitar, tunes it, and hands it back to its owner. Suddenly, the bluesman can play the guitar better than ever. He and the mystery man, possibly Satan himself, part ways—the musician taking away a wickedly good talent and the Devil taking away the bluesman’s soul. The...

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