Robert Johnson: rare new photograph of delta blues king authenticated after eight years | Music | The Observer Until now, there were only two verified photographs of Johnson
(1911-1938), who remains the most inspirational musician produced by the
Mississippi Delta and the man Eric Clapton once anointed as "the most
important blues musician who ever lived". This weekend a third, newly
cleaned-up and authenticated image has been released by the Johnson
estate showing him standing next to musician Johnny Shines.