His legacy is alive and thriving — more than many could have imagined nearly a century after his passing.

Almost 100 years after the death of blues legend Robert Johnson, a new wave of young musicians is helping his music explode across social media, according to BuzzFeed (source: BuzzFeed News). These talented artists are not only keeping Johnson’s influence alive but also introducing his groundbreaking sound to a generation who may never have heard his name before.

The movement centers around three accomplished blues musicians and close friends: Jontavious Willis (24), Christone “Kingfish” Ingram (22), and Marquise Knox (29). All three have earned national recognition — Willis and Ingram are Grammy-nominated artists, and Knox, a St. Louis native, has shared stages with legendary performers such as B.B. King and Pinetop Perkins (source: Rolling Stone). Determined to honor Johnson’s legacy in a way that felt modern and communal, the trio launched #TheRobertJohnsonChallenge, encouraging musicians everywhere to learn one of Johnson’s songs and upload a performance of it online.

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram performing “When You Got a Good Friend.” Courtesy of @CKI662/Facebook.

Their inspiration reignited last summer after a newly uncovered, never-before-seen photo of Robert Johnson appeared on the cover of Brother Robert: Growing Up with Robert Johnson, a memoir written by Johnson’s late stepsister Annye C. Anderson. The discovery was a cultural moment; only three verified photographs of Johnson exist, further adding to the mystique that has surrounded him for decades (source: The New York Times).

Photo Courtesy of Hachette Books/BuzzFeed.

Johnson’s life has long been immersed in folklore. Legend has it that he once left his hometown as a mediocre guitar player, only to return less than two years later as one of the greatest guitarists anyone had ever heard. His transformation was so astonishing that rumors spread that he had made a deal with the devil at a midnight crossroads — a myth that still persists today. Adding to the mystery, Johnson died young, at just 27, under circumstances believed to involve poisoning (source: Smithsonian Magazine).

Jontavious Willis performing “Walkin’ Blues.” Courtesy of @JontaviousWillis/Facebook.

Despite recording only 29 songs before his death, Johnson’s influence shaped generations of musicians, inspiring icons such as Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, and Led Zeppelin (source: BBC Music). But the newly surfaced photo reshaped how the three young musicians viewed him.

“It was eye-opening,” Willis explained. “You finally see him as a young Black guy with life in his eyes. So many people paint him as this mysterious figure who sold his soul, but in that photo, he looks like one of my homeboys — a 25-year-old dude ready to fill the world with music. Like Marquise said, ‘I don’t see a man who sold his soul. I see someone who studied his craft and loved what he did.’”

Marquise Knox performing “Me and the Devil Blues.” Courtesy of @MarquiseKnox/Facebook.

Robert Johnson’s music is famously difficult to master — full of complex techniques, rapid chord changes, and haunting rhythmic structures. The trio admitted that each Johnson song brings its own puzzle. “Each tune poses a unique challenge. The real goal is to get into Robert’s groove and then make it your own,” they explained. “If a couple of hours pass and you still can’t get into the vein of the song, it’s like trying to draw blood — you’ve got to step away. Seeing our personal challenge grow into something so huge has been overwhelming” (source: NPR Music).

Musicians from as far away as Hong Kong have joined in, uploading their versions, thereby reviving Johnson’s legacy for the digital era. The three artists said they hope the challenge encourages people not only to play the songs but also to understand the man behind them.

“Robert was just a 25-year-old Black man releasing his first single while carrying the weight of the Jim Crow South on his shoulders,” they said. “If he lived in 2021, he’d probably have Instagram, Twitter, Facebook — and he’d be part of this challenge. He’d be speaking out then and now, saying Black Lives Matter 100 years ago and 100 years into the future.”

By blending tradition with technology, Willis, Ingram, and Knox have sparked a movement that brings the blues back into the mainstream. Their work honors a musician whose influence remains immeasurable — a man whose songs continue to echo across continents and generations.

Thank you, gentlemen, for keeping Robert Johnson’s legacy alive.