Skip to content

Up Jumped the Devil: The Real Life of Robert Johnson
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Up Jumped the Devil: The Real Life of Robert Johnson Hardcover -

by Bruce Conforth; Gayle Dean Wardlow


From the publisher

  • The Penderyn 2020 Music Book Prize (UK edition)
  • Living Blues Critics Choice Best Blues Book of 2019
  • Living Blues Readers Choice Best Blues Book of 2019
  • Certificate of Merit in the Best Historical Research in Recorded Blues, Soul, Gospel, or R&B category from ARSC (Association for Recorded Sound Collections)
An essential story of blues lore, black culture, and American music history Robert Johnson's recordings, made in 1936 and 1937, have profoundly influenced generations of singers, guitarists, and songwriters. Yet until now, his short life--he was murdered at the age of 27--has been poorly documented. Gayle Dean Wardlow has been interviewing people who knew Johnson since the early 1960s, and he was the person who discovered Johnson's death certificate in 1967. Bruce Conforth began his study of Johnson's life and music in 1970 and made it his mission to fill in what was still unknown about him. In this definitive biography, the two authors relied on every interview, resource, and document, much of it material no one has seen before. This is the first book about Johnson that documents his lifelong relationship with family and friends in Memphis, details his trip to New York, uncovers where and when his wife Virginia died and the impact this had on him, fully portrays the other women Johnson was involved with and tells exactly how and why he died and who gave him the poison that killed him. Up Jumped the Devil will astonish blues fans worldwide by painting a living, breathing portrait of a man who was heretofore little more than a legend.

Details

  • Title Up Jumped the Devil: The Real Life of Robert Johnson
  • Author Bruce Conforth; Gayle Dean Wardlow
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Pages 336
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Chicago Review Press
  • Illustrated Yes
  • Features Bibliography, Illustrated, Index, Maps
  • ISBN 9781641600941 / 1641600942
  • Weight 1.65 lbs (0.75 kg)
  • Dimensions 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.1 in (23.11 x 15.49 x 2.79 cm)
  • Library of Congress subjects Johnson, Robert, Blues musicians - Mississippi
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 2019005127
  • Dewey Decimal Code B

Media reviews

Citations

  • Booklist, 05/01/2019, Page 58
  • Kirkus Reviews, 04/15/2019, Page 0
  • Library Journal, 05/01/2019, Page 95

About the author

Bruce Conforth, former professor of folklore, blues, popular culture, and American history at the University of Michigan, was the founding curator of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Gayle Dean Wardlow is a highly regarded blues historian who has amassed one of the world's largest collections of prewar blues records. His book Chasin' That Devil Music is a classic of blues literature. He lives in Pensacola, Florida.
Back to Top

More Copies for Sale

Up Jumped the Devil: The Real Life of Robert Johnson

Up Jumped the Devil: The Real Life of Robert Johnson

by Bruce Conforth (author) & Gayle Dean Wardlow (author)

  • Used
  • very good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781641600941 / 1641600942
Quantity Available
2
Seller
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, United Kingdom
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 2 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$17.98
$10.86 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Paperback. Very Good.
Item Price
$17.98
$10.86 shipping to USA
Up Jumped the Devil: The Real Life of Robert Johnson

Up Jumped the Devil: The Real Life of Robert Johnson

by Bruce Conforth (author) & Gayle Dean Wardlow (author)

  • Used
  • Paperback
Condition
Like New
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781641600941 / 1641600942
Quantity Available
1
Seller
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, United Kingdom
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 2 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$17.98
$10.86 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Paperback. Like New.
Item Price
$17.98
$10.86 shipping to USA
Up Jumped the Devil;  The Real Life of Robert Johnson
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Up Jumped the Devil; The Real Life of Robert Johnson

by Conforth, Bruce & Gayle Dean Wardlow

  • Used
  • Hardcover
  • first
Condition
Used - Fine in Fine dust jacket
Edition
First Edition; First Printing
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781641600941 / 1641600942
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$29.00
$5.50 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Chicago: Chicago Review Press. Fine in Fine dust jacket. 2019. First Edition; First Printing. Hardcover. 1641600942 . B & W Photographs & Reproductions; Large 8vo 9" - 10" tall; 336 pages; 2019 Chicago Review Press. HC/DJ. 1st edition, 1st printing. Very tightly bound, unread copy in crisp edged and uniformly bright pictorial dust jacket with publisher's $30 issue price intact to unclipped front flap. Illustrated with B & W Photographs & Reproductions. Entirely as new. F/F .
Item Price
$29.00
$5.50 shipping to USA
Up Jumped the Devil: The Real Life of Robert Johnson
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Up Jumped the Devil: The Real Life of Robert Johnson

by Conforth, Bruce; Wardlow, Gayle Dean

  • Used
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used: Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781641600941 / 1641600942
Quantity Available
1
Seller
HOUSTON, Texas, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$30.78
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Chicago Review Press, 2019-06-04. Hardcover. Used: Good.
Item Price
$30.78
FREE shipping to USA
Up Jumped the Devil: The Real Life of Robert Johnson
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Up Jumped the Devil: The Real Life of Robert Johnson

by Conforth, Bruce/ Wardlow, Gayle Dean

  • New
  • Hardcover
Condition
New
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781641600941 / 1641600942
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 3 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$39.35
$12.67 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Chicago Review Pr, 2019. Hardcover. New. 326 pages. 9.00x6.25x0.75 inches.
Item Price
$39.35
$12.67 shipping to USA
Up Jumped the Devil: The Real Life of Robert Johnson
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Up Jumped the Devil: The Real Life of Robert Johnson

by Conforth, Bruce; Wardlow, Gayle Dean

  • New
  • Hardcover
Condition
New
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781641600941 / 1641600942
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$32.30
$3.50 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Chicago Review Press, 2019-06-04. hardcover. New. 6x1x9.
Item Price
$32.30
$3.50 shipping to USA
Up Jumped the Devil: The Real Life of Robert Johnson
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Up Jumped the Devil: The Real Life of Robert Johnson

by Conforth, Bruce; Wardlow, Gayle Dean

  • Used
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used:Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781641600941 / 1641600942
Quantity Available
1
Seller
HOUSTON, Texas, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$38.95
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Chicago Review Press, 2019-06-04. Hardcover. Used:Good.
Item Price
$38.95
FREE shipping to USA