The Devil has been seen in many forms in popular music throughout history, from the voodoo drums of African slaves to the marketing ploys of modern artists. The term popular music is particularly ambiguous, so to define it, in this piece it will refer to the dominant pieces or performers over the last 100 years. Many composers and artists have been stigmatized by religious organizations as colluding with the devil, from banning songs, performers, and even church chords and movements to right-wing Christian "preachers" 'today from YouTube. The devil, in this context, comes in many forms; Lucifer or Satan as in Judeo-Christian texts or anything demonic or evil/ungodly. It can also be seen as a racial slur against the white population during the 20th century. This can be revealed in the music through the lyrics; vocal sounds/tone and harmonies, rhythm or melody of songs. Other manifestations in modern music include videos, marketing, iconography in the heavy metal genre, and back-masking. This report will focus on the Faustian mythology surrounding the life and works of Robert Johnson who allegedly sold his soul to the devil. Although very little is known about Robert Johnson, it is his music, in tandem with his life story, that creates the foundation for the devil in popular music. Although it is not known exactly when Robert Johnson was born, as a fictional character, details about Robert Johnson Johnson are sparse; his birth year is between 1910 and 1913. His death is attributed (depending on the source) to pneumonia, the poisoning of a disgruntled husband and stabbings. Those who know him have spoken of his love of “whiskey and women,” both ungodly pursuits. Durin...... middle of paper ...... the crossroads song gives the feeling of a man destined for hell, that he knows his own dark destiny. The tempo of Crossroads gives a unique feeling of panic and revelation not found in any of his other works. This, coupled with the lamentations, certainly gives the listener a strange insight into the world of this troubled man. The curse in the song “Crossroads” might just be a superstitious coincidence. Since there are no statistics regarding artists who recorded and performed the song and who did not suffer in one way or another, it is very difficult to draw conclusions on this issue. It may well be that the devil is out to get his due.Review and TricksterPopular MusicPopular Music / Volume 24 / Issue 02 / May 2005, pp 179-191Copyright © 2005 Cambridge University PressDelta Blues: The Life and Times of Mississippi Masters Who. ..By Ted Gioia