"Blind" Willie Johnson (c. 1902-1947), was one of the greatest exponents of slide or bottleneck guitar, as well as one of the most revered figures of depression-era gospel blues . His music is distinguishable by his powerful bass strumming and gravelly false-bass voice.

Johnson was not born blind, and, although it is not specifically known how his condition came about, it is widely believed that his stepmother, in a fit of rage, blinded him when he was 7 years old by throwing lye in his face.

Like many destitute people with physical disabilities at the time, Blind Willie Johnson earned his living from music. His father would often leave him on street corners to sing for money, where his powerful voice left an indelible impression on passersby (legend has it that he was arrested for nearly starting a riot at a New Orleans courthouse with a powerful rendition of "If I Had My Way I'd Tear the Building Down", a song about Samson and Delilah).

Johnson remained poor until the end, preaching and singing in the streets to anyone who would listen. In 1947, his home inexplicably burned to the ground. With nowhere else to go, Johnson lived in the burned ruins of his home until, two weeks later, he contracted pneumonia and died.

Despite a dearth of studio recordings, his music has been tremendously influential and his songs have been covered by several popular artists, including Led Zeppelin who covered 'Nobody's Fault But Mine', and Eric Clapton, who covered 'Mother's Children Have A Hard Time'. Some of his most famous recordings include his rendition of the famous gospel song "Let Your Light Shine On Me", as well as the raw, powerful "Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground", about the crucifixion of Jesus.