Johnnie Johnson RIP
funky16corners
7,175 Posts
April 14, 2005Johnnie Johnson, 80, Dies; Inspired 'Johnny B. Goode'By BEN RATLIFF ohnnie Johnson, the blues and early rock 'n' roll pianist who played on many of Chuck Berry's early hits and performed with Mr. Berry for more than 20 years, died yesterday at home in St. Louis, according to a statement from his publicist, Margo Lewis. He was 80, according to Ms. Lewis.It was his bouncing, insistent piano chords and glissandos that were the backdrop to the guitar riffs on many of the Chuck Berry hits of the 1950's and early 60's, including "Maybellene," "Brown-Eyed Handsome Man," "Roll Over Beethoven," "Almost Grown," and "You Never Can Tell." Mr. Berry wrote "Johnny B. Goode" as a tribute to his pianist. In 2000 Mr. Johnson brought a lawsuit against Mr. Berry, seeking millions of dollars in royalties; he contended that he had been a co-author of many of the songs they recorded together that were credited solely to Mr. Berry. A federal judge dismissed the suit, ruling that too much time had passed since the songs were written. Mr. Johnson, a shy and agreeable man, was working as a bus driver for the aged in St. Louis before Taylor Hackford made his 1986 film "Chuck Berry: Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll." For the film, Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones helped reunite Mr. Johnson with his old boss for a concert; it was only then that the issue of Mr. Johnson's deep influence on Mr. Berry became widely considered. In the film, Mr. Richards suggested that Mr. Berry may have adapted Mr. Johnson's riffs for guitar. Mr. Richards would continue boosting Mr. Johnson's career, hiring Mr. Johnson to play on his own solo record "Talk is Cheap" (1988)Born in Fairmont, W.Va., Mr. Johnson was self-taught, interested early on in the boogie-woogie player Meade Lux Lewis and jazz pianist Earl Hines. After serving in the Marines, he moved to Chicago and then finally to St. Louis in 1952.According to Mr. Berry's autobiography, Mr. Johnson originally hired Mr. Berry as a fill-in member for his band, Sir John's Trio, at the Cosmopolitan Club in St. Louis, on Dec. 31, 1952, when the regular guitarist and singer could not make it. But soon Mr. Berry was independently hired as a leader by the club owner, and Mr. Berry hired Mr. Johnson as his pianist. "When I mentioned this to Johnnie," Mr. Berry wrote, "he said that it would be no problem at all and that he would be happy with me in charge because he didn't care for the business end, dealing with the local union dues and all." Not only that: Mr. Berry had a car, and Mr. Johnson didn't. On breaks from working with Mr. Berry, Mr. Johnson played occasionally with Albert King and Little Richard; he began to make his own records after only his rediscovery through Mr. Hackford's movie. He released "Blue Hand Johnnie" (1988), "Johnnie B. Bad" (1991), "That'll Work" (1993) and "Johnnie Be Back" (1995). He was the subject of a 1999 biography, "Father of Rock & Roll: The Story of Johnnie 'B. Goode' Johnson," by Travis Fitzpatrick. In 2001 Mr. Johnson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Mr. Richards. His last public performance, last February, was with Bo Diddley.He is survived by his wife, Frances, of St. Louis; 10 children; and many grandchildren.
Comments
That Chuck Berry movie is great. Keith and Chuck fight the whole way through the movie. In the live performences Chuck changes keys. The real players like Johnson and Robert Cray just follow, but Keith is completly lost.
Dan
Man I haven't seen that flick since it was in theatres. I remember that scene though, and all the fussing between Keith and Chuck, meanwhile Johnson was just a quiet guy, doing his thing. RIP
They've been re-running it on the True Stories Channel. Great look at Chuck...
When Johnnie Johnson tried to sue to get co-writer's credit, the media was surprisingly on Johnnie's side.
Why is that surprising??
Why is that surprising??
I wasn't shocked to see everybody gang up on Chuck, since he comes off like a solid gold-plated asshole most of the time. I was touchingly surprised to see Johnson get recognition, after toiling in the shadows for so long.