Lonnie Johnson
Source: Red Hot Jazz (defunct)
Born in New Orleans on 8 February 1899, blues guitarist and violinist, Lonnie Johnson, is found on nearly 500 recordings spanning blues, jazz and R&B. He scratched his first track in 1925 for Okeh as the prize of winning a blues contest. That was the same year that Louis Armstrong formed his Hot Five while across the Atlantic Hitler published 'Mein Kampf'. Johnson's first recording is thought to have been 'Won't Don't Blues' with Charles Creath's Jazz-O-Maniacs circa 3 Nov 1925 [Lord]. The next day he held his first name session beginning with 'Mr. Johnson's Blues'.
'Won't Don't Blues' Lonnie Johnson w Charles Creath's Jazz-O-Maniacs
Recorded c 3 Nov 1925 in St. Louis MO Matrix 9427-A Okeh 8280-B
Trumpet: Creath Banjo: Pete Patterson Violin / vocal: Johnson
Composition: Creath
'Mr. Johnson's Blues' Lonnie Johnson w Jessie J. Johnson (piano)
Recorded 4 Nov 1925 in St. Louis MO Matrix 9435-A Okeh 8253
Composition: Lonnie Johnson
Johnson's busy early career during the twenties included titles with such as James Johnson, Victoria Spivey and Duke Ellington. The Depression years saw gigs with such as Bessie Smith and Roosevelt Sykes among others. As he moved into the forties he transitioned to rhythm and blues. To go by Billboard, Johnson's most successful issues followed World War II per his compositions, 'Pleasing You' (King 4245) and 'Tomorrow Night' (King 4201), at #2 and #1 respectively on the R&B charts in 1948. 'So Tired' (King 4263) wasn't too pooped to reach #9 in 1949. 'Confused' (King 4336) headed directly to #11 in 1950. Despite good reason for these popular titles, upon returning from a tour to England in 1952 Johnson experienced financially difficult times during which he had to take janitorial jobs between gigs until the recording of the album, 'Blues', on 8 March of 1960 revived his career.
'Long Black Train' Lonnie Johnson
Recorded 5 Aug 1930 in St. Louis MO Okeh 8822
Composition: Lonnie Johnson
'The Devil's Woman' Lonnie Johnson
Recorded 13 Feb 1942 in Chicago Bluebird B9022
Piano: Blind John Davis Bass: Andrew Harris
Composition: Lonnie Johnson
'Happy New Year Darling' Lonnie Johnson
Recorded 10 Dec 1947 in Cincinnati OH Matrix K5312 King 4251
Piano: John Hughes Bass: Roy Coulter
Composition: Lonnie Johnson
'Tomorrow Night' Lonnie Johnson #1 Billboard R&B 1948
Recorded 10 Dec 1947 in Cincinnati OH Matrix K5313-1 King 4201-A
Piano: John Hughes Bass: Roy Coulter
Composition: Lonnie Johnson
'Darlin'' Lonnie Johnson w the Tiny Bradshaw Band
Recorded 26 Oct 1951 in Cincinnati OH Matrix K9092 King 4503
Tenor sax: Red Prysock Piano: Jimmy Robinson
Bass: Clarence Mack Drums: Calvin Shields
Composition: Reckling / Millender
'Me and My Crazy Self' Lonnie Johnson w the Tiny Bradshaw Band
Recorded 26 Oct 1951 in Cincinnati OH Matrix K9094 King 4510
Tenor sax: Red Prysock Piano: Jimmy Robinson
Bass: Clarence Mack Drums: Calvin Shields
Composition: Glover / Mann
'Seven Long Days' Lonnie Johnson w the Tiny Bradshaw Band
Recorded 26 Oct 1951 in Cincinnati OH Matrix K9095 King 4503
Tenor sax: Red Prysock Piano: Jimmy Robinson
Bass: Clarence Mack Drums: Calvin Shields
Composition: Jessie Mae Robinson
'Blues' Album by Lonnie Johnson
Recorded 8 March 1960
Tenor sax: Hal Singer Piano: Claude Hopkins
Bass: Wendell Marshall Drums: Bobby Donaldson
All compositions by Lonnie Johnson
'Blues & Ballads' Album by Lonnie Johnson
Recorded 5 April 1960
Guitar: Elmer Snowden Bass: Wendell Marshall
'Another Night to Cry' Lonnie Johnson
'I Hear the Blues' television broadcast 18 Dec 1963
Composition: Lonnie Johnson
'Swingin' the Blues' Lonnie Johnson
From the album 'Swingin' the Blues' XTRA 1037 1966
Composition: Lonnie Johnson
In 1969 Johnson was hit by a car while walking down a sidewalk in Toronto, hastening his death the next year on June 16, 1970.
Sources & References for Lonnie Johnson:
Bill Dahl (All Music)
James M. Manheim (Musician Guide)
Anita Pravits (chronology)
VF History (notes)
Billboard Charts: Music VF
Compositions:
Johnson in Film / Television: IMDb
Recordings by Johnson: Albums (herein mentioned):
Blues & Ballads (Bluesville / 1960)
Blues by Lonnie Johnson (Bluesville BVLP1007 / 1960)
Swingin' the Blues (XTRA 1037 / 1966)
Recordings by Johnson: Catalogs:
Recordings by Johnson: Sessions:
Scott Alexander (1925-42)
Scott Alexander (w Blind Willie Dunn 1928-29)
Scott Alexander (w Blind Willie Dunn & the Gin Bottle Four 1929)
DAHR (1925-49)
Tom Lord: leading 108 of 176 sessions 1925-67
Brian Rust (Jazz and Ragtime Records (1897-1942) / Mainspring Press / 2002)
Authority Search: VIAF World Cat
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