Lytle grew up in Springfield, Ohio in a family of musicians, the son of a trumpeter father and an organist mother. He began playing the drums and piano at an early age. Before studying music in earnest, he was a boxer, and was a successful Golden Gloves champion. During the late '50s, Lytle continued to box, but landed jobs as a drummer for Ray Charles, Jimmy Witherspoon and Gene Ammons. Then he switched from drums to vibraphone and toured with organist Hiram "Boots" Johnson from 1955 to 1957. He formed his first group in 1957 with saxophonist Boots Johnson, organist Milton Harris and drummer William "Peppy" Hinnant. He impressed the producer Orrin Keepnews who signed him to his Jazzland label in 1960.
Lionel Hampton said Lytle was "the greatest vibes player in the world." Lytle was known for his great hand speed and showmanship. He was also a songwriter, penning many of his own hits, including "The Loop", "The Man", "Selim", "Lela", and the jazz classic "The Village Caller". Lytle recorded more than 30 albums for various jazz labels including Jazzland, Pacific Jazz, Solid State, Milestone and Muse. Throughout his career he performed and recorded with jazz greats including Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, Miles Davis, Nancy Wilson, Bobby Timmons and Roy Ayers. Lytle was such an admirer of the music of Miles Davis that he wrote "Selim" (Miles spelled backwards) in honor of Davis. He also featured his son, Marcel Lytle, on several recordings, as a vocalist and drummer.
He found success early in his career with chart-topping albums like A Groove, Moon Child, and The Loop. From his swinging uptempo tracks to his soul-satisfying ballads, Lytle knew how to keep a groove. And with a nickname like "Fast Hands", he could always keep the attention of an audience. In addition to his musicianship, his gregarious personality made him a popular attraction on the jazz circuit. Even though he did not experience the same success he was privileged to during the 1960s, he did continue to record and build a respectable catalog of music with recordings in the '70s, '80s and '90s.
Lytle remained a popular concert attraction in the U.S. and Europe; his last performance was with the Springfield (Ohio) Symphony Orchestra in his hometown on November 18, 1995. Passing away from kidney failure the following month, he was survived by his wife Barbara Jean Lytle, his son Marcel Anthony (of Atlanta), Michael-Lamont (of Toronto), and daughter Ayo Michelle Hagans (of Springfield). At the time of his death, Lytle was scheduled to begin recording a new album on the Muse label. In his hometown of Springfield, Ohio, the street where he used to live was renamed 'Johnny Lytle Avenue' in his honor.
^Andrew Jaffe, revised by Barry Kernfeld (2003). "Lytle, Johnny [John Dillard ]". Grove Music Online (8th ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.J277600. ISBN978-1-56159-263-0.
[1] Springfield News-Sun article, The real Johnny Lytle: Good vibes, bad business
[2] Springfield News-Sun article, "How a local music icon ended up in an unmarked grave" Andrew McGinn
[3] Springfield News-Sun article, "Homegrown jazz great finally gets a headstone for his resting place" Andrew McGinn
January 07, 2023
johnny, lytle, johnny, dillard, lytle, october, 1932, springfield, ohio, december, 1995, springfield, jazz, drummer, vibraphonist, contents, life, career, discography, leader, sideman, references, further, reading, external, linkslife, career, editlytle, grew,. Johnny Dillard Lytle October 13 1932 in Springfield Ohio December 15 1995 in Springfield 1 was a jazz drummer and vibraphonist Contents 1 Life and career 2 Discography 2 1 As Leader 2 2 As Sideman 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksLife and career EditLytle grew up in Springfield Ohio in a family of musicians the son of a trumpeter father and an organist mother He began playing the drums and piano at an early age Before studying music in earnest he was a boxer and was a successful Golden Gloves champion During the late 50s Lytle continued to box but landed jobs as a drummer for Ray Charles Jimmy Witherspoon and Gene Ammons Then he switched from drums to vibraphone and toured with organist Hiram Boots Johnson from 1955 to 1957 He formed his first group in 1957 with saxophonist Boots Johnson organist Milton Harris and drummer William Peppy Hinnant He impressed the producer Orrin Keepnews who signed him to his Jazzland label in 1960 Lionel Hampton said Lytle was the greatest vibes player in the world Lytle was known for his great hand speed and showmanship He was also a songwriter penning many of his own hits including The Loop The Man Selim Lela and the jazz classic The Village Caller Lytle recorded more than 30 albums for various jazz labels including Jazzland Pacific Jazz Solid State Milestone and Muse Throughout his career he performed and recorded with jazz greats including Louis Armstrong Lionel Hampton Miles Davis Nancy Wilson Bobby Timmons and Roy Ayers Lytle was such an admirer of the music of Miles Davis that he wrote Selim Miles spelled backwards in honor of Davis He also featured his son Marcel Lytle on several recordings as a vocalist and drummer He found success early in his career with chart topping albums like A Groove Moon Child and The Loop From his swinging uptempo tracks to his soul satisfying ballads Lytle knew how to keep a groove And with a nickname like Fast Hands he could always keep the attention of an audience In addition to his musicianship his gregarious personality made him a popular attraction on the jazz circuit Even though he did not experience the same success he was privileged to during the 1960s he did continue to record and build a respectable catalog of music with recordings in the 70s 80s and 90s Lytle remained a popular concert attraction in the U S and Europe his last performance was with the Springfield Ohio Symphony Orchestra in his hometown on November 18 1995 Passing away from kidney failure the following month he was survived by his wife Barbara Jean Lytle his son Marcel Anthony of Atlanta Michael Lamont of Toronto and daughter Ayo Michelle Hagans of Springfield At the time of his death Lytle was scheduled to begin recording a new album on the Muse label In his hometown of Springfield Ohio the street where he used to live was renamed Johnny Lytle Avenue in his honor Discography EditAs Leader Edit Blue Vibes Jazzland 22 1960 Happy Ground Jazzland 44 1961 reissued on Riverside 470 in 1963 Nice and Easy The Soulful Vibes of Johnny Lytle Jazzland 67 1962 with Johnny Griffin Bobby Timmons CD later reissued on OJC Fantasy in 1999 Moon Child Jazzland 81 1962 with Ray Barretto reissued on Riverside 3017 in 1968 CD later reissued on Milestone in 2001 Got That Feeling Riverside 456 1963 CD later reissued on Milestone in 2001 The Village Caller Riverside 480 1963 reissued as A Groove on Riverside 3003 in 1967 CD later reissued on OJC Fantasy in 1998 The Loop Tuba 5001 1965 CD later reissued on Beat Goes Public BGP in 1990 New and Groovy Tuba 5002 1966 CD later reissued on Beat Goes Public BGP in 1990 Look Johnny Lytle Done it Again Pacific Jazz 10125 1967 CD later reissued on Get On Down in 2011 Swingin at the Gate live Pacific Jazz 10129 1967 A Man and a Woman Solid State 18014 1967 The Sound of Velvet Soul Solid State 18026 1968 Be Proud Solid State 18044 1968 Close Enough for Jazz Solid State 18056 1969 The Soulful Rebel Milestone 9036 1971 CD later reissued on Real Gone Music in 2013 People amp Love Milestone 9043 1972 with Butch Cornell CD later reissued on Real Gone Music in 2013 Everything Must Change Muse 5158 1977 with Big John Patton Fast Hands Muse 5185 1980 with Houston Person later reissued on 32 Jazz in 1998 Good Vibes Muse 5271 1981 with Houston Person Los Grandes del Jazz Sarpe Spain 1982 also released as I Giganti Del Jazz Vol 93 Curcio Italy 1982 Happy Ground Muse 5387 1989 rel 1991 with Houston Person later reissued on 32 Jazz in 1998 Moonchild Muse 5431 1991 rel 1992 with Houston Person Possum Grease Muse 5482 1992 rel 1995 with Houston PersonAs Sideman Edit With Bobby Timmons Workin Out Prestige 7387 1964 CD later reissued on Prestige in 1994 With Roger Troutman Unlimited Reprise 1987 References Edit Andrew Jaffe revised by Barry Kernfeld 2003 Lytle Johnny John Dillard Grove Music Online 8th ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 gmo 9781561592630 article J277600 ISBN 978 1 56159 263 0 Further reading EditRichard Cook amp Morton Brian The Penguin Guide To Jazz on CD 6th Edition London Penguin 2002 ISBN 0 14 017949 6 Andrew Scott Fast hands Wax Poetics No 40External links EditDiscography 1 Springfield News Sun article The real Johnny Lytle Good vibes bad business 2 Springfield News Sun article How a local music icon ended up in an unmarked grave Andrew McGinn 3 Springfield News Sun article Homegrown jazz great finally gets a headstone for his resting place Andrew McGinn Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Johnny Lytle amp oldid 1075665559, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
