Willie Johnson (March 4, 1923 – February 26, 1995) was an American electric blues guitarist. He is best known as the principal guitarist in Howlin' Wolf's band from 1948 to 1953.[2] His raucous, distorted guitar playing is prominent on Howlin' Wolf's Memphis recordings during 1951–1953, including the hit song "How Many More Years" (recorded May 1951).[3]
When Wolf moved to Chicago in around 1953, he could not convince Johnson to join him.[1] Johnson stayed on in Memphis for several years, playing on a number of sessions for Sun Records, including a 1955 collaboration with vocalist Sammy Lewis, "I Feel So Worried", released under the name Sammy Lewis with Willie Johnson. By the time Johnson relocated to Chicago, Wolf had already hired guitarist Hubert Sumlin as a permanent replacement.[1]James Cotton later recalled that Wolf replaced Johnson because of his heavy drinking.[5]
Johnson occasionally performed and recorded with Howlin' Wolf after settling in Chicago, and also played briefly in the band of Muddy Waters, as well as a number of other local Chicago blues musicians, including J. T. Brown, in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He made his living mainly outside of music for the rest of his life, only occasionally sitting in with the bands of his old friends around Chicago. His final recordings were made for Earwig Music in Chicago in the early 1990s.[citation needed] Johnson died in Chicago on February 26, 1995.
^Komara, Edward M. (2006). Encyclopedia of the Blues. Routledge. p. 387. ISBN978-0415926997.
^"BLUES HALL OF FAME - ABOUT/Inductions - Blues Foundation". Blues.org. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
^Will Romano (2005). Incurable Blues: The Troubles & Triumph of Blues Legend Hubert Sumlin. Backbeat Books. p. 25. ISBN978-0879308339.
February 21, 2023
willie, johnson, guitarist, other, people, named, willie, johnson, willie, johnson, disambiguation, willie, johnson, march, 1923, february, 1995, american, electric, blues, guitarist, best, known, principal, guitarist, howlin, wolf, band, from, 1948, 1953, rau. For other people named Willie Johnson see Willie Johnson disambiguation Willie Johnson March 4 1923 February 26 1995 was an American electric blues guitarist He is best known as the principal guitarist in Howlin Wolf s band from 1948 to 1953 2 His raucous distorted guitar playing is prominent on Howlin Wolf s Memphis recordings during 1951 1953 including the hit song How Many More Years recorded May 1951 3 Willie JohnsonBackground informationBorn 1923 03 04 March 4 1923Senatobia Mississippi U S DiedFebruary 26 1995 1995 02 26 aged 71 Chicago IllinoisGenresElectric blues 1 Memphis blues 1 Occupation s GuitaristInstrument s Electric guitarYears active1940s 1950sLabelsSun In 2017 Johnson was posthumously inducted in to the Blues Hall of Fame 4 Life and career EditWillie Lee Johnson was born in Senatobia Mississippi As the guitarist in the first band led by Howlin Wolf 1 he appeared on most of Wolf s recordings between 1951 and 1953 He provided the slightly jazzy yet raucous guitar sound that was the signature of all of Wolf s Memphis recordings Johnson also performed and recorded with other blues artists in the Memphis area 1 including pianist Willie Love Willie Nix Junior Parker Roscoe Gordon Bobby Blue Bland and others citation needed Howlin Wolf How Many More Years 1951 source source Howlin Wolf s How Many More Years 1951 with Willie Johnson on the electric guitar Problems playing this file See media help When Wolf moved to Chicago in around 1953 he could not convince Johnson to join him 1 Johnson stayed on in Memphis for several years playing on a number of sessions for Sun Records including a 1955 collaboration with vocalist Sammy Lewis I Feel So Worried released under the name Sammy Lewis with Willie Johnson By the time Johnson relocated to Chicago Wolf had already hired guitarist Hubert Sumlin as a permanent replacement 1 James Cotton later recalled that Wolf replaced Johnson because of his heavy drinking 5 Johnson occasionally performed and recorded with Howlin Wolf after settling in Chicago and also played briefly in the band of Muddy Waters as well as a number of other local Chicago blues musicians including J T Brown in the late 1950s and early 1960s He made his living mainly outside of music for the rest of his life only occasionally sitting in with the bands of his old friends around Chicago His final recordings were made for Earwig Music in Chicago in the early 1990s citation needed Johnson died in Chicago on February 26 1995 Namesakes EditWillie Johnson the guitarist should not be confused with Willie Johnson a member of the Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet until joining the Jubilaires in 1948 or with Blind Willie Johnson an earlier gospel artist References Edit a b c d e f Chadbourne Eugene Willie Johnson Artist Biography AllMusic Retrieved May 22 2015 Dicaire David 1999 Blues Singers McFarland p 94 ISBN 978 0 7864 6241 4 Komara Edward M 2006 Encyclopedia of the Blues Routledge p 387 ISBN 978 0415926997 BLUES HALL OF FAME ABOUT Inductions Blues Foundation Blues org Retrieved January 21 2018 Will Romano 2005 Incurable Blues The Troubles amp Triumph of Blues Legend Hubert Sumlin Backbeat Books p 25 ISBN 978 0879308339 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Willie Johnson guitarist amp oldid 1124228841, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
