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Johnnie Johnson: Pianist Johnnie Johnson
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Johnnie Johnson is one of the unsung heroes of rock and roll. He is recognized by many as “the worlds greatest blues pianist” and “the founding father of rock and roll.” Johnnie was born July 8, 1924 on Diamond Street in Fairmont, West Virginia. Johnnie began playing piano in 1928 when he was four years old. His mother had purchased the second-hand upright piano as a decoration.
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Pianist Johnnie Johnson was one of the stalwarts of Chuck Berry’s sound. And he may have written or co-written some of Berry’s biggest hits. Johnson spent some time out of the limelight in the ‘70s and’80s, but after Keith Richards enlisted him for the 1986 Chuck Berry tribute film “Hail! Hail! Rock n’ Roll“, he revitalized his career. As a “living legend” he graced the stage alongside quite a few rockers during this latter period.
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From 1953 to 1981, Johnnie Johnson worked almost exclusively as the backing pianist for rock 'n' roll lynchpin Chuck Berry, which may account for his own relative obscurity. His rolling licks and nonstop pump are intrinsic to the sound of pretty much all of Berry's great singles. The pair often played off each other, and the similarities between Berry's guitar licks and Johnson's piano runs are often startling, sparking an ongoing discussion about whether or not Berry was in the habit of swiping Johnson's vamps for his own use. It doesn't really matter because those songs are some of the greatest ever recorded, and questions about Berry's honesty are pointless. Johnson embarked on a solo career in the late 1980s, recording for a handful of independent blues labels before debuting on Elektra in 1992 with Johnnie B. Bad. These records are mostly good and feature his signature playing style and tangible love for rock 'n' roll's earlier, bluesier days.
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Self-taught pianist Johnnie Johnson settled in St. Louis in 1952 and formed the Sir John Trio. He asked Chuck Berry to sit in that New Year's Eve, and a magical, half-century collaboration was born. Johnson provided the driving undercurrent on many Berry classics. His inspired piano playing in the 1987 film "Hail! Hail! Rock & Roll" earned him a new generation of fans, including Keith Richards and Eric Clapton, both of whom played on his album Johnnie B. Bad.
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Johnnie Johnson is considered by many to be the world's greatest living Blues Pianist & the Founding Father of Rock & Roll Music. Johnnie received a Congressional Citation in 1999, for his lifetime contributions to Blues & Jazz Music. Johnnie Johnson was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.
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To say that the reputation of 76-year-old pianist Johnnie Johnson has traveled around the world many times over is a gross understatement. When NASA launched its Voyager missions in 1977, the two missions included a series of Earth recordings. Included was "Johnny B. Goode," penned and performed by Chuck Berry in recognition of Johnson's partnership and contributions. While those recordings are on the verge of leaving the solar system, the self-effacing Johnson is nowhere near the household name that Chuck Berry has become over the past half-century. That lack of universal recognition likely played a role in postponing Johnson's entry into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. But late last year, the announcement came: Johnson will join Berry in the Hall.
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Pianist Johnnie Johnson