R.I.P Johnnie Johnson

[Tim Mayock]

He sure was a big part of Rock N Roll. I have an album of his called "Johnnie be bad" I'll have to find story here

[PBBPaul]

That is very sad news.

 

RIP Johnnie.

[Alndln]

Indeed sad.One of the fathers of Rock&Roll and R&B, R.I.P. Johnny.

[theblue1]

Another rock pioneer gone.

 

RIP, Johnny.

[ihategarybettman]

The first two albums I ever owned were greatest hits collections by Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry. While my high school friends back in the 70s were heavily into bands like Zep, Sabbath, Pink Floyd, and the Doors, my preference was records featuring the greatness of Mr. Johnson. RIP, Johnny - you'll always "B. Goode" to me.

[Lee Flier]

Oh man. That one hurts. Most people will never know - and maybe even Johnnie himself never knew - how much he really contributed to the invention and vocabulary of rock'n'roll. It just simply wouldn't be what it is without him.

 

RIP Johnnie.

[Philip OKeefe]

I saw the news announcement too. Very sad.

[D. Gauss]

here's a good johnnie story, and i hope lee reads this one:

 

i had the honor to meet johnnie a few years ago in NYC through a monster boogie woogie piano player friend of mine. during his show, she was literally sitting in with johnnie (her and johnnie sitting on the bench playing the same piano) when, who walks in and onstage to play but "keef" richards. after the set, we're in the dressing room, and my friend introduces herself to keith. she says "hi, i'm a student of johnnie's."

 

and without missing a beat, keith goes "aren't we all!"

 

nothing more need be said.

 

-d. gauss

[Lee Flier]

Wow. What a great story and what a perfect tribute.

[Bryson]

I never knew of him.

And I'm pretty dang hip.

WTF?

[antimatter]

 

Johnnie, Be Good.

[The Soundsmith]

He was my primary influence for rock piano, which I played in the late fifties, and I never knew his name until maybe 1995 or so. Over the years when I asked other musicians, "Who was Chuck Berry's pianist," the ansqwer was always "I dunno, but he sure was great..."

 

One of the true greats and pioneers, I'm glad the Hall of Fame remembered him.

[fantasticsound]

Died on my birthday...

 

I heard, on these boards, that Jimmie may have been responsible for some of the musical devices of rock & roll that are attributed to Chuck Berry. Regardless of what was created by each man, Jimmie certainly was a giant in music history, yet his name will likely be lost to all but true scholars of rock & roll.