Johnnie Johnson — “I’m Just Johnnie” — Missouri Morning Records
The mystical origins of rock ‘n’ roll music are likely buried deep in the blues and R&B of the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s.
You can point to the influences of the raucous boogie-woogie piano of Pete Johnson, the guitar work of Tampa Red or Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the flashy R&B of Louis Jordan or the imposing vocal wizardry of blues shouters Wynonie Harris and Big Joe Turner.
You could also point to Chuck Berry’s giant legacy opening the doorway to what would become bigtime rock ‘n’ roll. But then you would also need to point to the too-often unheralded piano player who gave Berry his start and partnered in creating his early, groundbreaking music — Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Johnnie Johnson.
Johnson, from Fairmont, W.Va. (where they still hold an annual Johnnie Johnson Festival every July), was a keyboard prodigy, teaching himself to play piano when he was 5, copying piano songs he heard on the radio. He’s said to have developed his sense of rhythm listening to trains that ran past the family home.
Johnson began making appearances on local radio stations when he was 9 and started a band, the Blue Rhythm Swingers, at 13. By age 17, at the start of U.S. entry in World War II, he worked for the Ford Motor Co. in Detroit. Johnson enlisted in the Marines, becoming one of the first African Americans in that branch, and later played in the Special Service Band for USO shows.
After his discharge in 1946, he moved to Chicago to work in an auto factory, and became part of the Chicago blues scene, working with the likes of Muddy Waters and Little Walter. He moved to St. Louis in 1952 and with a day job in a steel mill, formed the Sir John Trio. On New Year’s Eve 1952, Johnson needed an emergency replacement for his sax player and called on an inexperienced (and therefore not working on New Year’s Eve) guitar player named Chuck Berry. Berry’s vocals and flair for performing earned him a permanent spot, and his newfound popularity led to the Sir John Trio being renamed the Chuck Berry Trio.
The rest — to recoin a trite phrase — turned out to be rock ‘n’ roll history.
Berry’s “Maybelline,” a reworking of Bob Wills’ western swing classic “Ida Red,” landed him a deal with Chess Records in 1955. The B-side of that debut single was “Wee Wee Hours,” an instrumental that Johnson had played for years, adding lyrics by Berry.
Johnson’s bold, percussive piano continued to add inventive rhythmic heft to many more Berry classics, including “Roll Over Beethoven,” “Brown-Eyed Handsome Man,” “School Days,” “Almost Grown,” “Back in the USA,” “Carol,” and “Too Much Monkey Business.”
In 1998, Johnson told Doug Donnelly of Monroenews.com that “Johnny B. Goode” was a tribute to Johnson himself. “I played no part in nothing of ‘Johnny B. Goode,'” Johnson said. “On other songs, Chuck and I worked together, but not that one. We were playing one night, I think it was Chicago, and he played it. Afterward, he told me it was a tribute to me. He did it on his own. I didn’t know nothing about it. It was never discussed.”
In 2000, Johnson sued Berry for co-composer credits and royalties for dozens of songs which credit Berry alone. The case was eventually dismissed because of the length of time since the songs were written. But Johnson’s piano work was clearly a vital, integral part of Berry’s early recordings.
Johnson left the group in 1973 and returned to become a fixture on the St. Louis blues scene. In the early and mid-1980s he was a member of The Sounds of The City, with vocalist Larry Thurston, bassist Gus Thornton, and guitarist Tom Maloney. Johnson performed all over St. Louis with Tommy Bankhead, Oliver Sain, and many significant blues artists throughout their lives. The 1987 Chuck Berry documentary, “Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll” renewed interest in Johnson’s music and formed a musical bond between him and documentary participants Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, and Steve Jordan. Johnson emerged from those years with his first solo album, “Blue Hand Johnnie,” in 1987.
A return to performing worldwide followed, both as a solo artist and working with, among others, the Kentucky Headhunters, Clapton and Richards. He released albums produced by Richards, Jimmy Vivino, and Al Kooper. He later performed with Richards, Clapton, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Bo Diddley, George Thorogood and Bob Weir. Johnson was also the leader of Albert King’s rhythm section. For some years, Johnson was known to have a serious drinking problem. He quit drinking in 1991, after nearly suffering a stroke on stage with Clapton.
Johnson continued to perform, and his final album, “Johnnie Be Eighty. And Still Bad!,” was recorded in St. Louis in late 2004. It was released the same week he died in April 2005, at the age of 80.
A Los Angeles Times obituary quoted the prominent blues-rock keyboardist Barry Goldberg on Johnson’s death: “When I heard he’d died, I put on the record of ‘Sweet Little Sixteen,’ and when I listened to his solo, I just began to weep,” Goldberg said. “What he did was so mind-blowing for that time.”
This gorgeous session, “I’m Just Johnnie,” turns back the clock to 2003 and the sessions that Johnson recorded for what would be his final project. Producer Gene Ackmann describes how it came about:
“Johnnie Johnson and I had been friends since 1979, when I saw him playing in a small blues club in St. Louis,” Ackmann says. “We struck up a friendship and over the years he would come out and play with my band often. That was always a big thrill for all of us in the band. He recorded on some of our band CDs and played on my St. Louis sports team’s songs that I wrote for the Cardinals, Blues, and Rams when they were in St. Louis.
“Johnnie loved his St. Louis sports,” Ackmann says. “My band always played for the Cardinals home opener and Johnnie would come down and play with us there too. He came down one last time and played at the opener with us in front of thousands at Busch Stadium on April 8, 2005, and got a huge ovation from the crowd. Just five days later, he died and that was his last public performance – at a Cardinals game.
“The other thing Johnnie was really fond of was fishing. He knew I had a lake at my house in the country, and it was pretty much a Friday routine for us to fish together . . . He would tell fantastic stories about the old days, and it was like getting to spend the day with my grandpa one more time.
“One day we were fishing and it was nice and quiet and birds were singing. The sun was shining and Johnnie said, ‘This is almost as good as playing blues in the key of G.’ I loved that! Everyone knows Johnnie could tear it up in G – check out Johnnie and Eric Clapton and Chuck Berry on ‘Wee Wee Hours’ in the key of G from the “Hail! Hail! Rock and Roll” movie when Eric gives Johnnie that piano solo.
“On our drive home that day, Johnnie said to me, ‘You are one of the most creative people I know. I want to do a new CD but don’t know how to go about it or have the money to do it. Would you help me?’ I said, ‘sure I would love to,’ and that was how it came about. I told him I’d help him write some songs for it and we began our project in 2003. The first person to come to St. Louis to record was Johnny Rivers. Bruce Hornsby, Bonnie Raitt and John Sebastian also played on it. This music was all recorded in St. Louis when Johnnie was 80 years old and the last stuff he recorded. Johnnie and I would sit in my music room overlooking the lake and work out our music for the project.”
There’s one CD of that great music in this set, and a second disc of interviews with Radio Hall of Fame and SiriusXM DJ Pat St. John discussing Johnson’s career in one of his last interviews before his death. Raitt is also featured on the interview disc.
Other musicians on the album include former Mama’s Pride band members Max Baker (guitar), Dickie Steltenpohl (bass), Paul Willett (Hammond B3 organ) and Pat Liston (backing vocals); plus Henry Lawrence, former Oakland Raiders All-Pro offensive tackle, who does lead vocals on two songs with Johnnie – “Lo Down” and “Stagger Lee;” and Charles Glenn, best-known as the St. Louis Hockey Blues anthem singer of 19 years, who sings lead vocals on two songs with Johnnie – “I Get Weary” and “Heebie Jeebies.” Kenny Rice (drums) and Gus Thornton (bass), long-time members of Johnnie’s band, also play on the album. Rice and Thornton were both in Albert King’s band with Johnson. Rice also does the lead vocals on “Let the Good Times Roll.” (The full list of credits by song is included after the videos below.)
But what about this music? It’s simply wonderful.
Johnson’s still vital piano rolls effortlessly across all twelve tracks. Two are instrumentals, including the classic “Blues in G.” Johnson’s svelte vocals on five songs are full of life, soulfully seasoned with age and the wisdom of his musical life.
The title track, “I’m Just Johnnie,” is Johnson singing a sprightly reminder of his presence. “I Get Weary” is a delicious slow blues with Johnson backing Charles Glenn’s soulful vocal, including a gorgeous piano solo. “Every Day I Have the Blues” features Bruce Hornsby sharing piano and vocals in their rollicking version of this blues chestnut.
“Lo Down” is a Johnny Rivers song featuring Rivers on guitar with Henry Lawrence on vocals, while Johnson rolls merrily behind it all. “Let the Good Times Roll” is another classic with Kenny Rice shouting the blues while Johnson’s piano illuminates the high-rolling proceedings. “Three Handed Woman” gets Johnson’s two-fisted treatment on vocals and the keys, bemoaning the lady’s underhanded ways.
“Broke the Bank” adds John Sebastian on harmonica behind another Johnson vocal turn, with an upbeat big band sound and furiously melodic piano solo that sticks the landing. “Blues in G” reprises this classic, with Johnson leading a quartet in this elegant blues instrumental. “Stagger Lee” brings back Lawrence for a rocking vocal turn and Johnson returns with a world-weary vocal on “Johnnie Johnson Blues,” another Rivers tune that neatly sums up Johnson’s life work: “They call me Johnnie J, and I sure like to play.”
“Heebie Jeebies” returns Glenn to handle the vocals on this bright New Orleans-flavored romp. The closer is the instrumental “Long Gone,” as Johnson stretches out with a glorious run on his magical keyboard in a fitting farewell.
“I’m Just Johnnie” is an unnecessarily modest title for this tribute to Johnnie Johnson and the music that he played and helped to create as part of the rock ‘n’ roll juggernaut of the 1950s. His piano playing is infused with the blues, a little R&B, and a whole lotta rock. He was a helluva lot more than “just Johnnie.”
Enjoy this piece of musical history that also just happens to be great music.
I”m Just Johnnie” from the album:
Here’s “Sweet Little Sixteen” and that piano solo mentioned above:
Tracklist and credits
1. I’M JUST JOHNNIE (J. Johnson-G. Ackmann)
Lead Vocal: Johnnie Johnson, Piano: Johnnie Johnson, Guitar: Tony T, Bass: Gus Thornton, Drums: Kenny Rice, Trumpet: Jim Manley, Sax: Ray Vollmar, Backing Vocals: Liz Henderson
Produced by: Gene Ackmann
2. I GET WEARY (J. Johnson-D.Steltenpohl-G. Ackmann)
Lead Vocal: Charles Glenn, Piano: Johnnie Johnson, B3 Organ: Paul Willett. Guitar: Max Baker, Bass: Dickie Steltenpohl, Drums: Andy O’Connor
Produced By: Gene Ackmann & Dickie Steltenpohl
3. EVERY DAY I HAVE THE BLUES (J. Chatman)
Lead Vocal: Johnnie Johnson, Lead Vocal 2: Bruce Hornsby, Piano: Johnnie Johnson, Piano 2: Bruce Hornsby, Slide Guitar: Bonnie Raitt, Guitar: Bob Hammett, Organ: Greg Trampe, Bass: Gus Thornton, Drums: Kenny Rice
Backing Vocals: Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Hornsby, Pat Liston
Produced By: Gene Ackmann
4. LO DOWN (J. Rivers)
Lead Vocal: Henry Lawrence, Piano: Johnnie Johnson, Guitar: Johnny Rivers, Bass: Gus Thornton, Drums: Mark Kersten, Bari Sax: Larry Smith
Produced By: Gene Ackmann
5. LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL (F. Moore-S.Thread)
Lead Vocal: Kenny Rice, Piano: Johnnie Johnson, Slide Guitar: Bonnie Raitt, Guitar: Tom Maloney, Bass: Gus Thornton, Drums: Kenny Rice, Trumpet: Elliot Doc Simpson, Tenor Sax: Tom O’Brien, Trombone: Ray McAnallen
Backing Vocals: Bob Hammett, Bonnie Raitt, Cindy Ankelman, Elliot Doc Simpson, Gene Ackmann, Laura Hanson, Seth Hutcherson
Produced By: Gene Ackmann
6. THREE HANDED WOMAN (B.Raleigh-I.Taylor)
Lead Vocal: Johnnie Johnson, Piano: Johnnie Johnson, Guitar: Tony T, Bass: Gus Thornton, Drums: Richard Hunt
Produced By: Gene Ackmann
7. BROKE THE BANK (J. Johnson-D. Hommes-G. Ackmann)
Lead Vocal: Johnnie Johnson, Harmonica: John Sebastian, Guitar: Tom Maloney, Bass: Gus Thornton, Drums: Kenny Rice, Tenor Sax: Ray Vollmar, Trumpet: Bill Sextro
Backing Vocals: Amy Thorn, Bob Hammett, Gene Ackmann
Produced By: Gene Ackmann
8. BLUES IN G (Instrumental)
Piano: Johnnie Johnson, Guitar: Tom Maloney, Bass: Gus Thornton, Drums: Kenny Rice
Produced By: Gene Ackmann
9. STAGGER LEE (R. Hunter-J. Hurt)
Lead Vocal: Henry Lawrence, Piano: Johnnie Johnson, Guitar: Bob Hammett, Bass: Gus Thornton, Drums: Kenny Rice, Tenor Sax: Ray Vollmar, Trumpet: Bill Sextro
Backing Vocals: Bob Hammett, Gene Ackmann, Laura Hanson, Liz Henderson, Pat Liston
Produced By: Gene Ackmann
10. JOHNNIE JOHNSON BLUES (J. Rivers)
Lead Vocal: Johnnie Johnson, Piano: Johnnie Johnson, Guitar: Johnny Rivers, Bass: Gus Thornton, Drums: Kenny Rice
Produced By: Gene Ackmann
11. HEEBIE JEEBIES (J. Johnson-D.Steltenpohl-G. Ackmann)
Lead Vocal: Charles Glenn, Piano: Johnnie Johnson, Guitar: Max Baker, Bass: Dickie Steltenpohl, Drums: Andy O’Connor, Percussion: Charles Glenn, Trumpet: Elliot Doc Simpson, Tenor Sax: Tom O’Brien, Bari Sax: Larry Smith, Trombone: Ray McAnallen
Backing Vocals: Laura Hanson
Produced By: Gene Ackmann & Dickie Steltenpohl
12. LONG GONE (Instrumental S. Thompson-Simpkins)
Piano: Johnnie Johnson, Guitar: Tom Maloney, Bass: Gus Thornton, Drums: Kenny Rice
Produced By: Gene Ackmann
2nd Disc — Johnnie Johnson interviews
I’m Just Johnnie Track Listing and Credits
1. I’M JUST JOHNNIE
(J. Johnson-G. Ackmann)
Lead Vocal: Johnnie Johnson
Piano: Johnnie Johnson
Guitar: Tony T
Bass: Gus Thornton
Drums: Kenny Rice
Trumpet: Jim Manley
Sax: Ray Vollmar
Backing Vocals: Liz Henderson
Produced by: Gene Ackmann
Published by: Gene Ackmann Music, BMI
(J. Johnson-D.Steltenpohl-G. Ackmann)
Lead Vocal: Charles Glenn
Piano: Johnnie Johnson
B3 Organ: Paul Willett
Guitar: Max Baker
Bass: Dickie Steltenpohl
Drums: Andy O’Connor
Produced By: Gene Ackmann & Dickie Steltenpohl
Published By: Gene Ackmann Music, BMI
3. EVERY DAY I HAVE THE BLUES
(J.Chatman)
Lead Vocal: Johnnie Johnson
Lead Vocal 2: Bruce Hornsby
Piano: Johnnie Johnson
Piano 2: Bruce Hornsby
Slide Guitar: Bonnie Raitt
Guitar: Bob Hammett
Organ: Greg Trampe
Bass: Gus Thornton
Drums: Kenny Rice
Backing Vocals: Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Hornsby, Pat Liston
Produced By: Gene Ackmann
Published By: BMG Music, Inc
4. LO DOWN
(J. Rivers)
Lead Vocal: Henry Lawrence
Piano: Johnnie Johnson
Guitar: Johnny Rivers
Bass: Gus Thornton
Drums: Mark Kersten
Bari Sax: Larry Smith
Produced By: Gene Ackmann
Published By: Rivers Music, BMI
(Johnny Rivers appears courtesy of Soul City Records, Inc)
5. LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL
(F. Moore-S.Thread)
Lead Vocal: Kenny Rice
Piano: Johnnie Johnson
Slide Guitar: Bonnie Raitt
Guitar: Tom Maloney
Bass: Gus Thornton
Drums: Kenny Rice
Trumpet: Elliot Doc Simpson
Tenor Sax: Tom O’Brien
Trombone: Ray McAnallen
Backing Vocals: Bob Hammett, Bonnie Raitt, Cindy Ankelman ,
Elliot Doc Simpson, Gene Ackmann,
Laura Hanson, Seth Hutcherson
Produced By: Gene Ackmann
Published By: RYTVOC Inc
6. THREE HANDED WOMAN
(B.Raleigh-I.Taylor)
Lead Vocal: Johnnie Johnson
Piano: Johnnie Johnson
Guitar: Tony T
Bass: Gus Thornton
Produced By: Gene Ackmann
Published By: Marks Music Corp
7. BROKE THE BANK
(J. Johnson-D. Hommes-G. Ackmann)
Lead Vocal: Johnnie Johnson
Harmonica: John Sebastian
Guitar: Tom Maloney
Bass: Gus Thornton
Drums: Kenny Rice
Tenor Sax: Ray Vollmar
Trumpet: Bill Sextro
Backing Vocals: Amy Thorn, Bob Hammett,
Gene Ackmann,
Produced By: Gene Ackmann
Published By: Gene Ackmann Music, BMI
8. BLUES IN G
(Instrumental)
Piano: Johnnie Johnson
Guitar: Tom Maloney
Bass: Gus Thornton
Drums: Kenny Rice
Produced By: Gene Ackmann
Published By: Gene Ackmann Music, BMI
9. STAGGER LEE
(R. Hunter-J. Hurt)
Lead Vocal: Henry Lawrence
Piano: Johnnie Johnson
Guitar: Bob Hammett
Bass: Gus Thornton
Drums: Kenny Rice
Tenor Sax: Ray Vollmar
Trumpet: Bill Sextro
Backing Vocals: Bob Hammett, Gene Ackmann,
Laura Hanson, Liz Henderson,
Pat Liston
Produced By: Gene Ackmann
Published By: Irving Music, Inc
10. JOHNNIE JOHNSON BLUES
(J. Rivers)
Lead Vocal: Johnnie Johnson
Piano: Johnnie Johnson
Guitar: Johnny Rivers
Bass: Gus Thornton
Drums: Kenny Rice
Produced By: Gene Ackmann
Published By: Rivers Music, BMI
(Johnny Rivers appears courtesy of Soul City Records, Inc)
11. HEEBIE JEEBIES
(J. Johnson-D.Steltenpohl-G. Ackmann)
Lead Vocal: Charles Glenn
Piano: Johnnie Johnson
Guitar: Max Baker
Bass: Dickie Steltenpohl
Drums: Andy O’Connor
Percussion: Charles Glenn
Trumpet: Elliot Doc Simpson
Tenor Sax: Tom O’Brien
Bari Sax: Larry Smith
Trombone: Ray McAnallen
Backing Vocals: Laura Hanson
Produced By: Gene Ackmann & Dickie Steltenpohl
Published By: Gene Ackmann Music, BMI
12. LONG GONE
(S. Thompson-Simpkins)
Piano: Johnnie Johnson
Guitar: Tom Maloney
Bass: Gus Thornton
Drums: Kenny Rice
Produced By: Gene Ackmann
Published By: Marks Music Corp
Blues Roadhouse 