Johnnie Johnson (musician)

Johnnie Clyde Johnson (July 8, 1924 – April 13, 2005) was an American pianist who played jazz, blues, and rock and roll.

His work with Chuck Berry led to his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for breaking racial barriers in the military as a Montford Point Marine, where he endured racism and inspired social change while integrating the previously all-white Marine Corps during World War II.

Johnson was born in Fairmont, West Virginia, United States.

He began playing the piano in 1928.

During World War II, he joined the United States Marine Corps and became a member of Bobby Troup's all-serviceman jazz orchestra: the Barracudas.

After his service, Johnson moved to Detroit and then Chicago, where he sat in with many notable artists, including Muddy Waters and Little Walter.

Johnson moved to St. Louis, Missouri in 1952 and immediately assembled a jazz and blues group called the Sir John Trio with the drummer Ebby Hardy and the saxophonist Alvin Bennett.

The three had a regular engagement at the Cosmopolitan Club in East St. Louis.

On New Year's Eve 1952, Bennett suffered a stroke and could not perform.

While searching for a last-minute replacement, Johnson called a young man named Chuck Berry.

Berry was the only musician he knew who, because of his inexperience, would likely not be playing on New Year's Eve.

Although Berry was hired as a limited guitarist, he added vocals and showmanship to the group and soon became a permanent member of the trio.

Berry took one of their tunes, a reworking of Bob Wills's version of "Ida Red", to Chess Records in 1955.

The Chess brothers liked the song and soon the trio were in Chicago recording "Maybellene" and "Wee Wee Hours" – a song Johnson played as an instrumental for years before Berry wrote some accompanying lyrics.

The same year "Maybellene" got Berry and Johnson onto the Billboard charts.

Berry was soon signed as a solo act while Johnson and Hardy became part of Berry's band.

"I figured we could get better jobs with Chuck running the band."

Said Johnson.

"He had a car and rubber wheels beat rubber heels any day."

Over the next twenty years, the two collaborated on many of Berry's songs, including "School Days", "Roll Over Beethoven", "Carol", and "Nadine".

The song "Johnny B. Goode" was reportedly a tribute to Johnson's behavior when he was drinking.

Berry and Johnson played and toured together on and off, until 1973.

Although never on his payroll after 1973, Johnson played occasionally with Berry, until he sued Berry over songwriting credits and royalties.

Johnson was known to have a serious drinking problem.

In Berry's autobiography, he wrote that he had declared there would be no drinking in the car while the band was on the road.

Johnson and his bandmates complied with the request by putting their heads out the window.

Johnson denied the story but said he did drink on the road.

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.

Johnson received little recognition until the Chuck Berry concert documentary, Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll, was released in 1987.

The experience forged a permanent bond between him, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, and Steve Jordan.

Although Johnson had been supporting himself as a bus driver in St. Louis, the exposure and experience of the film helped him return to headlining.

He recorded his first solo album, Blue Hand Johnnie, that year.

Having worked steadily in St. Louis, Johnson returned to performing all over the world.

He performed with the Kentucky Headhunters on occasion and was featured in both the "Dumas Walker" and "Walk Softly on This Heart of Mine" videos.

Johnson quit drinking in 1991, after nearly suffering a stroke on stage with Eric Clapton.

Aside from songwriting and performing with Berry, Johnson made many significant contributions to blues and rock and roll.

Johnson was the leader of Albert King's rhythm section during King's most prolific and musically significant period.

Johnson also served as one of the cornerstones of the St. Louis blues scene.