Lonnie Johnson
Johnson was one of the best of the early acoustic blues guitarists. He possessed a technical proficiency that separated him from his peers, and he was always in high demand as a session guitarist for blues and Jazz Recordings. Johnson was a fine vocalist as well, and his prodigious chops made him a hot Recording property in the Twenties.
The place and date of his birth are the subject of some debate, although many believe his birthplace to be New Orleans New Orleans and later moved to St. Louis
Johnson lent his nimble guitar skills to Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five recordings in 1927. The next year, Johnson and the white jazz guitarist, Eddie Lang, made some of the first racially-integrated jazz recordings. Johnson’s career suffered during the Depression Era of the Thirties when Okeh went bankrupt and he relocated toCanada Toronto
Johnson lent his nimble guitar skills to Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five recordings in 1927. The next year, Johnson and the white jazz guitarist, Eddie Lang, made some of the first racially-integrated jazz recordings. Johnson’s career suffered during the Depression Era of the Thirties when Okeh went bankrupt and he relocated to
Like most other musicians of his era, Johnson’s work is best heard on any number of compilation albums. “Blues in My Fingers: The Essential Recordings of Lonnie Johnson” (1994), and “Complete Recorded Works 1925-1932” (1991) are the best compilations available for this artist.
