In Memoriam
Johnnie Johnson
July 8, 1924 – April 13, 2005 · aged 80
Blues · Rock and Roll
When Chuck Berry famously sang the lyrics to 'Johnny B. Goode,' he was paying tribute to his own piano player, the legendary Johnnie Johnson. Born in West Virginia in 1924, Johnson was a phenomenal boogie-woogie pianist who hired a young Chuck Berry to play in his band in St. Louis in late 1952. As Berry became the frontman and shifted the group's focus toward rock and roll, Johnson provided the indispensable, driving piano rhythms that helped define the new genre. Many historians and musicians, including Keith Richards, argue that Johnson co-wrote many of Berry's foundational rock hits, adapting his rolling piano riffs to the guitar. Though he remained largely uncredited and in the shadows for decades, a 1987 documentary finally brought him the overdue recognition he deserved. He enjoyed a successful solo career in his later years before passing away on April 13, 2005, at the age of 80, recognized at last as a founding architect of rock and roll.
Milestones
Johnny B. Goode (Inspiration), Wee Wee Hours, Tanqueray
Also remembered in 2005
- Chris LeDoux (1948–2005)
- Ibrahim Ferrer (1927–2005)
- Link Wray (1929–2005)
- Luther Vandross (1951–2005)