Interview: Jimmy Johnson
There is no mandatory retirement age for the blues. According to Jimmy Johnson, one of the music’s most dynamic performers, there are three ways to measure how old you are.
“There’s mentally, physically, and a number. The only thing that I have is a number,” says the seventy-five year old singer and guitarist during a phone interview from his home in Harvey, Illinois. He credits his health to the fact that he avoids alcohol and drugs. “You’ve only got one body, and that’s gone if you tear it up.”
Johnson, who will perform this Friday at Mayfair, returned yesterday from a tour of France, Belgium, and Holland. As is true of many blues and jazz artists, he is more popular in Europe than in the United States, even though he is a veteran of the greatest days of Chicago blues.
“Oh, my goodness, yes, we get bigger audiences over there,” says Johnson. Although he seems hesitant to favor one continent over another, he adds, “In Europe they read about you, and you get more respect. We played festivals and concert halls, and very few clubs. Otherwise, it would not have been worth going over there.”
Johnson was born James Thompson in Springs, Mississippi. His father was an amateur musician. His brother Syl Johnson went on to sing the original version of “Take Me to the River,” while his brother Mack Thompson played bass for many years with Magic Sam. Jimmy says that heredity was more important than environment in nurturing his love of music.
“The influence is in your bones – in your blood. Music is in your genes.” After pausing a moment, he says, “It’s a gift – how does that sound?”
Johnson moved with his family to Chicago in 1950. He worked on the blues circuit for many years with notables that included Freddie King and Magic Sam, without gaining widespread recognition for himself.
Many biographies state that during the sixties, Johnson was playing soul and R&B instead of the blues. Johnson feels that there is essentially no difference. “I leave those things for other people to classify. I let them put it where they want to put it. I like many different kinds of music.”
Finally in 1974 he became known when he joined Jimmy Dawkins’s band as a rhythm guitarist, and toured Japan with Otis Rush. He was nominated for a Grammy for his work on “Living Chicago Blues, Volume 1” for Alligator Records in 1978.
Carl Snyder was the pianist on that recording, as well as the Delmark recordings “Johnson’s Whacks” (1979)and “North/South” (1982). He was in Johnson’s band from 1977 to 1982. “Chicago Carl” is known locally for his performances with the late Jimmy Lawrence, and his current work with Illinois Slim.
“He had the energy of someone who was twenty years younger,” he recalls of Johnson. “He was always trying to improve his skills. He was a perfectionist. He knew more music theory than most blues artists. He could play blues, R&B, funk, pop, or even jazz. He would always give the people what they wanted.”
Snyder was working with another band when Johnson sat in from time to time. Snyder was impressed by Johnson’s “clear, moving vocals, and delicate, imaginative guitar work.” Where many blues artists concentrate on either playing or singing, Johnson has a distinctive style in both.
His vocals are strong and soulful, without the gruffness of many blues artists (Johnson undoubtedly avoids cigarettes as much as he does alcohol). His guitar style features lightning fast, pristine runs that alternate with his singing. His use of string- bending vibrato may remind people of one of his influences, B.B. King.
Johnson was sidelined for nearly ten years due to an accident. He was driving his band’s van when it swerved off the road, killing his bass player and keyboardist. He returned with the CD “I’m A Jockey” (Dreyfus 1995), which won a W.C Handy Award in 1996 for Comeback Album of the Year. He also won a Handy in 1985 for best Contemporary Foreign Blues Album, "Bar Room Preacher."
He does not use a set list for his shows. He will not even say whether he will perform more of his many originals or covers in a particular show. “I play what I feel,” says Johnson. He was stumped when I asked him how many songs he knew. “There’s no way I could tell you. I would have to sit down and think about that.” He finally came up with a number – about a thousand. “I know a lot of songs. I could play all night and not repeat one.”
Johnson says that he only plays about a hundred and fifty dates a year now, instead of about two hundred. He expects to cut down even more in the future – but he does not attribute that to age. “It gets to the point that you don’t need the money,” he says.
Jimmy Johnson, Mayfair Festival of the Arts, Cedar Beach Park, Allentown. Friday, May 28, Lakeside Meadows, 9 p.m., free.
- Dave Howell
(This article first appeared in The Morning Call newspaper.)
“There’s mentally, physically, and a number. The only thing that I have is a number,” says the seventy-five year old singer and guitarist during a phone interview from his home in Harvey, Illinois. He credits his health to the fact that he avoids alcohol and drugs. “You’ve only got one body, and that’s gone if you tear it up.”
Johnson, who will perform this Friday at Mayfair, returned yesterday from a tour of France, Belgium, and Holland. As is true of many blues and jazz artists, he is more popular in Europe than in the United States, even though he is a veteran of the greatest days of Chicago blues.
“Oh, my goodness, yes, we get bigger audiences over there,” says Johnson. Although he seems hesitant to favor one continent over another, he adds, “In Europe they read about you, and you get more respect. We played festivals and concert halls, and very few clubs. Otherwise, it would not have been worth going over there.”
Johnson was born James Thompson in Springs, Mississippi. His father was an amateur musician. His brother Syl Johnson went on to sing the original version of “Take Me to the River,” while his brother Mack Thompson played bass for many years with Magic Sam. Jimmy says that heredity was more important than environment in nurturing his love of music.
“The influence is in your bones – in your blood. Music is in your genes.” After pausing a moment, he says, “It’s a gift – how does that sound?”
Johnson moved with his family to Chicago in 1950. He worked on the blues circuit for many years with notables that included Freddie King and Magic Sam, without gaining widespread recognition for himself.
Many biographies state that during the sixties, Johnson was playing soul and R&B instead of the blues. Johnson feels that there is essentially no difference. “I leave those things for other people to classify. I let them put it where they want to put it. I like many different kinds of music.”
Finally in 1974 he became known when he joined Jimmy Dawkins’s band as a rhythm guitarist, and toured Japan with Otis Rush. He was nominated for a Grammy for his work on “Living Chicago Blues, Volume 1” for Alligator Records in 1978.
Carl Snyder was the pianist on that recording, as well as the Delmark recordings “Johnson’s Whacks” (1979)and “North/South” (1982). He was in Johnson’s band from 1977 to 1982. “Chicago Carl” is known locally for his performances with the late Jimmy Lawrence, and his current work with Illinois Slim.
“He had the energy of someone who was twenty years younger,” he recalls of Johnson. “He was always trying to improve his skills. He was a perfectionist. He knew more music theory than most blues artists. He could play blues, R&B, funk, pop, or even jazz. He would always give the people what they wanted.”
Snyder was working with another band when Johnson sat in from time to time. Snyder was impressed by Johnson’s “clear, moving vocals, and delicate, imaginative guitar work.” Where many blues artists concentrate on either playing or singing, Johnson has a distinctive style in both.
His vocals are strong and soulful, without the gruffness of many blues artists (Johnson undoubtedly avoids cigarettes as much as he does alcohol). His guitar style features lightning fast, pristine runs that alternate with his singing. His use of string- bending vibrato may remind people of one of his influences, B.B. King.
Johnson was sidelined for nearly ten years due to an accident. He was driving his band’s van when it swerved off the road, killing his bass player and keyboardist. He returned with the CD “I’m A Jockey” (Dreyfus 1995), which won a W.C Handy Award in 1996 for Comeback Album of the Year. He also won a Handy in 1985 for best Contemporary Foreign Blues Album, "Bar Room Preacher."
He does not use a set list for his shows. He will not even say whether he will perform more of his many originals or covers in a particular show. “I play what I feel,” says Johnson. He was stumped when I asked him how many songs he knew. “There’s no way I could tell you. I would have to sit down and think about that.” He finally came up with a number – about a thousand. “I know a lot of songs. I could play all night and not repeat one.”
Johnson says that he only plays about a hundred and fifty dates a year now, instead of about two hundred. He expects to cut down even more in the future – but he does not attribute that to age. “It gets to the point that you don’t need the money,” he says.
Jimmy Johnson, Mayfair Festival of the Arts, Cedar Beach Park, Allentown. Friday, May 28, Lakeside Meadows, 9 p.m., free.
- Dave Howell
(This article first appeared in The Morning Call newspaper.)