His last performance was with fellow Rock 'n' Roll originator, Bo Diddley on February 9, 2005. "It was so much fun to play with Johnnie," Diddley said upon hearing the news. "The world has lost a great man and a great musician. He will be missed but his music will live on."
Johnson is survived by his wife, Frances, 10 children and many grandkids. A memorial service will be held at a time and place to be announced.
UPDATE
Chuck Berry talked with AP about Johnson's death:
- Late Wednesday, [Berry] went directly to Blueberry Hill nightclub in this St. Louis suburb, where Berry and Johnson had played together as recently as a year ago, to remember "the man with a dynamite right hand" with whom he shared a half-century of music and memories.
A master of boogie-woogie, Johnson was "my piano player who no one else has come near," said Berry, 78, still spry and dapper in a royal blue shirt, a silver bolo tie, pleated charcoal slacks and mariner's cap
..."He gave me a break" and his first commercial gig, for $4, Berry recalled. "I was excited. My best turned into a mess. I stole the group from Johnny."
Johnson never held it against him.
"Midway through the show, Chuck did a hillbilly country number with a bluesy vein, and it knocked people out," said Blueberry Hill club owner Joe Edwards, a friend of both men.
...Berry said he would perform a tribute concert in Johnson's honor, ideally at downtown St. Louis's roughly 70,000-seat Edward Jones Dome.
"We'll fill that sucker," he said.
Article comments
1 - The Proprietor
Johnnie Johnson appeared with Berry in "Hail, Hail Rock 'N Roll", and it was most interesting to note that Johnson was probably most responsible for Berry's songs being recorded and played live (by Berry) in piano keys. Most guitarists play Berry's songs in traditional guitar keys, and Berry's hired sidemen often find themselves flustered by Berry's choice of keys.
2 - Eric Olsen
interesting TP, thanks; yes, fascinating that the most influential singer/songwriter/guitarist in rock 'n' roll history actually led a piano band
3 - SFC SKI
On a related note, if you can find a copy of "I am the Blues" the PBS progem about Willie Dixon, you'll get a reall taste of rock history, Dixon wrote a ot of songs that became Chuck Berry signature pieces, as well as mandatory songs for any R'n'R collection.
4 - Eric Olsen
yes, that's great - it's a book too
5 - SFC SKI
I was fortunate enough to be in the audience when the program was shot, not that I need much encouragement to call in sick to see a good band when I was 19.
6 - Eric Olsen
that's super cool! I interviewed his widow for the Encyclopedia of Record Producers
7 - Eric Olsen
updated
8 - DJRadiohead
Before there was P. Diddy, there was Willie Dixon. Dixon is perhaps the greatest hitmaker of them all. His production, songwriting, and bass work has graced some of the greatest and most famous songs of the 20th Century. My Willie Dixon "Chess Box" is one of my favorites!
Johnnie Johnson's piano work is fabulous on all those Chuck Berry hits. I am sure you have checked it out but if not, his work on Buddy Guy's "Slippin' In" album (particularly "7-11") is really good, too.
9 - Eric Olsen
agreed DJR, Dixon was at the center of the classic Chess sound
10 - godoggo
Also played on Buddy Guy's wonderful "The Real Deal" album, recorded live with the Saturday Night Live band at Legends.
11 - Eric Olsen
I'll have to post my bio of the great Willie D
12 - Jon Sobel
Styx? Wow. That got me curious. So I found this link which pictures Johnson with Styx in the studio. Zowie.
13 - Eric Olsen
strange and super cool Jon, thanks!
14 - Eric Olsen
updated with quotes from Berry
15 - Ken
Question: Was'nt it Lafayette Leake who played piano on the actual recording of Johhny B. Goode?
16 - BlueStLou
Leake did play on Johnny B Goode and several other songs. Johnson did leave Chuck's band for a few years during that period. Johnnie led Albert King's rhtythm section during that period. It was actually King's strongest period of recording, that band made some great music.
There hasn't been any discussion here about Johnnie being Chuck's collaborator. He was. Chuck wrote the lyrics. Johnson had more to do with the music than Chuck did. Late in his life, Johnson did discuss this.
For a song very much in the Johnson /Berry musical vein, listen to "A Good Day." It is track 6 on Johnson's last recording, "Johnnie Be Eighty. And Still Bad!". The project was recorded in late 2004, and released just days after Johnson died.
17 - swampy
I saw Johnnie Johnson play at The Bridge Hotel in Sydney on two occassions. It was like being transported back to a smoky blues club from the fifties. If God were to try and play a bluesy rockin' piano, he'd first watch and listen to Johnnie play, and maybe then take a back seat. I was fortunate enough to him play and share the intimate sounds. Hopefully some kid will decide to bypass rap, and what they class as RnB of today and sit down at the piano and discover the truth. Thanks for playing on those nights Johnnie!