Curtis Johnson (musician)

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Curtis Lambert Johnson (born February 11, 1934 in Bradley , Alabama , † May 2, 2001 in Rosingtown , Alabama) was an American rockabilly musician .

Life

Curtis Johnson learned many instruments over the course of his life. He could play the piano , saxophone , drums and guitar . Johnson named Elvis Presley as an influence .

Johnson made his first recordings in 1956 for the Maine Event Records label , but they were never released. His first two tracks were - not surprisingly - the two Presley songs Baby, Let's Play House and I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine . In September 1957 Event released Johnson's first single Baby Baby / Teenage Love Affair . Since Johnson was accompanied by the vocal group The Windjammers this time , his rockabilly style mixed with doo wop elements. His background band, which also regularly accompanied him on appearances on WMTW-TV, consisted of Johnson (vocals / guitar), Dave Miller ( bass ), Bobby Gosselin ( drums ) and the later jazz star Lenny Breau ( electric guitar ). In 1958, Johnson made more recordings for Event, which, however, did not get to the public again, but were held back by owner Al Hawkes.

In the 1970s, Johnson's unpublished event recordings finally appeared on single for the collector's market, which was "booming" during this time with the rockabilly revival. In 2004 his collected recordings appeared again on Bear Family Records in issue 20 of the series That'll Flat Git It! .

Discography

year title Label #
1957 Baby, Baby / Teenage Love Affair Event E-4268
Unpublished titles
1956
  • Baby, let's play house
  • I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine
 Event Records
1958
  • Heading For The High School Hop
  • I Need You, Baby, To Love (Version 1)
  • I Need You, Baby, To Love (Version 2)
  • Let's Do a Little Rockin ' (Version 1)
  • Let's Do a Little Rockin ' (Version 2)
  • Lover Boy (Version 1)
  • Lover Boy (Version 2)
  • You're the one
 Event Records

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Johnson, Curtis
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Johnson, Curtis Lambert (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American rockabilly musician
DATE OF BIRTH February 11, 1934
PLACE OF BIRTH Bradley , Alabama
DATE OF DEATH May 2, 2001
Place of death Rosingtown , Alabama