Henry Johnson (jazz musician)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Henry Johnson (born January 28, 1954 in Chicago , Illinois ) is an American guitarist of rhythm and blues and fusion jazz .

Live and act

Johnson, who grew up in Chicago and Memphis , began playing the guitar when he was twelve. After initially playing gospel music , he turned to soul music in 1969 and played with Isaac Hayes . In the next few years he gained recognition in the scene on Chicago's South Side . This was followed by tours with Jack McDuff (1976) and Donny Hathaway (1977). He also worked with Sonny Stitt , Shirley Scott , Hank Crawford and Richard "Groove" Holmes . In 1979 he became a member of Ramsey Lewis ' band , where he stayed until 1983. Joe Williams , with whom he had played before, brought him into his group in 1985. In 1983 he had his first hit "Johnsonation" (albeit locally limited); a first album followed in 1986. His next album, You're the One (1987), was nominated for a Grammy . Other records of his own showed him in the field of tension between jazz and rhythm and blues and some of them moved to the top of the charts.

Johnson also frequently worked with Stanley Turrentine , Jimmy Smith , Nancy Wilson , Marlena Shaw , Angela Bofil, Grover Washington Jr. , Dizzy Gillespie , Billy Taylor , Freddie Hubbard and Richie Cole . He has also appeared with the Boston Pops , James Moody , David Fathead Newman , Terry Gibbs , Bobby Watson , Nicholas Payton , Javon Jackson , Vanessa Rubin and Donald Harrison .

Discographic notes

  • Future Excursions (1988)
  • You're the One (1987)
  • Never Too Much (1990)
  • An Evening at Sea (1999)
  • Organic (2003, with Nancy Wilson)

Lexigraphic entries

Web links

Remarks

  1. ↑ Kunzler gives 1955 as the year of birth in his Jazz Lexicon .
personal data
SURNAME Johnson, Henry
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz musician
DATE OF BIRTH January 28, 1954
PLACE OF BIRTH Chicago