More Info on Syl JohnsonSimilar Undetermined MusicSearch Artistopia
Biography
For|the Major League Baseball pitcher|Syl Johnson (baseball)BLP sources|date=July 2010Infobox musical artist|name = Syl Johnson|image = SylJohnson1997.jpg|caption = Syl Johnson at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival , 1997|image_size =|background = solo_singer|birth_name = Sylvester Thompson|alias =|birth_date = Birth date and age|1936|7|1|mf=y|birth_place = Holly Springs, Mississippi , United States |origin =|instrument = Guitar , harmonica |genre = Rhythm and blues|R& B , blues |occupation = Musician , singer |years_active = 1959& ndash;present|label =|associated_acts = Syleena Johnson Jimmy Johnson (blues guitarist)|Jimmy Johnson |website = Syl Johnson (born July 1, 1936) is an United States|American blues and soul music|soul singer and record producer .
Biography
Born Sylvester Thompson in Holly Springs, Mississippi , United States, he migrated with his family to Chicago in 1950; blues guitarist Magic Sam was his next-door neighbor.cite web|last=Ward|first=Ed|title=The 'Complete Mythology' Of Syl Johnson|url= http://www.npr.org/2011/08/25/139919009/the-complete-mythology-of-syl-johnson|publisher=NPR|accessdate=16 February 2012 Johnson sang and played with blues artists Magic Sam, Billy Boy Arnold , Junior Wells and Howlin' Wolf in the 1950s, before recording with Jimmy Reed for Vee-Jay in 1959. He made his solo debut that same year with Federal Records|Federal , a subsidiary of King Records (USA)|King Records of Cincinnati, backed by Freddie King on guitar.
He then began recording for Twilight/Twinight Records|Twinight Records of Chicago in the mid 1960s. Beginning with his first hit, "Come On Sock It to Me" in 1967, Johnson dominated the label as both a hitmaker and producer. His song "Different Strokes", also from 1967, featured on the Ultimate Breaks and Beats breakbeat compilation album|compilation .
Like other black songwriters of the period, several of his records at this time explored themes of African-American identity and social problems in songs including "Is It Because I'm Black", which reached Number 11 in the US Billboard (magazine)|Billboard Hot R& B/Hip-Hop Songs|R& B record chart|chart in 1969.
In 1971, Willie Mitchell (musician)|Willie Mitchell brought Johnson to Hi Records , the two recording three albums which spawned a number of singles. Produced in Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis with the Hi house band, these yielded the hits "We Did It", "Back for a Taste of Your Love" and "Take Me to the River", his biggest success, reaching Number 7 on the R& B chart in 1975. However, at Hi Records, Johnson was always to some extent in Al Green 's shadow commercially, if not artistically. Mitchell also chose to use mainly in-house material rather than Johnson originals.Citation needed|date=November 2011 After the Hi years ended, Johnson produced two LPs for his own Shama label, the latter of which ( Ms. Fine Brown Frame , 1982) was picked up for distribution by Boardwalk Records and produced Johnson's last hit record, the title cut.
Around the mid-1980s, Johnson started a fast-food fish restaurant business, and became semi-retired from performing, only making occasional appearances at blues club gigs.Liner notes to album Back in the Game by Robert Pruter
In 1992, Johnson found out that his song "Different Strokes" had been sampling (music)|sampled by number of rapping|rappers including Wu-Tang Clan , Public Enemy (band)|Public Enemy , Kool G Rap , MC Hammer|Hammer , and the Geto Boys . Stimulated by this fact, he decided to make a comeback in the music industry . In 1994, he released the album Back in the Game on Delmark Records . The album featured the Hi rhythm section and his youngest daughter Syleena Johnson .
Blues guitarist and singer Jimmy Johnson (blues guitarist)|Jimmy Johnson , and bassist Mack Thompson are his brothers.
1994: Back in the Game ( Delmark Records|Delmark )
1995: This Time Together by Father and Daughter (Twinight) with Syleena Johnson
1995: Bridge to a Legacy (Antone's)
1999: ''Talkin' About Chicago (Delmark)
2000: Hands of Time ( Hep Me Records|Hep Me )
2002: Two Johnsons are Better Than One (Evangeline) with Jimmy Johnson
2010: Syl Johnson: Complete Mythology ( The Numero Group )
Chart singles
Year
Single
Chart Positions
Label
US Pop cite book
US R& B cite book
1967
"Come On Sock It To Me"
97
12
Twilight
"Different Strokes"
95
17
1968
"Dresses Too Short"
-
36
Twinight
1969
"Is It Because I'm Black"
68
11
1970
"Concrete Reservation"
-
29
"One Way Ticket To Nowhere"
125
24
1971
"Get Ready"
-
34
1972
"The Love You Left Behind"
-
43
Hi
"We Did It"
95
23
1973
"Back For A Taste Of Your Love"
72
16
1974
"I'm Yours"
-
68
"Let Yourself Go"
-
54
"I Want To Take You Home (To See Mama)"
-
40
1975
" Take Me To The River "
48
7
"I Only Have Love"
-
15
1976
"Star Bright, Star Lite"
-
89
"Bout To Make Me Leave Home"
-
94
1977
"Goodie-Goodie-Good Times"
-
93
Shama
1982
"Ms. Fine Brown Frame"
-
60
Boardwalk
References
Reflist
External links
Allmusic|class=artist|id=p91223/biography|pure_url=yes Biography on Allmusic
http://www.soulexpress.net/syljohnson_discography.htm The complete Syl Johnson discography at Soul Express
Persondata | NAME =Thompson, Sylvester | ALTERNATIVE NAMES =Johnson, Syl | SHORT DESCRIPTION = United States|American blues and soul singer and record producer | DATE OF BIRTH =July 1, 1936 | PLACE OF BIRTH = Holly Springs, Mississippi , United States
DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Syl Category:1936 births Category:American soul musicians Category:American blues musicians Category:African American musicians Category:Musicians from Mississippi Category:People from Holly Springs, Mississippi Category:Hi Records artists Category:Living people
da:Syl Johnson es:Syl Johnson fr:Syl Johnson ja:??·????? pl:Syl Johnson sv:Syl Johnson
Copyright Citations
This article is licensed under the GNU License
Click here for original article: Syl Johnson
