Little Johnny Taylor

Little Johnny Taylor (born Johnny Lamont Merrett; February 11, 1943 – May 17, 2002) was an American blues and soul singer. He made recordings throughout the 1960s and 1970s, and continued public performances through the 1980s and 1990s. Born in Gregory, Arkansas, United States, he is frequently confused with his contemporary and near namesake Johnnie Taylor, especially since the latter made a cover version of the song that Little Johnny Taylor was most famous for, "Part Time Love" (1963), and the fact that both men began their careers as gospel singers.
Little Johnny Taylor moved to Los Angeles in 1950, and sang with the Mighty Clouds of Joy before moving into secular music. Influenced by Little Willie John, he first recorded as an R&B artist for the Swingin' record label. However, he did not achieve major success until signing for San Francisco-based Fantasy Records' subsidiary label, Galaxy. His first hit was the mid-tempo blues "You'll Need Another Favor," sung in the style of Bobby Bland, with arrangement by Ray Shanklin and produced by Cliff Goldsmith. The follow-up, "Part Time Love", written by Clay Hammond and featuring Arthur Wright on guitar, became his biggest hit, reaching number 1 in the U.S. Billboard R&B chart, and number 19 on the pop chart, in October 1963. However, follow-ups on the Galaxy label were much less successful.
By 1971, Taylor had moved to the Ronn label subsidiary of Jewel Records in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he had his second R&B Top 10 hit with "Everybody Knows About My Good Thing". The following year, he had another hit with "Open House at My House". While at Ronn, Taylor also recorded some duets with Ted Taylor (also unrelated). Though he recorded only sparingly during the 1980s and 1990s, he remained an active performer until his death, at the age of 59, in May 2002 in Conway, Arkansas, where he lived.
In 2016 The Rolling Stones covered Everybody Knows About My Good Thing on their album Blue And Lonesome.
==Links to Peel==
As with his contemporary and near namesake Johnnie Taylor, both artists first seemed to start getting airplay on Peel's shows during the early 70's, and continue getting playlisted into the 80's and 90's, although Little Johnny Taylor's music didn't seem to get any attention from JP in the 00's. Perhaps, because Little Johnny Taylor's music didn't appear much on vintage compilation albums, issued by labels such as Kent and Ace Records during that early 2000's period, which Peel would normally play tracks from.
==Shows Played==
;thumb|220x220px1974
*19 February 1974: First Class Love (7" - First Class Love / If You Love Me (Like You Say)) Galaxy
;1980
*06 August 1980: How Can A Broke Man Survive (7" EP - As Long As I Don't See You / My Special Rose / How Can A Broke Man Survive) Charly R&B CTD 118
*13 August 1980: As Long As I Don't See You (7" EP - As Long As I Don't See You / My Special Rose / How Can A Broke Man Survive) Charly R&B CTD 118
*20 August 1980: How Can A Broke Man Survive (7" EP - As Long As I Don't See You / My Special Rose / How Can A Broke Man Survive) Charly R&B CTD 118
*01 September 1980: How Can A Broke Man Survive (7" EP - As Long As I Don't See You / My Special Rose / How Can A Broke Man Survive) Charly R&B CTD 118
*04 September 1980: My Special Rose (7" EP - As Long As I Don't See You / My Special Rose / How Can A Broke Man Survive) Charly R&B CTD 118
;1981
*23 February 1981: Somebody's Got To Pay (album - I Shoulda Been A Preacher) Red Lightnin' RL0030
*26 February 1981: Double Or Nothing (album - I Shoulda Been A Preacher) Red Lightnin' RL0030
*03 March 1981: Sometimey Woman (album - I Shoulda Been A Preacher) Red Lightnin' RL0030
*04 March 1981: Things I Have To Do (album - I Shoulda Been A Preacher) Red Lightnin' RL0030
*02 April 1981: Part Time Love
*07 April 1981: How Can A Broke Man Survive (LP - Part Time Love)
*22 April 1981: Everybody Knows About My Good Thing (Part 1) Charly
*18 May 1981: 'Walking Barefoot Through My Rug (LP-Part Time Love)' (Charly)
;1989
*09 January 1989: Zig Zag Lightning (v/a LP - Black Music Is Our Business) Kent
;1991
*04 May 1991: Part Time Love (album - The Galaxy Years) Ace
*25 May 1991: If You Love Me Like You Say (album - The Galaxy Years) Ace
;1992
*11 January 1992: 'Part Time Love (CD-The Galaxy Years)' (Ace)
*23 February 1992: 'If You Love Me (Like You Say) (7")' (Galaxy)
*02 May 1992: I Smell Trouble (CD – The Galaxy Years ) Ace
==External Links==
*Wikipedia
*Discogs
Category:Artists