The original guitar hero and the power of music
Subtitle: the legendary Lonnie Johnson, music, and civil rights
By: Dean Alger
Series: North Texas lives of musicians series -- no. 8; North Texas lives of musicians series -- no. 8.
Publisher: University of North Texas Press
Published: 2014
Language: eng
Number of pages: 365
ISBN-13: 9781574415469
Copyright date: 2014
Subjects: African American guitarists; Biography; Music and race; Civil rights; Blues musicians; African Americans; African American musicians
Other titles: Lonnie Johnson, music, and civil rights
Description: Lonnie Johnson (1894-1970) was a virtuoso guitarist who influenced generations of musicians from Django Reinhardt to Eric Clapton to Bill Wyman and especially B. B. King. Born in New Orleans, he began playing violin and guitar in his father's band at an early age. When most of his family was wiped out by the 1918 flu epidemic, he and his surviving brother moved to St. Louis, where he won a blues contest that included a recording contract. His career was launched. Johnson can be heard on many Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong records, including the latter's famous "Savoy Blues" with the Hot Five. He is perhaps best known for his 12-string guitar solos and his ground-breaking recordings with the white guitarist Eddie Lang in the late 1920s. After World War II he began playing rhythm and blues and continued to record and tour until his death. This is the first full-length work on Johnson. Dean Alger answers many biographical mysteries, including how many members of Johnson's large family were left after the epidemic. He also places Johnson and his musical contemporaries in the context of American race relations and argues for the importance of music in the fight for civil rights. Finally, Alger analyzes Johnson's major recordings in terms of technique and style.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 352-357), discography (pages 324-327), and indexes (subject index; song index).
Table of contents: title: The legendary Lonnie Johnson, one of the most important musicians of the 20th century : musicians and progress on civil rights; title: New Orleans music; title: St. Louis blues; title: Playing with the strings, part 1; title: Playing with the strings, part 2; title: Workin' man : Chicago blues; title: Rhythm & blues; title: Blues revival in the '60s  ; comeback again; title: The legacy of Lonnie J : the guitar in 20th century music; title: Appendix 1. Lyrics to Alger tribute song: "The legendary Lonnie J"; title: Appendix 2. Blues, jazz, and their significance : musicians and civil rights and Alger's review of Sidney Bechet's instrumental recording of "Strange fruit"; title: Appendix 3. Guide to recordings by Lonnie Johnson and relevant others.