Lonnie Johnson Guitar Tab Books, Instruction DVDs, Solos, Arrangements, Video Lessons

Lonnie Johnson - Masters Of Country Blues Guitar - Book and CD
Taught by Stefan Grossman. Songs include: "Mr. Johnson’s Blues, Love Story Blues, To Do This You Got To Know How, Blues In G, Away Down In The Alley Blues, Sweet Woman You Can’t Go Wrong, I’m So Tired Of Living All Alone, Bitin’ Flea Blues, Life Saver Blues, Blue Goose Blues, Uncle Ned Don’t Use Your Head, Cat You Been Messin’ Around, There Is No Justice, Go Back To Your No Good Man, Stompin ‘Em Along Slow, Woke Up With The Blues In My Fingers".
Notation and tab....................................................................Price - $20.95
Click To Hear Audio Samples

 Lonnie Johnson Plays "Another Night To Cry"

Lonnie Johnson - The First Of The Blues/Jazz Guitar Masters!
Compiled & Edited By Steven Herron

    Lonnie Johnson was born in New Orleans on February 28, 1889. As well as being a pioneer blues guitarist, Lonnie was also one of the most outstanding jazz guitar players the world has ever known! Due to the re-release of lots of his recordings from the 1920s and 1930s, specifically his duets with Eddie Lang, guitar and jazz enthusiasts can today totally appreciate Johnson's genius. His impact on guitar players from the 1920's to the present, through his distinct swinging blues jazz guitar solo style, is undisputed. Johnson was likewise a genuine singer in the blues tradition and made many fine vocal recordings throughout his long professional career.

    As a youngster Lonnie Johnson, who was among 13 children, studied the guitar and the violin. He started his musical career around 1902 playing in New Orleans cafes and theaters with his brother James who was a pianist. He continued his career performing with riverboat bands. In 1917 he sailed to Europe and worked for a while in theater orchestras in London. He went back to New Orleans in 1921 just to discover that a flu epidemic (1918 - 1919) had actually wiped out almost all his family members.

    In 1922 Lonnie transferred to St. Louis where he worked with Charlie Creath, Fate Marable, and Nat Robinson. When he won a blues contest held in St. Louis, he obtained nationwide prominence in 1925. Part of the contest reward was a recording contract with the "OKeh" record label. Over the next few years Johnson made lots of records both in New York City and Chicago. His most exceptional tracks at that point in his career were most likely those that he made in a guitar duo with Eddie Lang who at the time was making use of the stage name Blind Willie Dunn.

    Lonnie Johnson was also showcased with Duke Ellington's Orchestra, Louis Armstrong's Hot Five, and lots of other well-known jazz and blues artists of the day. In 1932 Johnson moved to Cleveland and performed with The Putney Dandridge Orchestra. He was featured sometimes on local radio shows. For a time he also worked in a tire factory and then a steel mill. In 1937 he moved to Chicago. From 1937 - 1940 he worked regularly with many jazz artists including Jimmy Noone and Johnny Dodds. When he recorded and played with these artists, his fantastic guitar skill was not fully exposed. From the mid 1940s on Johnson began to play an electric guitar, but his guitar style was not quite as exciting on the amplified instrument.

    Tragically, Lonnie's profession as a guitarist started to fade from this point although he did continue to play frequently until 1952. In 1958 he was forced to make his living for a while working as a chef in a Philadelphia hotel. Fortunately Johnson was re-discovered in 1960 by some jazz and blues lovers and he was again able to make a living by singing and playing the guitar. In early 1963 he appeared with The Duke Ellington Orchestra in New York and in the autumn of that year he toured Europe and Great Britain as part of a blues package called "The American Folk Blues Festival".

    In the mid 1960s Lonnie Johnson finally chose to settle in Toronto, Canada where he ended up being popular with local blues and jazz guitar fans. His performing career ended abruptly in 1969 when he was hit by an automobile. It was in Toronto that he passed away in 1970 of cardiac arrest which was the final result of his severe accident the year before. Lonnie was 71 years of ages when he died.