Johnny Lytle
Considered one of the top vibes players in the world, Johnny Lytle was known for his great hand speed and showmanship. He was also a songwriter and wrote many of his own hits, including "The Loop," "The Man," "Lela," "Selim," and the jazz classic "The Village Caller." Lytle recorded more than 30 albums for various jazz labels including Tuba, Jazzland, Solid State, and Muse. Throughout his career he performed and recorded with jazz greats the likes of Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, Miles Davis, Nancy Wilson, Bobby Timmons, and Roy Ayers. The devoted father of three also featured his son, Marcel Lytle, on several of his recordings as a vocalist and drummer. Lytle was such an admirer of the music of the late great Miles Davis that he wrote "Selim" (Miles spelled backwards) in honor of Davis, which features Davis' former pianist Wynton Kelly. Lytle never recorded with any of the major record labels, and that could be why he never gained the status of a jazz icon like some of his peers. Lytle felt that he would lose control of his music and creative development; Lytle liked to play what came natural to him, and being with a major label might not have afforded him that opportunity.
Johnny Lytle grew up in a family of music, the son of a trumpeter father and an organist mother. He began playing the drums and piano at an early age. Before studying music in earnest, Lytle lent his hands to boxing, and was a successful Golden Gloves champion. During the late '50s, Lytle landed jobs as a drummer for Ray Charles and others, and he also continued to box. But by 1960, the energetic Lytle had laid down his gloves and, inspired by the great Lionel Hampton, picked up the mallets, turning his full attention toward the vibraphone. He started a jazz band and began recording for the famed jazz label Riverside Records under the direction of Grammy-winning producer Orrin Keepnews.
Lytle found success early in his career with chart-topping albums like A Groove, The Loop, and Moon Child. From his swinging uptempo tracks to his soul-satisfying ballads, Lytle knew how to keep a groove. And with a nickname like "Fast Hands," he could always keep the attention of an audience. In addition to his musicianship, his gregarious personality made him a popular attraction on the jazz circuit. Even though Lytle did not experience the same success he was privileged to during the '60s, he did continue to record and build a respectable catalog of music with recordings in the '70s,'80s, and '90s. Lytle remained a popular concert attraction in the U.S. and Europe; his last performance was with the Springfield (Ohio) Symphony Orchestra in his hometown in November 1995. At the time of his death in the following month, Lytle was scheduled to begin recording a new CD on the Muse label.
© Craig Lytle /TiVo
Discografía
11 álbum(es) • Ordenado por Mejores ventas
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People & Love (Remastered)
Jazz - Editado por Craft Recordings el 1 ene. 1972
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
Johnny Lytle
Jazz - Editado por LRC Ltd. - Groove Merchant Records el 25 jun. 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
People & Love (Remastered 2023)
Jazz - Editado por Craft Recordings el 1 ene. 1972
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Done It Again
Jazz - Editado por Blue Note Records el 1 ene. 1967
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ultimate Jazz Vibe Collection
Lounge - Editado por Stardust Records el 1 ago. 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
On Green Dolphin Street
Jazz - Editado por Chard el 18 ene. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Village Caller!
World music - Editado por TP4 Music el 6 ene. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Fast Hands / Happy Ground
Jazz - Editado por Savoy el 8 jul. 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Four Classic Albums (Blue Vibes / Happy Ground / Nice and Easy / Moon Child) (Digitally Remastered)
Jazz - Editado por AVID Jazz el 20 oct. 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo