Buddy Johnson
With his sister Ella seductively serving for decades as his primary vocalist, pianist Buddy Johnson led a large jump blues band that enjoyed tremendous success during the 1940s and '50s. The suave bandleader spotlighted a series of talented singers, including balladeers Arthur Prysock, Nolan Lewis, and Floyd Ryland, but it was Ella's understated delivery (beautifully spotlighted on the sumptuous ballad "Since I Fell for You") and Buddy's crisply danceable "Walk-Em Rhythm" that made the aggregation so successful for so long.
Buddy began taking piano lessons at age four. Although he specialized professionally in tasty R&B, classical music remained one of his passions. In 1939, Buddy Johnson waxed his first 78 for Decca, "Stop Pretending (So Hep You See)." Shortly thereafter, Ella joined her older brother; her delicious vocal on "Please Mr. Johnson" translated into long-term employment.
Buddy had assembled a nine-piece orchestra by 1941 and visited the R&B charts often for Decca during wartime with "Let's Beat Out Some Love," "Baby Don't You Cry," the chart-topping "When My Man Comes Home," and "That's the Stuff You Gotta Watch." Ella cut her beloved rendering of "Since I Fell for You" in 1945, a year after Buddy waxed his jiving gem "Fine Brown Frame."
In addition to their frequent jaunts on the R&B hit parade, the Johnson organization barnstormed the country to sellout crowds throughout the '40s. Buddy moved over to Mercury Records in 1953 and scored more smashes with Ella's "Hittin' on Me" and "I'm Just Your Fool," the latter a 1954 standout that was later purloined by Chicago harpist Little Walter.
Rock & roll eventually halted Buddy Johnson's momentum, but his band (tenor saxophonist Purvis Henson was a constant presence in the reed section) kept recording for Mercury through 1958, switched to Roulette the next year, and bowed out with a solitary session for Hy Weiss' Old Town label in 1964.
Singer Lenny Welch ensured the immortality of "Since I Fell for You" when his velvety rendition of the Johnson-penned ballad reached the uppermost reaches of the pop charts in 1963. It was a perfect match of song and singer; Welch's smooth, assured delivery would have fit in snugly with the Johnson band during its heyday a couple of decades earlier.
© Bill Dahl /TiVo
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New Music In There
Jazz - Editado por New Muzik In There Rec. el 2 jul. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Best of Buddy Johnson
Jazz - Editado por Platinum Collection el 1 ene. 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Like You Do: The Old Town EP
R&B - Editado por Old Town Records el 8 ago. 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
St. Louis Blues
Jazz - Editado por Dance Plant Records Inc el 1 ene. 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
You'll Get Them Blues
Jazz - Editado por Redwood Records el 14 abr. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
How I Feel About You
Jazz - Editado por Reminisce Music el 17 mar. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
In There
Jazz - Editado por Black & Partner Licenses LLC el 1 ene. 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Riding Tunes
Jazz - Editado por Bertilo o Solemio el 30 abr. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rare Retro Sounds
Jazz - Editado por Catchy Sound el 4 may. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Afternoon Tunes
Jazz - Editado por extramasters rec-ords el 23 mar. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
And All that Jazz (Live)
Jazz - Editado por RMP Global Ltd el 12 ago. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Night Shift
Blues - Editado por Shami Media Group 3 el 1 ene. 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Greatest Of Louis Jordan, Buddy Johnson & Albert Ammons (All Tracks Remastered)
Louis Jordan, Buddy Johnson, Albert Ammons
Jazz - Editado por Millennium Digital Remaster el 21 ene. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Buddy and Ella Johnson
Jazz - Editado por Crazy Warthog Media el 1 ene. 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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In Chronology - 1944-1952 (Hd Remastered Edition, Doxy Collection)
Jazz - Editado por Doxy Records el 24 may. 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo