Larry Johnson
Among the postwar generation of blues artists, Larry Johnson -- from Riceville, GA -- is one of the most devoted to the pure Delta and Texas styles of the '20s. He was born on May 5, 1938, in Fulton County, GA. His father was a preacher and his son would often travel with him from town to town. In this environment, Johnson was exposed to early blues records and he especially loved those of Blind Boy Fuller. It was Fuller's records that made Johnson pick up a guitar. After a stint in the Navy from 1955 to 1959, Johnson moved to New York and befriended Brownie and Sticks McGhee and began playing on records by Big Joe Williams, Harry Atkins, and Alec Seward (aka Guitar Slim). It was Seward who introduced Johnson to his future mentor, Rev. Gary Davis. He released his first single, "Catfish Blues"/"So Sweet," in 1962 and appeared on numerous live dates with Davis. By 1970, Johnson began releasing albums on small labels, including a date with John Hammond called Fast & Funky reissued on CD as Midnight Hour Blues. After years of living from gig to gig, Johnson retreated from the grind of the road. He still played ocassionally, but only on his own terms. He did, however, manage to release two albums, Johnson! Where Did You Get That Sound? in 1983 and Basin Free with Nat Riddles in 1984. By the '90s, Johnson began receiving better offers for live performances, especially in Europe. While abroad, he recorded Railroad Man released in 1990 on JSP and Blues for Harlem in 1999 on the Armadillo label. Two years later, Johnson collaborated with National slide guitar extrodonaire Brian Kramer and his band the Couch Lizards, resulting in the relaxed, yet mainly up-tempo, Two Gun Green on Armadillo. Johnson's excellent fingerpicking and acoustic blues have brought him to creating an approachment that remains timeless.
© Richard Meyer & Al Campbell /TiVo
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Discography
7 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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I'm Just Sayin'
Jazz - Released by Victora Records on 28 Dec 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Shady Oaks Film, Tv & Movie Beats Volume I
Pop - Released by Shady Oaks Music on 8 Oct 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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A View of San Francisco
Folk - Released by Salty Dog Records on 1 Jan 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Two Gun Green
Larry Johnson, Brian Kramer, The Couch Lizards
Blues - Released by Armadillo on 24 Apr 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo