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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Presenting Buddy Johnson
Blues - Lançado por Universal Digital Enterprises em 11/02/1939
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1946-1952
Blues - Lançado por Burning Fire em 29/09/2009
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Rock On! - The 100th Anniversary Collection
Pop - Lançado por Jasmine Records em 09/10/2015
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Rock on! The 1956-1962 Recordings
R&B - Lançado por Shake It Up! Records em 05/10/2021
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Complete Jazz Series 1939 - 1942
Jazz - Lançado por Complete Jazz Series em 30/03/2009
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No More Troubles With Music
Jazz - Lançado por No More Troubles With Music TM em 01/07/2020
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Complete Jazz Series 1944 - 1952
Jazz - Lançado por Complete Jazz Series em 30/03/2009
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Complete Jazz Series 1950 - 1951
Jazz - Lançado por Complete Jazz Series em 30/03/2009
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Complete Jazz Series 1947 - 1949
Jazz - Lançado por Complete Jazz Series em 30/03/2009
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The walk 'em rhythm band
Jazz - Lançado por EPM em 07/08/2001
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Buddy and Ella's Greatest Hits
Jazz - Lançado por Excess Music em 01/01/2022
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Jazz Archives Presents: Buddy Johnson at the Savoy Ballroom (1945-1946)
Jazz - Lançado por Jazz Archives em 24/01/2019
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Since I Feel for You
Blues - Lançado por Redwood Records em 10/04/2014
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At The Savoy Ballroom
Jazz - Lançado por CoolNote em 31/08/2010
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Complete Jazz Series 1942 - 1947
Jazz - Lançado por Complete Jazz Series em 30/03/2009
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King of the Savoy (Remastered)
Blues - Lançado por Master Tape Records em 22/05/2020
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All The Best
Jazz - Lançado por Retro Music Box em 28/01/2020
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In There
Pop - Lançado por Platin Classics Music em 01/01/2022
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New Music In There
Jazz - Lançado por New Muzik In There Rec. em 02/07/2020
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The Best of Buddy Johnson
Jazz - Lançado por Platinum Collection em 01/01/2022
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