| Johnnie
Johnson - may his music be eternal |
 St.
Louis lost a musical treasure with the passing of a legend, Mr.Johnnie
Johnson. Long a fixture here on the St. Louis music scene, Johnnie
passed quietly away in his sleep on April 13th, 2005. Right up
until the end, Johnnie was out there doing what he loved best,
rocking the 88's like no one else!
We'll always have the gift of his 80th birthday party at the Botanical
Garden, his incredible Old Webster Fest appearances, and countless
others, including the honor of his performance at the 2005 STLBlues
concert.
We have fond memories of visits to the Johnson household, spending
time just hangin' out with Johnnie & Frances. At the tender
age of 5, my son Dustin already had chosen Johnnie as his first
musical idol. Johnnie was truly one of the most humble talents
we had the pleasure of knowing, much like his friend Oliver Sain.
We hope you enjoy our tribute page to honor our friend, Mr. Johnnie
Johnson.
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A
few words from friends and fans
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I
want to express my appreciation for your role in celebrating
the life of a true icon of the Midwest. I was fortunate
enough to work with Mr. Johnson back in 1998 - 1999 as a
Monitor Engineer for a few shows he headlined here in Kansas
City. He was a quiet, humble man, with an amazing talent,
but always gave had time for a kind word. I credit Mr. Johnson
as one of two major influences in my life to prod me to
come out from behind the sound console and spend some quality
time behind the keyboards after a several year absence.
He was an artist who loved his craft...a very inspirational
gentleman whom I shall miss, and never forget...
Sincerely,
Ted Gardner
Keyboards-The Jeff Scheetz Band
Operations Manager- Sound Check Concert Systems
Kansas City, Missouri
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Your
talent, your heart of gold and your legend will not be forgotten
ever. We will remember you as you were in person at Finale
recently just lighting up your face, your smile and everyone
in the audience when you tickled those 88s in person. You
are going to be a sure hit in heaven!!!!
Carolyn
and Phil Brown
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We
were very sorry to hear that Johnny passed away. We will
greatly miss his humble virtuosity and generous soul. Once
when I was working at the door at the Adams Mark for a Blues
Society concert there, Johnny came to the door. The Kinsey
Report was the band and Johnny, in all humility, asked me,
"Is it all right if I come in? I'm on their album."
Like
I would not know who he was!
I
said, "Johnny, you're on EVERYBODY's album! Please
come in."
Our
best to all, Paul & Vickie
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I am so proud of the St. Louis Blues community of which
both of us are a part. STLBLUES.NET has always treated Johnnie
with great regard and affection. Dave, as you know Johnnie
and I were very close those final years and he always appreciated
your kindness. Johnnie played his last public appearance
in duet with just me, the two of us, and the last song he
played in public was "After Hours", at a private
affair, the Saturday before his passing. Thank
you for your loyalty and friendship to both Johnnie and
myself,
Richard Hunt - Drummer. |
"Well, Johnnie Johnson, you're still packing the
house!"
These are the first words that came un-thought from my mind
and un-impeded from my heart and straight through my mouth
as I put down my cane and turned to face, to share myself
with, and to entertain the hundreds of people who had came
to pay their last respects to my/our beloved friend and
master musician, Mr Johnnie Johnson.
The words passed by, hung in the air for that brief second
of time that it takes for them to be recognized, passed
in through to the heart, the hearts in turn setting in motion
hundreds of pairs of hands in to applaud in agreement.
On this non-mappable road of life, we as spiritual creatures
need inputs of spiritual energy to maintain our spiritual
lives. Thus for the beautiful birds. Thus for the beautiful
plant life. Thus for the beautiful animals. And thus for
the beautiful gift that was Johnnie Johnson, a worker at
a spiritual refreshment stand along the road. Someone, put
in charge of re-charge, who lived just to do his job the
very best he could. (Which goes unsaid.)
In this darkness and confusion that is so prevalent in this
world, another rare & comforting light has burnt itself
out. Johnnie's music (and Johnnie himself) was therapy for
the wounded and tired spirit stumbling down this road of
life. Let me bear witness to that. He and his music has
both soothed my soul and quieted my mind.
Now, when I begin to second-guess myself, or start to give
in to doubt and fear that I may have lived a life in vain,
or when I start in on myself for choosing a career that
can be a tedious, underpaid, fractual and, in many cases,
a self-destructive and unrewarding field...? I will remember
Johnnie.
Johnnie will always be my role-model. He was able to take
the blows, the inevitable slights, the panic attacks, all
the while managing to avoid the political entity which only
destroys......and I will always remember that the pleasure
that I strive to share with the world comes from within,
and that it is a gift that comes through me and not from
me!
Rondo
Rondo's Blues Deluxe
St. Louis, MO |
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