I recently went to his grave paid my respects, had my guitar, played a song at his grave, left him the pick and some flowers, very lonely there , i wish there were more visitors
I went to Feasterville to visit his grave a couple years back. Pretty sure I met his ghost as I was walking back to the train station from the cemetery.
@@LexJones207 I definitely had an interesting feeling after visiting his grave, strange kind of like I bonded with him , almost like he became a close friend or family member, and I still have that feeling.
@belasgirl6 he deserves to be in the blues Hall of Fame and Rock n roll Hall of Fame. Hes the first guy to do single note solos, practically invented lead guitar. He could blend Jazz and Blues. He even inspired Robert Johnson.
Had Lonnie over to my first home for dinner some time around 1965 when he chanced to play a gig in London,Ontario,he was a great gentleman and one of the early bl.ues guitar player (played with Duke Ellington in'27)
This man was a master. It flows from him like the flow of a river. He has no need to show off or do anything in a put-on way. Simple, powerful -- wonderful. Thanks for posting.
Truly amazing and wonderful to hear! The world should be made to listen to the Blues as part of a course on human culture. May be we'd all live in a better world if they did!
Maybe this is a bold statement but I think that relative to his influence and skill, Lonnie Johnson is the most underappreciated guitar player in history. Single note soloing, vibrato, string bending-all the things we take for granted now, he did all of it first (or was at least the first ti do it on record). Its impossible to overstate his infuence on blues, jazz, rock and roll, hell-pretty much and American musical style that came after. And the man just got better the older he got. And yet somehow he's not a household name the way Hendrix and Van Halen are.
@MrThunderharp I met him in NY at Gerdes Folk City in "64 when I was there with my family. He came over to our table & introduced himself. A real gentleman and a real treat to have met him.
THIS is the song that made me want to learn to play Blues. I first heard it in 1968 when my cousin's husband had a Blues program on an "underground" FM radio station. I also discovered Magic Sam at the same time and have never looked back on my journey through the world of REAL Blues. Hubert Sumlin has a few VHS videos of Lonnie and we would watch them in respectful silence.
This song and performance is so haunting, deep and perfect in any sense of the description.. A master class singer, guitarist & performer.. imo the most honest songwriter from the pre-war, perhaps from the entire Blues era. Nothing he sings seem made up of half-truths and/or cliches.. it's all coming out straight forward.. no hype, no stage antics, no gimmicks or show-offs, no crowd pleasing.. just pure honesty, straight from the heart.. no shame or embarrassment attached, but just a matter-of-facts delivered beautifully with utmost grace and at peace
Spot on about the lyric writing. It wasn't obvious to me until I read your comment. Nothing contrived - just the purest expression of the human condition. People are always extolling the virtues of Lonnie's guitar playing, but good lord, his songwriting and singing is second to none, too.
Lonnie was born in New Orleans in 1894, began teaching himself violin by age 6, added guitar at 8...and by age 10 was already playing both in his father's band (weddings, picnics ...street corners). By age 16 he was working the Storyville brothels in a duo with his elder brother James (who played guitar & piano) By this stage Lonnie had also mastered piano, string bass, mandolin and banjo..
him and bb king have the best phrazing in my humble opinion, good god i wish they would play together it be fire and ice blues let me tell you good sir
He gives the perfect illusion of a steady beat, as if there was a drummer, although there is none. Amazing. Is there any such thing as an acoustic delusion?
I've been wondering that for years. I imagine it's children with nothing better to do....maybe troll-like adults living in their mom's basement with a blow-up doll....in any event, someone who knows nothing of music. If they had 'valid' reasons for disliking this stuff, they'd explain so in the comments. Never have seen such comments....
Amazing performance. What a true artist Lonnie was, and we can see he influenced many blues players down the line and rock and roll artists too. A man and his guitar on their own sound superb when both talents are second to none.
One of The Most Underrated, Yet, Greatest Artists Who Ever Lived. So Deep, Such a Great Voice, Majestic, Simple, Yet, Profound Guitar Playing. It Talks To The Heart. Long Giants Like Lonnie Johnson.
What a treasure! I love the way he mixes accompaniment and lead fills in his playing, then takes an unaccompanied guitar solo no sweat, you don’t miss accompaniment one bit, rhythm rock solid, and, on top of it, he’s an amazing singer!
Lonnie's performance both Guitar playing and singing is incredible..his timing on the difficult instrumental break is impeccable..i really get the feeling he is really feeling the words of this song
SMOOTHEST blues singer/guitarist of ALL TIME......right along with my favorites, Jefferson, Patton, HIM, Fuller, Robert johnson, Tommy Johnson ;)......
Lonnie is a true Champagne of Blues performers. His guitar playing and voice on their own are just powerful and it touches your very soul. Every human being should listen to songs like this one and may be we all can have a better world for it.
After seeing and listening to this marvel I know where the truth is. This is it. Simple, pure and true. It seems easy but it is not. There are very few blues musicians of those who are famous today who are capable of playing and singing half of good Lonnie Johnson. This gentleman was not the typical RUclips bedroom musician. He is quite the opposite.
There are a lot of good blues artists thanks to RUclips we can Explore the blues. Last week i found the original blues version of black Betty never heard of it before. There is soooo much still to hear 😃
Not as well known as some but one of the best; even Robert Johnson was a fan. Love in vain was based on this and he called himself Johnson after this man.
I always tell people this is the louis armstrong of the blues. He went through so many phases, and was incredible at all of them. I hope someone organizes youtube and creates an authoritative music section, and in the blues area, this should be right at the very top. The golden era of the blues began with Lonnie, to me at least...
There are no words to express the extent of this man's talent, certainly among the greatest musicians of all time. I think its almost challenging to appreciate how good he is. He is a musician that the more you listen to the more amazed you become.
I'm feeling the exact same thing you've said in your comment. I can barely imagine what it takes to become this soulful and good. What I'd give to meet this man just to thank him for his gift to humanity. Imagine how happy and appreciated he'd feel knowing how profoundly he's affected our lives? I think that kills me the most. These guys never got near the love they could get today, given the avenues of exposure and demographic.
Alright lonnie johnson became a favorite, I've already have been listenin to him for sometime now but man he really played this is only my second live video I've watched of him, I seen another night to crys video over 2 years ago an through that time I've listened to a select few of his songs I always liked but ima check him out more now.
I find this just almost too good. Tears running down. What a master! Now, professors of blues history. I read somewhere Lonnie is regarded as the first blues player to perfect melodies and call and response with single string runs. Can anyone comment on this? I'd love it if it is true 'cos I love Lonnie's playing and singing. I also heard he toured the UK just after WW1 and returned home to find most of his family had died in the great 'flu epidemic of 1918. Tragic.
bless this pioneers and gate openers that transformed,pain, genocide and sorrow, into the most authentic beautiful sound first ever recorded, meant to tell a story but touched the whitest hearts! unfortunately but fortunately Elvis understood the assignment and never gave up. But most of Elvis’s song were already written by the black folk
Which Elvis Presley was very proud of.. Elvis was adamant that people were aware that his biggest influenced were black Gospel and Blues.. He loved Mahalia Jackson and Jimmy Reed and during his last Touring years in the late 60s & early 70s he always featured his all black backup singers.. Several times racist promoters tried to influence Elvis to drop his all-black vocal group when Touring the deep south, Elvis always responded with "I refuse to perform without my backup singers.." "If they're not invited then I won't perform!,.."
A treasure Lonnie was indeed. Everyone needs to hear this wonderful artist sing and play. If it doesn't touch people to their very souls they aren't human.
@Maguirearch i've read so: "Alonzo[1] "Lonnie" Johnson (February 8, 1899[2] June 16, 1970) was an American blues and jazz singer/guitarist and songwriter who pioneered the role of jazz guitar and is recognized as the first to play single-string guitar solos.[3]"- wikipedia
RUclips, the closest thing to a time machine.
+davidratcliffe1 so true so true---killer insight
davidratcliffe1 i guess
dust to digital.com
Man, you're right!
Lonnie Johnson was probably the greatest Bluesman ever . It’s a pity he wasn’t around today; he will never be forgotten.
Robert Johnson, greater still, so I think.
I recently went to his grave paid my respects, had my guitar, played a song at his grave, left him the pick and some flowers, very lonely there , i wish there were more visitors
I went to Feasterville to visit his grave a couple years back. Pretty sure I met his ghost as I was walking back to the train station from the cemetery.
@@LexJones207 I definitely had an interesting feeling after visiting his grave, strange kind of like I bonded with him , almost like he became a close friend or family member, and I still have that feeling.
He deserves those flowers. Thank you
@belasgirl6 he deserves to be in the blues Hall of Fame and Rock n roll Hall of Fame. Hes the first guy to do single note solos, practically invented lead guitar. He could blend Jazz and Blues. He even inspired Robert Johnson.
@@freedomisntfree2089 💙
Lonnie Johnson was one of the inventors of guitar leads. One of the sweetest pickers ever. And even at this older age his voice was smooth too.
Born in (19th centery) 1899, here it was in the early sixtees.
a beautiful ghostly wail
He was in his early sixties here and only lived to be 71 years old, so he never reached old age.
And everyone should thank him for it
Had Lonnie over to my first home for dinner some time around 1965 when he chanced to play a gig in London,Ontario,he was a great gentleman and one of the early bl.ues guitar player (played with Duke Ellington in'27)
How cool. This is my great grandfather and I’m JUST learning about him. Nice to have these vids to sneak peek into who he was.
@@TheJ2effectYour grandpa was one of the greatest to ever play, across many genres and styles.
How cool for you!
Inspiring for you.. to play,if you don't already that is.
💙
Nice! Was born in London, ON in 65. Recall my parents talking about going to the Stork Club in Port Stanley.
Lonnie is around 72 years old in this great film. A true inspiration to us fiftysomethings.
Beautiful singing, real blues as it should be!
This man was a master. It flows from him like the flow of a river. He has no need to show off or do anything in a put-on way. Simple, powerful -- wonderful. Thanks for posting.
Truly amazing and wonderful to hear! The world should be made to listen to the Blues as part of a course on human culture. May be we'd all live in a better world if they did!
He sings like he knows me personally
Cause thats how it was supposed to sound, like if hes dedicating to the person right in front of him
Fantastic 😂😂😂😂👍👍👍still single ?
Lonnie Johnson is one of the most significant musicians in modern music. Without Lonnie there could be no BB King.
Or any other artist.
(Don't forget the so-called artist).
compere LONNIE JOHNSON to Justin beaver .....poor Lonnie died penny less. Where is the justice?
Spot on! You can hear how he influenced later artists including BB, Buddy Guy, Chuck Berry, Keith Richards and many more!!
Lonnie is where Chuck got his ideas.
Maybe this is a bold statement but I think that relative to his influence and skill, Lonnie Johnson is the most underappreciated guitar player in history. Single note soloing, vibrato, string bending-all the things we take for granted now, he did all of it first (or was at least the first ti do it on record). Its impossible to overstate his infuence on blues, jazz, rock and roll, hell-pretty much and American musical style that came after. And the man just got better the older he got. And yet somehow he's not a household name the way Hendrix and Van Halen are.
All valid.
What an incredible technical classical and blues guitarist and what a beautiful voice.
He was one of the greatest blues players ever hands down.
@MrThunderharp I met him in NY at Gerdes Folk City in "64 when I was there with my family. He came over to our table & introduced himself. A real gentleman and a real treat to have met him.
What a talent Lonnie was. Treasures like this are what make utube so great.
If I had to choose I would rate this as the best blues performance ever.
The man was brilliant 👍⭐
As an englishman this was americas music pinnacle. This era of music will always be the greatest.
His voice is so clear. Even when he hits a note with power, it seems effortless.
The lyrics are amazing, but Lonnie's delivery takes it to another level. Each verse is more poignant than the last!
THIS is the song that made me want to learn to play Blues. I first heard it in 1968 when my cousin's husband had a Blues program on an "underground" FM radio station. I also discovered Magic Sam at the same time and have never looked back on my journey through the world of REAL Blues. Hubert Sumlin has a few VHS videos of Lonnie and we would watch them in respectful silence.
This song and performance is so haunting, deep and perfect in any sense of the description.. A master class singer, guitarist & performer.. imo the most honest songwriter from the pre-war, perhaps from the entire Blues era. Nothing he sings seem made up of half-truths and/or cliches.. it's all coming out straight forward.. no hype, no stage antics, no gimmicks or show-offs, no crowd pleasing.. just pure honesty, straight from the heart.. no shame or embarrassment attached, but just a matter-of-facts delivered beautifully with utmost grace and at peace
Spot on about the lyric writing. It wasn't obvious to me until I read your comment. Nothing contrived - just the purest expression of the human condition. People are always extolling the virtues of Lonnie's guitar playing, but good lord, his songwriting and singing is second to none, too.
great performer and songwriter .....died penniless Andy.....where"s the justice
Lonnie was born in New Orleans in 1894, began teaching himself violin by age 6, added guitar at 8...and by age 10 was already playing both in his father's band (weddings, picnics ...street corners).
By age 16 he was working the Storyville brothels in a duo with his elder brother James (who played guitar & piano) By this stage Lonnie had also mastered piano, string bass, mandolin and banjo..
Sorry but he was born in 1899 and die in 1970.
That's real smooth blues.
One of my favourite performances of anything, ever
where have this music been all my life? glad i stumbled onto this before i died.
him and bb king have the best phrazing in my humble opinion, good god i wish they would play together it be fire and ice blues let me tell you good sir
BB once said he really liked Robert Johnson, but Lonnie Johnson had a bigger influence and impact on him.
this is easily one of the best things in life
fantastico
He gives the perfect illusion of a steady beat, as if there was a drummer, although there is none. Amazing. Is there any such thing as an acoustic delusion?
its called real music
making 6 strings sound like an entire band, it's a skill most guitarists really lack
they just spew a bunch of notes around, trying to impress people
I see this on every RUclips comment section but I'm going to say it anyways because I really just don't understand... WHO WOULD DISLIKE THIS?!?!?!
I've been wondering that for years. I imagine it's children with nothing better to do....maybe troll-like adults living in their mom's basement with a blow-up doll....in any event, someone who knows nothing of music. If they had 'valid' reasons for disliking this stuff, they'd explain so in the comments. Never have seen such comments....
Only a complete idiot. This is it. Pure blues perfection. Probably one of those guys that think you need a distortion box to get that “killer tone”
@@ssurfcityopinions are like?, just joking, everyone has their own opinions and tastes, so there's that
I would not be at all surprised if Lonnie Johnson was/is the greatest singer, and the greatest musician who ever walked the face of the earth!
Amazing performance. What a true artist Lonnie was, and we can see he influenced many blues players down the line and rock and roll artists too. A man and his guitar on their own sound superb when both talents are second to none.
God Farher of Chicago blues!
One of The Most Underrated, Yet, Greatest Artists Who Ever Lived. So Deep, Such a Great Voice, Majestic, Simple, Yet, Profound Guitar Playing. It Talks To The Heart. Long Giants Like Lonnie Johnson.
love this! love his guitar! One man, one guitar.... who needs more?
What a treasure! I love the way he mixes accompaniment and lead fills in his playing, then takes an unaccompanied guitar solo no sweat, you don’t miss accompaniment one bit, rhythm rock solid, and, on top of it, he’s an amazing singer!
Lonnie's performance both Guitar playing and singing is incredible..his timing on the difficult instrumental break is impeccable..i really get the feeling he is really feeling the words of this song
Adibarum agreed on all counts!
Adibarum me 2
he is playing rhythm chords & lead riffs at the same time with good timing, not many guitarists can do both :D
Lonnie Johnson using a flat pick. Think that is a rare event. He's fantastic
SMOOTHEST blues singer/guitarist of ALL TIME......right along with my favorites, Jefferson, Patton, HIM, Fuller, Robert johnson, Tommy Johnson ;)......
jazzwatch64 knopfler is a massive Lonnie fan also....Mark is a beautiful player x
Yes the classics
My favorite blues man. No wonder Duke Ellington and Eddie Lang wanted to record with him. He was as good as it got.
HOLY SHIT! His control over the bends from 3:54-4:05 is straight up virtuosity.
BB King brought me here. I heard him say he prefers Lonnie Johnson to Robert Johnson.
I Agree
But both are legends
He said this repeatedly in interviews, referring also to L. Johnson’s early stuff. You hear nothing of Robert in his playing.
Robert was something else dude. No room fir comparison
What about Tommy?🤔
One've the finest vocalists of the Blues
Lonnie is a true Champagne of Blues performers. His guitar playing and voice on their own are just powerful and it touches your very soul. Every human being should listen to songs like this one and may be we all can have a better world for it.
CDで聴くだけでは分からない魅力が伝わってくる。やっぱりRUclipsは凄い！
The more people have the blues, the better. Means we can feel.
You cannot beat this kind of sound with a stick it’s simply tantalizing and it is amazing in quality, sound & form; it is not reproducible.
Lonnie Jhonson The Master of blues, it's blues it's The Great BLUES
yes indeed. so sincere. no theatrics. just truth.
Simply beautiful, where was he all these years. What I could have learned. An American treasure.
amazed every time i watch this at the beautiful quality of the recording. what amazing playing and singing
What a talent, brilliant!
Great artist❤❤❤
che voce suggestiva...grande bluesman
After seeing and listening to this marvel I know where the truth is. This is it. Simple, pure and true. It seems easy but it is not. There are very few blues musicians of those who are famous today who are capable of playing and singing half of good Lonnie Johnson. This gentleman was not the typical RUclips bedroom musician. He is quite the opposite.
what a fantastic singer, guitar player and songwriter he was!
How deeply respected Lonnie Johnson feels his words... just awesome...
Treasure of the music in this planet. The cream of good music.
Look at the Age and Type of Audience he is playing to.
They are simply in Awe of his talent.
I Love Texas Blues! RIP
That is AMAZING ! Thanks to JORDAN OFFICER who introduced me to this blues master 🙏
What a complete artist this man was. One of the best to ever come along.
lonnie is my favorite. could spend many lifetimes just emulating his sound/style.
my favorite my favorite my favorite
What sweet sweet man
I felt every guitar string ..and every word
What a talent, guitar and vocals, crooning in tune
Lonnie is one of the greatest, and maybe my favorite blues person.
With the other Johnson : Robert.
There are a lot of good blues artists thanks to RUclips we can Explore the blues. Last week i found the original blues version of black Betty never heard of it before. There is soooo much still to hear 😃
now Lonnie was one smooth operator up and down the fret board! TYVM for posting!
The authentic soul of blues....
Not as well known as some but one of the best; even Robert Johnson was a fan. Love in vain was based on this and he called himself Johnson after this man.
I always tell people this is the louis armstrong of the blues. He went through so many phases, and was incredible at all of them. I hope someone organizes youtube and creates an authoritative music section, and in the blues area, this should be right at the very top. The golden era of the blues began with Lonnie, to me at least...
So clean with feeling, technique and the best voice ive heard in blues & jazz
Perfect, Absolutely perfect.
fantastic - the first time I've watched him play. What a lovely presence
There are no words to express the extent of this man's talent, certainly among the greatest musicians of all time. I think its almost challenging to appreciate how good he is. He is a musician that the more you listen to the more amazed you become.
I'm feeling the exact same thing you've said in your comment. I can barely imagine what it takes to become this soulful and good. What I'd give to meet this man just to thank him for his gift to humanity. Imagine how happy and appreciated he'd feel knowing how profoundly he's affected our lives? I think that kills me the most. These guys never got near the love they could get today, given the avenues of exposure and demographic.
Love the song but hate having to go through it myself, thank you Lonnie
Alright lonnie johnson became a favorite, I've already have been listenin to him for sometime now but man he really played this is only my second live video I've watched of him, I seen another night to crys video over 2 years ago an through that time I've listened to a select few of his songs I always liked but ima check him out more now.
Surprising good sound quality. Wonderful song and wonderful solo!
definetely the best acoustic blues guitarist.
I find this just almost too good. Tears running down. What a master!
Now, professors of blues history. I read somewhere Lonnie is regarded as the first blues player to perfect melodies and call and response with single string runs.
Can anyone comment on this? I'd love it if it is true 'cos I love Lonnie's playing and singing.
I also heard he toured the UK just after WW1 and returned home to find most of his family had died in the great 'flu epidemic of 1918. Tragic.
No, here it's in early sixtees and he die in 1970.
That,s it man what a voice! and the way he plays the guitar is to me perfect ! this is the next song I am going to learn
This song perfectly describes what I am going through right now.
SUCH A FINE GUITARIST FOR SO MANY DECADES ~ CARLOS GUITARLOS 90042
Thank you guy
magnific song!!!
Great Lonnie...
Love&Respect
Max from Italy
Uncut. Raw 100% pure blues
The only way to take it.. It's the one thing we own in the south.
A grand symphony in blue.
That walk right after the first line got me❤
bless this pioneers and gate openers that transformed,pain, genocide and sorrow, into the most authentic beautiful sound first ever recorded, meant to tell a story but touched the whitest hearts! unfortunately but fortunately Elvis understood the assignment and never gave up. But most of Elvis’s song were already written by the black folk
Which Elvis Presley was very proud of.. Elvis was adamant that people were aware that his biggest influenced were black Gospel and Blues.. He loved Mahalia Jackson and Jimmy Reed and during his last Touring years in the late 60s & early 70s he always featured his all black backup singers.. Several times racist promoters tried to influence Elvis to drop his all-black vocal group when Touring the deep south, Elvis always responded with "I refuse to perform without my backup singers.." "If they're not invited then I won't perform!,.."
wonderfull
Beautiful performance from a great musician.
what happened to music?
when did this dreamlike greatness turn into oasis & lady gaga?
lonnie, stevie, charlie...please come back.
wow.. amazing.. it's like being there.. great audio
Magical, this track haunts me.
Killed the end with the solo onggg
a treasure from a bygone era; what a great performance
A treasure Lonnie was indeed. Everyone needs to hear this wonderful artist sing and play. If it doesn't touch people to their very souls they aren't human.
The blues is killing me but rock and roll saved my soul.
without words, her sweet voice and his guitar say it all.
Anyone notice how Elvis's singing style might have been based on this man?
I adore the chaoticness of the set, folks here and there, y'know
Recorded with Duke Ellington
@Maguirearch i've read so:
"Alonzo[1] "Lonnie" Johnson (February 8, 1899[2] June 16, 1970) was an American blues and jazz singer/guitarist and songwriter who pioneered the role of jazz guitar and is recognized as the first to play single-string guitar solos.[3]"- wikipedia
What an unimaginable treasure!! I can't thank you enough for sharing!!