Johnny Jenkins
{{Short description|American blues guitarist (1939–2006)}}
{{for-multi|the American racecar driver|Johnny Jenkins (racing driver)|the drummer|the Streets}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| instrument = Guitar
| name = Johnny Jenkins
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1939|3|5|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Bibb County, Georgia, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2006|6|26|1939|3|5|mf=y}}
| death_place = Bibb County, Georgia, U.S.
| occupation = Musician
| alias =
| genre = Blues
| label =
| years_active = 1962–1970
1996–2006
| website =
}}
Johnny Edward Jenkins (March 5, 1939 – June 26, 2006){{cite web|author=Doc Rock |url=http://thedeadrockstarsclub.com/2006.html |title=The Dead Rock Stars Club 2006 January To June |website=Thedeadrockstarsclub.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-14}} was an American left-handed blues guitarist, who helped launch the career of Otis Redding.{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/28/AR2006062801937.html |title=Guitarist Johnny Jenkins; Aided Otis Redding |website=Washingtonpost.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-14}} His flamboyant style of guitar playing also influenced Jimi Hendrix.
Biography
In the 1960s, Jenkins was the leader of the Pinetoppers, who employed a young Otis Redding as singer.{{cite web|author=Richard Skelly |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/johnny-jenkins-mn0000239638/biography |title=Johnny Jenkins | Biography |website=AllMusic |date=2006-06-26 |accessdate=2014-07-14}} As Jenkins did not have a driver's license, Redding also served as his personal driver. During a recording session in 1962 organized by the band's manager, Phil Walden, Jenkins left forty minutes of studio time unused. Redding used this time to record a ballad, "These Arms of Mine", on which Jenkins played guitar. Scott Freeman, in his biography of Redding, Otis!: The Otis Redding Story, gives several accounts of that chaotic day at Stax Records.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Otis-The-Redding-Story/dp/0312302975 |title=Otis!: The Otis Redding Story: Amazon.co.uk: Scott Freeman: Books |website=Amazon.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2014-07-14}} In 1964, Jenkins released an instrumental single, "Spunky" (Volt V-122).{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Johnny-Jenkins-Spunky-Bashful-Guitar/release/4514724 |title=Johnny Jenkins - Spunky / Bashful Guitar (Vinyl) at Discogs |website=Discogs.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-14}}
With Phil Walden concentrating on Redding's flourishing career, Jenkins was sidelined, and it was not until after Redding's death in 1967 that Walden again concentrated on Jenkins's career. In 1970, Jenkins released the album Ton-Ton Macoute!. The opening track, a cover of Dr. John's "I Walk on Guilded Splinters", has been sampled by numerous musicians, including Beck (Loser), and Oasis (Go Let It Out).{{Cite web|url=https://www.whosampled.com/Johnny-Jenkins/I-Walk-on-Gilded-Splinters/sampled/|title=Samples of I Walk on Gilded Splinters by Johnny Jenkins on WhoSampled|website=WhoSampled.com|accessdate=2019-11-25}}{{unreliable inline|date=June 2025|sure=y|reason=USERG}} Several tracks on Ton-Ton Macoute! featured Duane Allman on guitar and dobro.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/ton-ton-macoute%21-mw0000649091/credits |title=Ton-Ton Macoute! - Johnny Jenkins | Credits |website=AllMusic |date= |accessdate=2014-07-14}}
With Walden again becoming involved in other projects, Jenkins became disillusioned with the music industry and did nothing of note until 1996. By then Walden had persuaded him to make a comeback, and he released the album Blessed Blues, recorded with Chuck Leavell. Two further albums followed: Handle with Care and All in Good Time.{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/johnny-jenkins-mn0000239638/discography |title=Johnny Jenkins | Discography |website=AllMusic |date=2006-06-26 |accessdate=2014-07-14}}
Jenkins died from a stroke in June 2006 in the same town where he was born: Macon, Georgia. He was 67.
Jenkins was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2012.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvmqR0SzL20 |title=Johnny Jenkins induction into the Georgia Music Hall Of Fame 10/13/12 |publisher=YouTube |date=2012-10-20 |accessdate=2014-07-14}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}
Discography
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Solo
- Ton-Ton Macoute! (1970)
- Blessed Blues (1996)
- Handle With Care (2001)
- All in Good Time (2005)
With Otis Redding
- Pain in My Heart (Atco Records, 1964)
- The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads (Atco Records, 1965)
{{div col end}}
References
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Category:American blues guitarists
Category:American male guitarists
Category:Musicians from Macon, Georgia
Category:Capricorn Records artists
Category:20th-century American guitarists