Syl Johnson

{{Infobox person

| name = Syl Johnson

| image = SylJohnson1997.jpg

| caption = Johnson at the 1997
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

| birth_name = Sylvester Thompson

| alias =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1936|7|1}}

| birth_place = Holly Springs, Mississippi, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2022|2|6|1936|7|1}}

| death_place = Mableton, Georgia, U.S.

| occupation = {{hlist|Musician|singer|songwriter|record producer}}

| years_active = 1959–2022

| children = Syleena Johnson (daughter)

| relatives = Jimmy Johnson (brother)

| module = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes

| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar|harmonica}}

| genre = {{hlist|R&B|blues}}

| label = {{hlist|Federal|Twilight/Twinight|Hi|Boardwalk|Delmark|Hep-Me|Evangeline}}

| associated_acts = Syleena Johnson
Jimmy Johnson

}}

Sylvester Johnson (born Sylvester Thompson; July 1, 1936 – February 6, 2022) was an American blues and soul singer, musician, songwriter and record producer. His most successful records included "Different Strokes" (1967), "Is It Because I'm Black" (1969) later covered by reggae artists Ken Boothe and Delroy Wilson, and "Take Me to the River" (1975), a cover of Al Green's 1974 original.

Biography

= Early life and recording debut =

Born near{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/09/arts/music/syl-johnson-dead.html|title=Syl Johnson, Soul Singer with a Cult Following, Dies at 85|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 9, 2022|last1=Sisario|first1=Ben}} Holly Springs, Mississippi, the sixth child of a harmonica-playing farmer, he moved with his family in about 1950 to Chicago, where blues guitarist Magic Sam was his next-door neighbor.[https://main.oxfordamerican.org/magazine/item/294-syl-johnson Mark Winegardner, "Syl Johnson", Oxford American, November 21, 2011]. Retrieved February 8, 2022{{cite web|last=Ward|first=Ed|title=The 'Complete Mythology' of Syl Johnson|date=August 25, 2011|url=https://www.npr.org/2011/08/25/139919009/the-complete-mythology-of-syl-johnson|publisher=NPR|access-date=February 16, 2012}} Johnson sang and played with Magic Sam and other blues artists, such as Billy Boy Arnold, Junior Wells and Howlin' Wolf, in the 1950s. He recorded with Jimmy Reed for Vee-Jay in 1959, and – after label owner Syd Nathan suggested he change his name from Thompson to Johnson – made his solo debut that same year with "Teardrops" on Federal, a subsidiary of King Records of Cincinnati, backed by Freddie King on guitar. However, Johnson's recordings for King and Federal met with little success, and he also kept a day job as a truck driver.

= 1960s: Career at Twinight Records =

After several years of recording for small local labels, and performing regularly in local clubs, Johnson began recording for Twilight/Twinight of Chicago in the mid-1960s. Beginning with his first hit, "Come On Sock It to Me", in 1967, he dominated the label as both a hit-maker and a producer. His song "Different Strokes", also from 1967, is included on the breakbeat compilation album, Ultimate Breaks and Beats (SBR 504),{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/ultimate-breaks-beats-vol-4-mr0001722056|title=Ultimate Breaks & Beats, Vol. 4 – Various Artists | Release Info|website=AllMusic}} and some years later was sampled on many hip hop tracks. Both "Come On Sock It to Me" and "Different Strokes" featured on Johnson's debut LP, Dresses Too Short, in 1968.

Like other black songwriters of the period, Johnson wrote songs exploring themes of African-American identity and social problems, such as "Is It Because I'm Black", which reached number 11 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1969.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2kkcmS0AzMEC&pg=PA255|title=Chicago Soul|first=Robert|last=Pruter|date=March 28, 1992|publisher=University of Illinois Press|isbn=9780252062599|via=Google Books}} The song has been described as "among the most affecting of the civil rights era,"[https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/feb/06/syl-johnson-much-sampled-blues-funk-and-soul-singer-dies-aged-85 Ben Beaumont-Thomas, "Syl Johnson, much-sampled blues, funk and soul singer, dies aged 85", The Guardian, 6 February 2022]. Retrieved February 8, 2022 and provided the title track of his second album.

= 1970s: Hi Records and Willie Mitchell =

In 1971, the producer Willie Mitchell brought Johnson to Hi Records. Together they recorded three albums, which generated a number of singles. Produced in Memphis with the Hi house band, these albums contained the hits "We Did It", "Back for a Taste of Your Love" and "Take Me to the River", his biggest success, reaching number 7 on the R&B chart in 1975, and first recorded as an album track by labelmate Al Green.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hNSrpKdf7ygC&pg=PA42|title=Southern Soul-Blues|first=David G.|last=Whiteis|date=May 1, 2013|publisher=University of Illinois Press|isbn=9780252094774|via=Google Books}} However, at Hi Records, Johnson was always to some extent in the shadow of Al Green, commercially if not artistically. Mitchell also chose to use mainly in-house compositions rather than Johnson's original songs. According to Robert Pruter, "His output on the label was of a consistently higher quality than his Twinight work. In most respects, the Hi material possessed better melodies, had more rhythmic punch, and was better produced."{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2kkcmS0AzMEC&pg=PA255|title=Chicago Soul|first=Robert|last=Pruter|date=March 28, 1992|publisher=University of Illinois Press|isbn=9780252062599|page=256|via=Google Books}}

Reviewing one of his last albums for Hi, 1976's Total Explosion, Robert Christgau wrote in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981): "Johnson has tended to disappear in between Willie Mitchell and Al Green, but on this LP he takes his harmonica up to the microphone and stands clear as a lapsed bluesman. Good move. His voice is still shriller, and more strained than Green's, but that can be a satisfying distinction in the right context."{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|year=1981|title=Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies|publisher=Ticknor & Fields|isbn=089919026X|chapter=Consumer Guide '70s: J|chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=J&bk=70|access-date=February 27, 2019|via=Robertchristgau.com}}

= 1980s: Retirement =

After his years with Hi ended, Johnson produced two LPs for his own Shama label, the second of which, the soul/funk Ms. Fine Brown Frame (1982), was picked up for distribution by Boardwalk Records.{{Cite web|url=http://www.45worlds.com/vinyl/album/nb33260|title=Vinyl Album: Syl Johnson – Ms. Fine Brown Frame (1982)|website=45worlds.com}} The title track of that album was Johnson's last hit record.

Around the mid-1980s, Johnson mostly retired from performing,{{cite book|title=The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music|editor-first=Colin|editor-last=Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=Guinness Publishing|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|page=1303}} making only occasional appearances at blues clubs.Pruter, Robert. Liner notes to the album Back in the Game. At that time, he opened a chain of seafood restaurants, and began investing in real estate.[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/03/arts/music/03syl.html "A Big Box for an Overlooked R&B Career,"] The New York Times, December 2, 2010.

= 1990s: Return to music =

In 1992, Johnson found out that his song "Different Strokes" had been sampled by several rappers, including Wu-Tang Clan, Public Enemy, Kool G Rap, Hammer, De La Soul,{{Cite web |title=De La Soul's 'The Magic Number' - Discover the Sample Source |url=https://www.whosampled.com/sample/4632/De-La-Soul-The-Magic-Number-Syl-Johnson-Different-Strokes/ |access-date=2023-02-14 |website=WhoSampled |language=en}} and the Geto Boys. This stimulated his interest in making a comeback in the music industry. He recorded the album Back in the Game, released by Delmark Records in 1994, which featured the Hi Rhythm Section and his youngest daughter, Syleena Johnson.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/back-in-the-game-mw0000628025/credits|title=Back in the Game – Syl Johnson | Credits |website=AllMusic}}

Johnson was one of the most sampled artists, largely from "Different Strokes" and "Is It Because I'm Black". He felt passionately that taking music from an original artist without proper compensation constituted theft,{{cite web|last1=Hoffer|first1=Jason|title=Interview Continued With Blues/Soul Legend Syl Johnson – Come on, sock it to me S02Ep01 (2 of 3)|url=http://goingthruvinyl.com/?p=1496|publisher=Going Thru Vinyl|access-date=June 16, 2012|first2=Syl |last2=Johnson |location=12:25|format=.mp3 audio}} and he sued other artists for copyright infringement.{{cite magazine|last=Gardner|first=Eriq|title=Kanye West and Jay-Z Sued for Allegedly Sampling Syl Johnson|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/legal-and-management/kanye-west-and-jay-z-sued-for-allegedly-1005416982.story|magazine=Billboard|date=October 17, 2011|access-date=June 16, 2012|archive-date=June 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622180956/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/legal-and-management/kanye-west-and-jay-z-sued-for-allegedly-1005416982.story|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last=Mlynar|first=Phillip|title=Interviews Q&A: Soul Singer Syl Johnson Prefers Money to Women, Loves Being Sampled by the Wu-Tang Clan, and Is Sorry He Had to Sue Cypress Hill|url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2010/12/syl_johnson.php|work=The Village Voice|date=December 1, 2010 |access-date=June 16, 2012}}

= ''Any Way the Wind Blows'' documentary=

The 2015 documentary Any Way the Wind Blows, directed by Rob Hatch-Miller, premiered at the Chicago International Film Festival.{{cite web|title=Pass The Popcorn: Syl Johnson Doc To Premiere At Chicago International Film Fest|url=http://www.okayplayer.com/news/pass-the-popcorn-syl-johnson-doc-to-premiere-at-chicago-international-film-fest.html|website=Okayplayer|date=August 25, 2015|access-date=September 16, 2015}} It takes its inspiration from events in the life of this "mostly forgotten" (according to Greil Marcus) soul singer from the 1970s seeking a second attempt at a career. While his records were being sampled by artists from Wu-Tang Clan to Kid Rock, to Jay-Z and Kanye West, Johnson often found himself with neither credit nor money.{{cite web|last1=Marcus|first1=Greil|title=Where the Song Leaves You|url=http://www.barnesandnoble.com/review/where-the-song-leaves-you|website=Barnesandnoble.com|date=January 19, 2015|access-date=September 16, 2015}}

Personal life and death

Johnson was the brother of blues guitarist and singer Jimmy Johnson and bassist Mack Thompson.

In 2014, he appeared in an episode of the TV One reality series R&B Divas: Atlanta, in which he offered advice and encouragement to his daughter Syleena before she gave a live performance.{{Cite web|url=https://atlantadailyworld.com/2017/10/27/syleena-johnson-rebirth-of-soul-and-self/|title=Syleena Johnson: Rebirth of Soul and Self|website=Atlantadailyworld.com|date=October 27, 2017}}{{Cite web|url=https://globalsoulradio.com/2017/11/07/syleena-johnson-rebirth-of-soul/|title=Syleena Johnson – Rebirth Of Soul |website=Globalsoulradio.com|access-date=February 10, 2022}} Johnson and his family appeared on the American reality television series Iyanla: Fix My Life, by the request of his daughter Syleena, to help her mother's alcohol addiction.{{Cite web|url=https://www.essence.com/celebrity/exclusive-syleena-johnson-talks-emotional-appearance-iyanla-fix-my-life/|title=Syleena Johnson on 'Iyanla, Fix My Life'|website=Essence.com|date=October 28, 2020 }}

He died of congestive heart failure, at the home of one of his daughters, in Mableton, Georgia, on February 6, 2022, at the age of 85, six days after the death of his older brother Jimmy.{{Cite news|last=Sisario|first=Ben|date=February 9, 2022|title=Syl Johnson, Soul Singer With a Cult Following, Dies at 85|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/09/arts/music/syl-johnson-dead.html|access-date=February 9, 2022|issn=0362-4331}}{{cite web| publisher=Chicago Reader| title=A tribute to Syl and Jimmy Johnson| authorlink=Aaron Cohen (journalist)|author=Cohen, Aaron| date=February 11, 2022| url=https://chicagoreader.com/music/a-tribute-to-syl-and-jimmy-johnson/| accessdate=2022-02-12}}

Selected discography

=Albums=

{{small|Source:{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/syl-johnson-mn0000046784/discography|title=Syl Johnson Albums and Discography|website=AllMusic|access-date=February 7, 2022}}}}

1968: Dresses Too Short (Twinight)
1970: Is It Because I'm Black? (Twinight)
1973: Back for a Taste of Your Love (Hi)
1974: Diamond in the Rough (Hi)
1975: Total Explosion (Hi)
1979: Uptown Shakedown (Hi)
1982: Ms. Fine Brown Frame (Boardwalk 33260)
1994: Back in the Game (Delmark)
1995: Music to My Ears (Hi)
1995: This Time Together by Father and Daughter (Twinight) with Syleena Johnson
1995: Bridge to a Legacy (Antone's)
1999: Talkin' About Chicago (Delmark)
2000: Hands of Time (Hep-Me Records)
2002: Two Johnsons Are Better Than One (Evangeline) with Jimmy Johnson
2003: Straight Up (P-Vine PCD-25004, Japan)
2013: Syl Johnson with Melody Whittle, Featuring Syleena Johnson (Twinight 4086-CD2)
2017: My Funky Funky Band (Numero){{Cite web|url=https://www.resident-music.com/productdetails&product_id=46525|title=syl johnson – my funky funky band – resident|website=Resident-music.com}}

=Compilations=

{{small|Source:{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/syl-johnson-mn0000046784/discography/compilations|title=Syl Johnson Albums and Discography|website=AllMusic}}}}

2000: The Complete Syl Johnson on Hi Records (Demon, UK)
2003: Vanthology - A Tribute To Van Morrison (Evidence) (performing Morrison's Jackie Wilson Said)
2010: Syl Johnson: Complete Mythology (Numero Group)
2012: Backbeats Artists Series: Syl Johnson: Mississippi Mainman (Backbeats)

=Chart singles=

{{small|Source:{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/syl-johnson-mn0000046784/discography/singles|title=Syl Johnson Albums and Discography|website=AllMusic}}}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
rowspan="2"\| Year ! rowspan="2"\| Single ! colspan="2"\| Chart Positions ! rowspan="2"\| Label
style="font-size:small;" ! width="40"\| US Pop{{cite book\|first=Joel\|last=Whitburn\|year=2003\|title=Top Pop Singles 1955–2002\|edition=1st\|publisher=Record Research Inc.\|location=Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin\|isbn=0-89820-155-1\|page=[https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstop00whitbur/page/365 365]\|url-access=registration\|url=https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstop00whitbur/page/365}} ! width="40"\| US R&B{{cite book \|title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–1995\|last=Whitburn \|first=Joel \|author-link=Joel Whitburn \|year=1996 \|publisher=Record Research \|page=231}}
rowspan="2"\| 1967 \| align="left"\| "Come On Sock It to Me" \| 97 \| 12 \| rowspan="2"\| Twilight
align="left"\| "Different Strokes" \| 95 \| 17
rowspan="1"\| 1968 \| align="left"\| "Dresses Too Short" \| – \| 36 \| rowspan="5"\| Twinight
rowspan="1"\| 1969 \| align="left"\| "Is It Because I'm Black" \| 68 \| 11
rowspan="2"\| 1970 \| align="left"\| "Concrete Reservation" \| – \| 29
align="left"\| "One Way Ticket to Nowhere" \| 125 \| 24
rowspan="1"\| 1971 \| align="left"\| "Get Ready" \| – \| 34
rowspan="2"\| 1972 \| align="left"\| "The Love You Left Behind" \| – \| 43 \| rowspan="10"\| Hi
align="left"\| "We Did It" \| 95 \| 23
rowspan="1"\| 1973 \| align="left"\| "Back for a Taste of Your Love" \| 72 \| 16
rowspan="3"\| 1974 \| align="left"\| "I'm Yours" \| – \| 68
align="left"\| "Let Yourself Go" \| – \| 54
align="left"\| "I Want to Take You Home (to See Mama)" \| – \| 40
rowspan="2"\| 1975 \| align="left"\| "Take Me to the River" \| 48 \| 7
align="left"\| "I Only Have Love" \| – \| 15
rowspan="2"\| 1976 \| align="left"\| "Star Bright, Star Lite" \| – \| 89
align="left"\| "Bout to Make Me Leave Home" \| – \| 94
rowspan="1"\| 1977 \| align="left"\| "Goodie-Goodie-Good Times" \| – \| 93 \| rowspan="1"\| Shama
rowspan="1"\| 1982 \| align="left"\| "Ms. Fine Brown Frame" \| – \| 60 \| rowspan="1"\| Boardwalk

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

rowspan="2"| Year

! rowspan="2"| Single

! colspan="2"| Chart Positions

! rowspan="2"| Label

style="font-size:small;"

! width="40"| US Pop{{cite book|first=Joel|last=Whitburn|year=2003|title=Top Pop Singles 1955–2002|edition=1st|publisher=Record Research Inc.|location=Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin|isbn=0-89820-155-1|page=[https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstop00whitbur/page/365 365]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstop00whitbur/page/365}}

! width="40"| US
R&B{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–1995|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=1996 |publisher=Record Research |page=231}}

rowspan="2"| 1967

| align="left"| "Come On Sock It to Me"

| 97

| 12

| rowspan="2"| Twilight

align="left"| "Different Strokes"

| 95

| 17

rowspan="1"| 1968

| align="left"| "Dresses Too Short"

| –

| 36

| rowspan="5"| Twinight

rowspan="1"| 1969

| align="left"| "Is It Because I'm Black"

| 68

| 11

rowspan="2"| 1970

| align="left"| "Concrete Reservation"

| –

| 29

align="left"| "One Way Ticket to Nowhere"

| 125

| 24

rowspan="1"| 1971

| align="left"| "Get Ready"

| –

| 34

rowspan="2"| 1972

| align="left"| "The Love You Left Behind"

| –

| 43

| rowspan="10"| Hi

align="left"| "We Did It"

| 95

| 23

rowspan="1"| 1973

| align="left"| "Back for a Taste of Your Love"

| 72

| 16

rowspan="3"| 1974

| align="left"| "I'm Yours"

| –

| 68

align="left"| "Let Yourself Go"

| –

| 54

align="left"| "I Want to Take You Home (to See Mama)"

| –

| 40

rowspan="2"| 1975

| align="left"| "Take Me to the River"

| 48

| 7

align="left"| "I Only Have Love"

| –

| 15

rowspan="2"| 1976

| align="left"| "Star Bright, Star Lite"

| –

| 89

align="left"| "Bout to Make Me Leave Home"

| –

| 94

rowspan="1"| 1977

| align="left"| "Goodie-Goodie-Good Times"

| –

| 93

| rowspan="1"| Shama

rowspan="1"| 1982

| align="left"| "Ms. Fine Brown Frame"

| –

| 60

| rowspan="1"| Boardwalk

References

External links

{{allMusic|artist/syl-johnson-mn0000046784}}
{{discogs artist|Syl Johnson}}
{{IMDb name|6650887}}
[http://www.soulexpress.net/syljohnson_discography.htm The complete Syl Johnson discography at Soul Express]
[https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/syl-johnson Syl Johnson Interview] at NAMM Oral History Collection (2013)
[http://www.sittinginthepark.com/interviews/syljohnson-5-30-2010.mp3 Syl Johnson] (interviewed May 30, 2010)
[https://vimeo.com/ondemand/syljohnsonmovie Syl Johnson: Any Way The Wind Blows] documentary
{{youTube|jF-VGjAwh9E|"Take Me to the River"}}