Rock 'n' roll's Johnnie Johnson dies
Johnnie Johnson, a rock ’n’ roll pioneer who inspired the Chuck Berry hit Johnny B Goode, died today, aged 80.
Johnson died at his St Louis home. The cause of death was not immediately known, but he had been admitted to hospital a month ago with pneumonia and was on dialysis for a kidney ailment, said John May, a friend and fellow musician.
Though he was never a household name, Johnson was considered a legend in blues and boogie-woogie, and his long collaboration with Berry helped define early rock ’n’ roll. The pair teamed up for hits like Roll Over Beethoven and No Particular Place to Go.
Johnson often composed the music on the piano, then Berry converted it to guitar and wrote the lyrics.
Berry’s Johnny B Goode was a tribute to Johnson.
“It was so much fun to play with Johnnie,” bluesman Bo Diddley said. “The world has lost a great man and a great musician.”
Later in life, Johnson performed and recorded with Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, John Lee Hooker and Diddley, among others. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 in the “sidemen” category.
In 2000, Johnson sued Berry, seeking a share of royalties and proper credit for what Johnson said were more than 50 songs the men composed together. A US judge dismissed the suit in 2002, ruling that too many years had passed since the disputed songs were written.
The lawsuit contended Berry took advantage of Johnson’s alcoholism, misleading him into believing that only Berry was entitled to own the copyrights “and reap the monetary benefits”.
While the men did not speak during the case, they were later reconciled, and performed together as recently as a year ago.
Johnson married his wife, Frances, on Valentine’s Day 1991. She was credited with persuading him to stop drinking.
She survives, along with 10 children and several grandchildren.
