Bibliograph

The original guitar hero and the power of music, the legendary Lonnie Johnson, music, and civil rights, Dean Alger

Type

Label

The original guitar hero and the power of music, the legendary Lonnie Johnson, music, and civil rights, Dean Alger

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references and index

resource.biographical

individual biography

resource.governmentPublication

government publication of a state province territory dependency etc

Illustrations

illustrations

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

The original guitar hero and the power of music

Nature of contents

bibliography

Oclc number

866766755

Responsibility statement

Dean Alger

Series statement

North Texas lives of musicians series, number 8

Sub title

the legendary Lonnie Johnson, music, and civil rights

Summary

Lonnie Johnson (1894-1970) was a virtuoso guitarist who influenced generations of musicians from Django Reinhardt to Eric Clapton to Bill Wyman and especially B. B. King. Born in New Orleans, he began playing violin and guitar in his father's band at an early age. When most of his family was wiped out by the 1918 flu epidemic, he and his surviving brother moved to St. Louis, where he won a blues contest that included a recording contract. His career was launched. Johnson can be heard on many Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong records, including the latter's famous "Savoy Blues" with the Hot Five. He is perhaps best known for his 12-string guitar solos and his ground-breaking recordings with the white guitarist Eddie Lang in the late 1920s. After World War II he began playing rhythm and blues and continued to record and tour until his death. This is the first full-length work on Johnson. Dean Alger answers many biographical mysteries, including how many members of Johnson's large family were left after the epidemic. He also places Johnson and his musical contemporaries in the context of American race relations and argues for the importance of music in the fight for civil rights. Finally, Alger analyzes Johnson's major recordings in terms of technique and style

Table Of Contents

The legendary Lonnie Johnson, one of the most important musicians of the 20th century : musicians and progress on civil rights -- New Orleans music -- St. Louis blues -- Playing with the strings : part 1 -- Playing with the strings : part 2 -- Workin' man : Chicago blues -- Rhythm & blues -- Blues revival in the '60s/Comeback again -- The legacy of Lonnie J/The guitar in 20th century music

Classification