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. It 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. Distribution of
an accompanying music CD will be coordinated with the release of this book.