Lonnie Johnson Toronto

Subject: Lonnie Johnson Toronto
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Sep 04 - 09:05 AM

Lonnie Johnson was resident in Toronto 1965 until his death in 1970, are there any 'Catters there who saw him perform or have any stories to tell about him ?

Subject: RE: Lonnie Johnson Toronto
From: Mark Ross
Date: 29 Sep 04 - 11:12 AM

I didn't get the chance. I remember Arlo Guthrie telling me about his accident around 1969(he got hit by a car). But David Rea(who used to play with Ian & Sylvia and Gordon Lightfoot was telling me about hanging out with Lonnie at his club in Toronto.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Lonnie Johnson Toronto
From: Peace
Date: 30 Sep 04 - 12:23 AM

I worked as an Emcee and warm-up act at Gerde's Folk City when Mr Johnson played there. His beautiful song "Brenda"--written for his daughter--is still with me in memory 38 years later. He was a fantastic person, and he took the time to teach me about stage 'manners' and presence. I can't remember the make of electric guitar he played, but I do recall that the fret board had grooves worn in it below the first and third frets. He bent strings with his blusey music. He was a master at holding a house, and the audiences loved him.

He corrected a few things to do with my notion of tempos and songs, use of the mike and my introduction of him. I was not in awe of him when he was first introduced, but by the end of the evening he had a fan who still loves his music to this day. I will never forget his kindness to me. He will ever have a place in my heart.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Johnson Toronto
From: GUEST,Hesperis(friend'scomp)
Date: 30 Sep 04 - 02:35 AM

I wasn't born yet.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Johnson Toronto
From: Peter T.
Date: 30 Sep 04 - 06:35 AM

Rick Fielding, who is no longer with us, revered him, and uswd to tell me stories about him, none of which I can remember. The recent release of Johnson on video reminded Rick that he had worn the same suit in his gigs when he saw him! yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Johnson Toronto
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Sep 04 - 11:29 AM

Bill Wyman,in his book about blues,relates a story.On the Rolling Stones' first trip to America,1964,their first day,they checked into their New York City hotel,freshened up,and eagerly assembled to take in the town.They were standing on the street in front of their hotel when they bumped into Lonnie Johnson,whom Wyman immediately recognized.They ended up hanging out and going to his gig that night.They were amazed to be in America,where blues stars could be found walking down the street.Of course,in 1964,the bluesmen were still amazed when a white person knew who they were.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Johnson Toronto
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Sep 04 - 12:11 PM

There are photos of Lonnie taken in the 1960's with him playing a Kay electric guitar. In the UK Kay guitars were sold in Woolworths and by mail order but I couldn't say if they were imported from the US. They were very poor quality. I also recall an article interview of Ringo Starr saying that he had bought a Lightning Hopkins album during the Liverpool days and had assumed that Lightning was a Big Star in the US, but when the Beatles arrived in the States they were suprised to find that he was relatively unknown there. I should point out that in the UK at that time there were virtually no independent record labels, so anyone who was on record had to be a Big Star.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Johnson Toronto
From: Peter T.
Date: 30 Sep 04 - 12:26 PM

I know nothing about guitars, but I do know that the guitar Johnson is playing in the newly released German video TV shows from the 1960s is the one he used in Toronto -- because Rick F. was thrilled to see it, because Lonnie had lent it to him to play!!

yours,

Peter T.