Luther "Georgia Boy" Johnson

Luther Johnson (born Lucious Brinson, August 30, 1934[1][2] or 1941[3] – March 18, 1976), sometimes credited with the sobriquets "Georgia Boy", "Snake", or "Snake Boy", was an American Chicago blues and electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter.

Luther "Georgia Boy" Johnson
Background information
Birth nameLucious Brinson
Also known asLuther "Snake" Johnson
Luther "Snake Boy" Johnson
Luther King
Born(1941-08-30)August 30, 1941
Davisboro, Georgia, United States
DiedMarch 18, 1976(1976-03-18) (aged 34)
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
GenresChicago blues, electric blues
Occupation(s)Guitarist, singer, songwriter
InstrumentsGuitar, vocals
Years active1950s–1976
LabelsBlack & Blue, Muse and others
Associated actsMuddy Waters, Elmore James

AllMusic journalist Ron Wynn stated, "Johnson's own inimitable vocals, raspy lines and tart guitar eventually create his own aura... a good, occasionally outstanding blues artist."[4] He is not to be confused with Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson, nor Luther "Houserocker" Johnson, from Atlanta, Georgia.

Life and career

He was born in Davisboro, Georgia.[5] Sources give different years of birth, ranging from 1934[1][6] to 1941 (according to his headstone), though 1939 has also been published.[7][3] He was raised on a farm and taught himself to play guitar.[8]

After completing his service in the US Army,[8] Johnson played guitar with the Milwaukee Supreme Angels, a local gospel group in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. However, he gravitated towards blues and formed his own trio in Milwaukee. He relocated to Chicago, Illinois, in the early 1960s.[5][8] He backed Elmore James prior to his James's death in 1963, and joined Muddy Waters' backing band in 1966. Johnson worked with various musicians during this period, including Chicago Bob Nelson. He recorded his debut album, Come On Home, in 1968, with Muddy Waters' band.[3][5][8]

In 1970, Johnson moved to Boston, Massachusetts, and found work on the blues festival and college circuits for the next few years.[5] His album Born in Georgia was released by Black & Blue Records. It was followed by Chicken Shack (1974), Lonesome in My Bedroom (1975), and the final album issued in his lifetime, Get Down to the Nitty Gritty (1976).[8][9] On records issued in his lifetime, he was credited as either Luther Johnson or Luther "Georgia Boy" Johnson, though he was also known to contemporaries as Luther "Snake" Johnson.[3]

Johnson died of cancer in Boston on March 18, 1976.[5][10] He was interred at the Mount Hope Cemetery, in Mattapan, Massachusetts.[8]

Discography
YearTitleRecord labelNotes
1966Live at Cafe Au Go GoBluesWayWith John Lee Hooker
1966The Blues Is Where It's AtBluesWayWith Otis Spann
1967The Bottom of the BluesBluesWayWith Otis Spann
1968Cryin' TimeVanguardWith Otis Spann
1969Come On HomeDouglas Music
1969The Muddy Waters Blues BandTransatlanticWith the Muddy Waters Blues Band
1972Born in GeorgiaBlack & Blue
1974Chicken ShackMuseWith the Muddy Waters Blues Band
1975Lonesome in My BedroomEvidence
1976Get Down to the Nitty GrittyNew Rose Records
1992They Call Me the SnakeNew Rose Records
2002They Call Me the Popcorn ManBlack & Blue Records

[3][9]

See also

References
  1. Jacques Morgantini, Liner notes for Born in Georgia LP. Retrieved 21 April 2020
  2. Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues - A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara: Praeger Publishers. p. 105. ISBN 978-0313344237.
  3. Stefan Wirz, Illustrated Luther Johnson Discography. Retrieved 21 April 2020
  4. "Lonesome in My Bedroom > Overview". AllMusic. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
  5. Cub Koda. "Luther "Snake Boy" Johnson | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
  6. Edward Komara (ed.), The Blues Encyclopedia, p.534
  7. Len Kunstadt, Liner notes, The Bluesmen of the Muddy Waters Chicago Blues Band, Spivey LP1008, 1966
  8. Anita Pravits (2012). "Luther Johnson". Keeponliving.at. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
  9. "Luther "Snake Boy" Johnson | Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
  10. "Muddy Waters sideman Luther 'Snake Boy' Johnson had his career cut short by brain cancer". Chicagoreader.com. Retrieved 2017-05-22.
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