Luther Johnson

He was born in Itta Bena, Mississippi, USA in 1939 and moved to Chicago with his family in 1955. During the 1960s, he performed with Magic Sam. Johnson performed in Muddy Water's band from 1972 to 1980. In 1980, four of his songs were included on an anthology by Alligator Records. Johnson appeared on three albums by The Nighthawks.

Earlier in his career, Lonnie Brooks also performed under the name Guitar Junior.

2) Luther "Snake Boy" Johnson (Aug. 30, 1934 in Davisboro, GA - Mar 18, 1976 in Boston, MA). Real name Lucius Brinson Johnson. Played with Elmore James and Muddy Waters. Recorded under the names "Little Luther" and "Luther Johnson". His last album was "Lonesome in my bedroom" from 1976.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Luther "Snake Boy" Johnson

Background information

Birth name Lucious Brinson

Also known as Luther "Snake" Johnson, Luther "Georgia Boy" Johnson, Little Luther, Luther King

Born August 30, 1934

Davisboro, Georgia, United States

Died March 18, 1976 (aged 41)

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Genres Chicago blues, electric blues

Occupations Guitarist, singer, songwriter

Instruments Guitar, vocals

Years active 1950s–1976

Labels Black & Blue, Muse and others

Associated acts Muddy Waters, Elmore James

Luther "Snake Boy" Johnson (August 30, 1934 – March 18, 1976) was an American Chicago blues and electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was also known as Luther "Snake" Johnson or Luther "Georgia Boy" Johnson, and was otherwise billed as both Luther King and Little Luther (under the latter he recorded for Chess Records in the 1960s).

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."

He is not to be confused with Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson.

He was born Lucious Brinson in Davisboro, Georgia, United States. He was raised on a farm and taught himself to play guitar.

After service in the US Army up to 1953, Johnson played guitar with a local gospel group called the Milwaukee Supreme Angels. However, he graduated towards blues and set up his own trio in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, before relocating to Chicago, Illinois in the early 1960s.[1][3] He backed Elmore James prior to his death, and in 1964, released a solo single on the Chess Records label entitled "The Twirl", billed as Little Luther. He then joined Muddy Waters backing band in 1966. Johnson worked with various musicians over this period, including Chicago Bob Nelson, before recording his debut album, Come on Home in 1969.

In 1970, Johnson moved to Boston, Massachusetts, and found work on the blues festival and college circuits for the next few years. Black & Blue Records released Johnson's Born in Georgia in 1972, and this 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).

Johnson died of cancer in Boston in March 1976, aged 41. He was interred at the Mount Hope Cemetery in Mattapan, Massachusetts.