St. Louis Post-Dispatch
April 21, 2005
by Kevin C. Johnson
The outpouring of love from friends and celebrities Thursday at boogie woogie bluesman Johnnie Johnson's musicians' wake at Ronald L. Jones Funeral Chapel came as a surprise to no one.
Excuse the cliche, but to know Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Johnnie Johnson really was to love him.
Love came from the Grateful Dead-Ratdog's Bob Weir, who arrived with Ratdog keyboardist Jeff Chimenti to pay respects to Johnson, who performed for two years with Ratdog.
"He was the most elegant musician I ever met," said guitarist-vocalist Weir, who also referred to Johnson as a musical saint.
Chimenti credited pianist Johnson with "introducing me to the gig I have now." After deciding he couldn't move to California to be a permanent Ratdog member, Johnson suggested the band choose Chimenti. "He gave me the thumbs up. He was such a sweet man."
Love came from singer Bonnie Raitt, who sent a large floral arrangement. Aerosmith, Robert Cray and Buddy Guy sent flowers, and there's no reason to think that another - from a "friend and fan" signed "E.C." - wasn't from Eric Clapton, who famously described Johnson as the best blues pianist in the world.
The Kentucky Headhunters drove all day from the Lexington area to attend. Johnson and Kentucky Headhunters released a joint CD in 1993, "That'll Work." Headhunter drummer Fred Young said playing with Johnson on that album resulted in "the first time I ever heard myself sound like anything big." Guitarist Greg Martin added, "He made our music seem more valid."
"Johnnie Johnson had this incredible capacity to make you love him. He never had an unkind word, even when I messed up on stage," said Johnson's drummer, Richard Hunt. The two performed as a duet at a wedding reception four days before Johnson's death.
Well-wishers began streaming into the funeral home around noon and the flow never stopped. The internationally renowned bluesman Little Milton Campbell was among the last to arrive.
"Johnnie didn't die a rich man, but he was wealthy with friends," said close friend and St. Louis Blues Society co-founder John May.
Singer Jeanne Trevor came early because she didn't want the doors to close with her on the outside. "I didn't want to get left out. I had to say hey," she said.
Johnson died in his sleep April 13 at his north St. Louis County home after a stay in the hospital and a bout with pneumonia.
The wake served to celebrate life rather to mourn Johnson's death. It wasn't about tears and sadness. Instead, singers and musicians, in loose, jammin' fashion, paid tribute to their friend and colleague.
Weir performed "Little Red Rooster," a song covered by many including the Grateful Dead, while the Kentucky Headhunters performed a couple of songs, including Chuck Berry's "Little Queenie."
Berry, with whom Johnson collaborated during a hit-filled heyday, didn't show Thursday. He was scheduled to perform at Blueberry Hill later Thursday night.
Johnson was dressed in a favorite royal blue suit and sported a piano-keys necktie. A cigar and Marine cap were among the few items in his casket. Next to it was an oversized photo display showcasing Johnson over the years. There were album covers, a flier advertising a bill he shared with Ike Turner, a photo with his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame award, a photo of him shaking hands with Berry, and another with him hugging wife Frances Johnson.
The music started around 1 p.m. with Pauline Starks, Oliver Johnson, Jimmy Jones and James Thomas.
Dozens more performed, including emcee Mae Wheeler, Big George, Jeanne Trevor, Earl "the Pearl" Gibson, Kim Massie, Pat Liston, Marsha Evans, Bill Tucker, Tom "Papa" Ray, Gus Thornton, Jimmy Hinds, Tony Simmons, Gene Ackmann, Morris Henderson, Kelley Hunt, Tommy Malone, Stan Coleman, Gene Lynn, Erma Whiteside and Babz Robnett.
"He was always there at whatever I did supporting me. If he was in the audience, I knew it was going to be all right," said jazz singer Wheeler, who regrets never getting together with Johnson for their long-discussed recording project.
New York's Dona Oxford, a whiz of a piano player and student of Johnson, wowed the crowd. She said, "I consider myself thrilled to learn every one of Johnnie's licks."
Johnson and Oliver Johnson were roommates back in the day when they were in Albert King's band. "Johnnie would always emulate Albert's voice, how he would say things, like 'if you don't get the right clothes on you're gonna get fired.'"
"He could play on any keyboard and make it sound like a Steinway," said jazz pianist Pauline Stark.
Jeff Alexander came through with what he says is Johnson's last CD, "Johnnie Be Eighty and Still Bad!," recorded late last year. "Johnnie played his heart out."
KTVI meteorologist Glenn Zimmerman, who sometimes plays guitar with Butch Wax & the Hollywoods, said he and Johnson spent much time backstage at venues waiting to go on, and they'd chat about fishing and cigars.
"When you think about Johnnie Johnson, you might think about Chuck Berry, Keith Richards or Eric Clapton. I remember a guy who made me feel like a friend."