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R.I.P Louis Johnson
- Thread starter Funk$tar
- Start date
Really sad to hear this. Louis Johnson was one of the godfathers of slap bass, and helped popularize the technique. Gone too soon........RIP
Another legend has left us today y'all, God Bless him!
jazzyitalian
Supporting Member
I can hardly believe this. He was one of my first bass idols and I always wanted to meet him him someday. RIP Thunder Thumbs.
I'm stunned and trying to keep from crying even though I never met him. He's the reason I play bass. I scraped and saved back in the 70's so I could buy a Stingray bass. Back in those days there wasn't a bass that sounded like it. One of the greatest bassists ever. Often imitated but never duplicated
I wish he didn't die on my birthday too. Messed my day up.
Live and love the right way for the right reasons, my fellow bassists, because tomorrow is not promised.
Live and love the right way for the right reasons, my fellow bassists, because tomorrow is not promised.
Regardless of Louis Johnson's passing, be grateful to see another birthday.
A Classic-
...and another (maybe overlooked?)-
...and another (maybe overlooked?)-
...and this one is a little difficult to listen to (right now).
One of my favourites from their debut.
One of my favourites from their debut.
the passing of a legend truly reminds one who is still around and who we should give thanks for and a tip 'o the cap. pioneers such as larry graham, chuck rainey, stanley clarke, and other bassists who inspire, influence, and push us continue to do so to this day. to them, i also profess my gratitude and hope their influence spans generations.
It's not an exaggeration when I say that the first time I recollect being affected by music happened in the summer of 1977. My mom took my brother and I to see a movie. When we caught a taxi to go home, the cab radio happened to be playing Strawberry Letter 23. Even as a kid I remember being deeply affected by that massive groove. Mesmerized by Lee Ritenour's solo harmonies, but that bassline..... I had been indoctrinated in the funk. I was never the same.
The passing of Brother Louis hits me on a personal level. R.I.P. Thunder Thumbs -my first bass hero.
The passing of Brother Louis hits me on a personal level. R.I.P. Thunder Thumbs -my first bass hero.
When I was a very young rocker in the mid '70s, I heard a few Brother's Johnson tunes that *really* turned my head around. I started working, slowly but surely, to learn to slap and bring that funk. He was an inspiration, to be sure.
Before I knew any difference between the guitars, I knew of The Brother's Johnson. They were the Dynamic Duo that made my family, my neighborhood, my community and state dance and smile whenever their songs came shinning out of a speaker. And as a kid, I would stare at the album cover and say the guy with the glasses on looks like the cool one and wish I could be like him. Then I see him on tv. Smiling and enjoying what he's doing, made me admire him even more.
When I remember Mr Johnson, I'll remember how excited people got (and STILL get) when a song is played that he played on. I'll think of how even though his is known for being a thumper, he was better know for being a creative groove master and respected the art of it. I'll always be thankful for this brother's contributions to my experience in this life.
FF
When I remember Mr Johnson, I'll remember how excited people got (and STILL get) when a song is played that he played on. I'll think of how even though his is known for being a thumper, he was better know for being a creative groove master and respected the art of it. I'll always be thankful for this brother's contributions to my experience in this life.
FF
How many people knew that LJ recorded with Bill Withers? I found out about 6 years ago by accident when I purchased "The Best of Bill Withers-Lean On Me". Many only look at his thumpin', but never knew there was soooo much more to that brother.
FF
FF
One of my all-time favorites. I love his work with The Brothers Johnson, and being a big Earl Klugh fan, also know a lot of his bass work from many of Earl's albums (songs like "Twinkle", "Low Ride", "Close To Your Heart" and "April Love", among others).
I just last year caught part of an interview he gave on NPR, talking about when he first learned how to slap the bass (he had stayed up late at night and finally figured it out, and he was so excited, he woke his parents up to show them - they were much less excited than he was). The love with which he told that story just added to my admiration of him.
Rest In Peace, Brother Louis.
I just last year caught part of an interview he gave on NPR, talking about when he first learned how to slap the bass (he had stayed up late at night and finally figured it out, and he was so excited, he woke his parents up to show them - they were much less excited than he was). The love with which he told that story just added to my admiration of him.
Rest In Peace, Brother Louis.
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