Johnny O'Neal (singer) facts for kids

Johnny O'Neal was an American singer who sang R&B and blues music. He was famous for being a member of Ike Turner's band, the Kings of Rhythm. Johnny also sang with a great blues guitarist named Earl Hooker. Sometimes, Johnny O'Neal used different stage names, like Brother Bell, Burntface Brother, or Scarface Johnny. As a solo artist, he made recordings for record companies like King Records and Sun Records in the 1950s. He even started his own music group called Johnny O'Neal and the Hound Dogs.

Johnny O'Neal's Music Journey

Johnny O'Neal's full name was Johnny O'Neal Johnson. He became the main singer for Ike Turner's band, the Kings of Rhythm. Before the band recorded their famous song "Rocket 88" in 1951, Johnny O'Neal decided to leave. He signed a special contract to record music by himself with King Records.

In January 1951, Johnny recorded his first songs, "War Bound Blues" and "Ruth Ann," in Cincinnati. These songs were released in March of that year. His next single, "Friday Night Blues" and "Blues About Baby," came out later in 1951.

In January 1952, Johnny O'Neal worked with Ike Turner again. They recorded music for the Bihari brothers in Greenville, Mississippi. Other members of the Kings of Rhythm played with them. Ike Turner played the piano, and Raymond Hill played the tenor saxophone. Johnny O'Neal recorded songs like "If You Feel Froggish" and "Whole Heap Of Mama." These songs were released on a record label called Blues & Rhythm.

Around that time, Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm band took a break. Ike Turner, Johnny O'Neal, and Ike's wife Bonnie Turner went to Sarasota, Florida to work with Earl Hooker and Pinetop Perkins. After their shows, Johnny O'Neal and Earl Hooker decided to stay in Florida longer. They formed a new band with other musicians. These included Roosevelt Wardell on piano, Ed Wiley on saxophone, Robert Dixon on bass, and Will Cochran on drums.

They played at many popular places. Some of these spots were the Palms' Club in Bradenton and the Drive In in Sarasota. They also played at the Manhattan, the Elks Club, and the Roseland in St. Petersburg. On November 26, 1952, they recorded more songs for King Records in Bradenton, Florida. This led to the release of the single "Johnny Feels The Blues" and "So Many Hard" in 1953.

In August 1953, Ike Turner brought Johnny O'Neal to Sun Studios in Memphis. There, they recorded for Sam Phillips at Sun Records. Ike Turner played guitar, and other musicians joined them. These included James Wheeler and Thomas Reed on saxophone, Willie "Bad Boy" Sims on drums, Bonnie Turner on piano, and Jesse Knight on bass guitar. Johnny O'Neal recorded four songs: "Dead Letter Blues," "Nightmare (Johnny's Dream)," "Ugly Woman," and "Peg Leg Baby." These songs were not released for many years. They later appeared on different music collections.

By 1954, Johnny O'Neal left Ike Turner's band. Johnny then started his own band, Johnny O'Neal and the Hound Dogs. This group included talented musicians like Earl Hooker, Pinetop Perkins, Willie Kizart, Willie "Bad Boy" Sims, and Johnny Floyd Smith. Later, singer Andrew Odom also joined his band.

Johnny O'Neal's Recordings

Here are some of the songs and albums Johnny O'Neal was featured on.

Singles

• 1951: Johnny O'Neal – "War Bound Blues" / "Ruth Ann" (King 4441)
• 1951: Johnny O'Neal – "Friday Night Blues" / "Blues About Baby" (King 4452)
• 1952: Brother Bell – "If You Feel Froggish" / "Whole Heap Of Mama" (Blues & Rhythm 7002)
• 1953: Johnny O'Neal with Orchestra – "Johnny Feels The Blues" / "So Many Hard" (King 4599)

Album Appearances

• 1976: Sun: The Roots Of Rock: Volume 3: Delta Rhythm Kings (Charly Records)
• 1984: Sun Records: The Blues Years 1950-1956 (Sun Records)
• 2001: The Kings of Rhythm featuring Ike Turner – The Sun Sessions (Varèse Sarabande)
• 2006: Ike Turner & His Kings Of Rhythm – Early Times (Rev-Ola Records)
• 2011: Ike Turner – That Kat Sure Could Play!: The Singles 1951 To 1957 (Secret Records)
• 2013: The Sun Blues Box (Bear Family Records)