Johnny Shines facts for kids

Johnny Shines (born April 26, 1915 – died April 20, 1992) was an American blues singer and guitarist. He was known for his powerful voice and amazing slide guitar playing. He traveled a lot and played music with many famous blues artists.

Early Life and Music

Johnny Shines was born John Ned Shines on April 26, 1915. He was born in Frayser, Tennessee. As a child, he spent a lot of time in Memphis. He often played his slide guitar on the streets to earn money.

Johnny learned to play the guitar from his mother. He also listened to other blues musicians. Two of his biggest inspirations were Blind Lemon Jefferson and Howlin’ Wolf.

Traveling with Robert Johnson

In 1932, Johnny Shines moved to Hughes, Arkansas. He worked on farms there for about three years. During this time, he met another famous blues musician, Robert Johnson. Meeting Johnson made Shines want to play music even more.

From 1935 to 1937, Johnny Shines and Robert Johnson traveled together. They played music all over the U.S. South. They even went as far north as Ontario, Canada. There, they appeared on a local radio show. Shines said Johnson was a good person to travel with because he talked a lot. The two musicians stopped playing together in 1937. Robert Johnson passed away the next year.

Moving to Chicago

After splitting with Johnson, Shines continued to play music in the southern U.S. In 1941, he planned to go back to Canada and then to Africa. However, he only made it as far as Chicago.

In Chicago, Johnny Shines found work in construction. But he also kept playing his blues music in local bars.

Recording His Music

Johnny Shines tried to record his music several times. His first recording was in 1946 for Columbia Records. But this music was never released to the public. He later recorded for Chess, but those songs were also not released.

In 1952, Shines recorded for J.O.B. Records. These recordings were not successful. After this, Shines sold his guitar and went back to working in construction.

A Blues Classic

Things changed for Johnny Shines in 1966. A record company called Vanguard Records found him. He was taking pictures in a blues club in Chicago. Vanguard Records asked him to record songs for an album. This album was called Chicago/The Blues/Today! It became a very important and popular blues album.

Later Career and Legacy

After his recordings became popular, Johnny Shines played with many other blues musicians. He played with the Chicago All Stars, Lee Jackson, Big Walter Horton, and Willie Dixon. In the late 1960s and 1970s, he often played with Robert Johnson's stepson, Robert Lockwood, Jr..

In 1980, Johnny Shines had a stroke. This made it hard for him to play music. But he still managed to release one last album called Back To The Country.

In 1989, Shines met a young blues player named Kent Duchaine. They played music together for the next few years. Johnny Shines passed away on April 20, 1992, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Later that same year, he was honored by being put into the Blues Hall of Fame.

Further Reading

• The Search for Robert Johnson, John Hammond, Columbia Legacy, 1982, ISBN: 978-0-7389-0079-7