Little Johnny Taylor facts for kids

Little Johnny Taylor (born Johnny Lamont Merrett; February 11, 1943 – May 17, 2002) was an American singer. He was famous for his blues and soul music. He recorded many songs in the 1960s and 1970s. He also kept performing live through the 1980s and 1990s.

The Story of Little Johnny Taylor

Little Johnny Taylor was born in Gregory, Arkansas, in the United States. Many people often confused him with another singer named Johnnie Taylor. This was because both singers started their careers singing gospel music. Also, Johnnie Taylor even sang a version of Little Johnny Taylor's most famous song, "Part Time Love".

Early Life and Music

In 1950, Little Johnny Taylor moved to Los Angeles. There, he sang with a gospel group called the Mighty Clouds of Joy. Later, he decided to sing other types of music, moving into R&B. He was inspired by another singer, Little Willie John. His first recordings as an R&B artist were for a company called Swingin'.

Finding Success

Little Johnny Taylor became very successful after signing with Galaxy. This was a record label from San Francisco. His first big song was "You'll Need Another Favor." It was a mid-tempo blues song.

"Part Time Love" Becomes a Hit

His next song, "Part Time Love", became his biggest hit. Clay Hammond wrote the song. It reached number 1 on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart in October 1963. It also reached number 19 on the pop chart. However, his next songs on the Galaxy label were not as popular.

Later Career and Hits

By 1971, Taylor joined the Ronn label. This label was part of Jewel Records in Shreveport, Louisiana. There, he had another big hit called "Everybody Knows About My Good Thing." This song reached the Top 10 on the R&B chart.

The next year, he had another hit song, "Open House at My House." While at Ronn, Taylor also sang some duets with Ted Taylor. Ted Taylor was also a singer, but he was not related to Little Johnny Taylor.

Final Years and Legacy

Little Johnny Taylor did not record many new songs in the 1980s and 1990s. But he kept performing live until he passed away. He died in May 2002, at the age of 59. He was living in Conway, Arkansas at the time.

In 2016, the famous band The Rolling Stones covered his song "Everybody Knows About My Good Thing." They included it on their album Blue And Lonesome.

Chart Success

This table shows how Little Johnny Taylor's songs performed on the music charts.