Roy Lee Johnson facts for kids

Roy Lee Johnson (born December 31, 1938 – died June 3, 2024) was an American musician. He was a talented songwriter, singer, and guitarist. Roy Lee Johnson is best known for writing the song "Mr. Moonlight." Many famous artists have covered this song, including The Beatles. He also influenced many bands during the time known as the British Invasion.

Early Life and First Steps in Music

Roy Lee Johnson was born in a place called Centralhatchee, Georgia. He started playing the guitar when he was just a child. Around 1955, he joined his first band, The Brassettes. This band included another musician named Robert Ward. They played at local dances in and around Hogansville.

The Brassettes won a talent contest in Atlanta. After that, they recorded one of Johnson's songs, "Nobody Does Something For Nothing." This song was released on a small record label called Stat.

Moving to Ohio and Back to Atlanta

In the late 1950s, Johnson moved to Ohio. There, he joined Robert Ward again in a band called the Ohio Untouchables. But by 1961, he returned to Atlanta. He started playing in Piano Red's band, which was called the Interns.

The Story of "Mr. Moonlight"

Roy Lee Johnson wrote "Mr. Moonlight" when he was still in high school. Piano Red's band, credited as "Dr. Feelgood and the Interns," was the first to record this song. It was released in 1962 as the B-side of their song "Doctor Feel-Good." A B-side is a song on the back of a record, usually less famous than the main song.

Solo Career and The Beatles' Influence

In 1963, Johnson left the Interns. He released his first solo record, "Too Many Tears," that same year. His next solo song was a new version of "Nobody Does Something For Nothing." Neither of these songs became big hits.

However, in 1964, something big happened. The Beatles covered "Mr. Moonlight" on their album Beatles for Sale. In the United States, it was on their album Beatles '65. The success of The Beatles' version helped Roy Lee Johnson a lot. It allowed him to form his own band.

Recording New Music

Between 1966 and 1967, Roy Lee Johnson recorded three singles for Columbia Records. A single is a record with one or two songs. One of these songs was "My Best Just Ain’t Good Enough." He also recorded another single for the Josie label.

Later, Otis Redding, a famous singer, introduced Johnson to Phil Walden. Phil Walden recorded three more singles with Johnson in 1968. These songs were recorded at the famous FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals. The studio's own musicians, known as the studio rhythm section, played on these songs. Some of these singles included "Cheer Up, Daddy’s Coming Home" and "Take Me Back and Try Me." But again, these songs did not become hits.

Roy Lee Johnson & The Villagers

After this, he formed a new band called Roy Lee Johnson & The Villagers. They recorded an album for Stax Records in 1973. This album was influenced by the funk music style of James Brown. Sadly, the band broke up after their 21-year-old bass player, Michael James, passed away suddenly.

Later Years and Albums

Roy Lee Johnson continued to release singles now and then in the late 1970s and 1980s. He even set up his own music studio. He kept performing with different bands. In the early 1990s, some of his recorded songs were released in the UK as an album called All Night Long. He released another album, When a Guitar Plays the Blues, in 1998.

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