Syl Johnson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Syl Johnson
Johnson at the 1997 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Born	Sylvester Thompson (1936-07-01)July 1, 1936 Holly Springs, Mississippi, U.S.
Died	February 6, 2022(2022-02-06) (aged 85) Mableton, Georgia, U.S.
Occupation	Musician singer songwriter record producer
Years active	1959–2022
Children	Syleena Johnson (daughter)
Relatives	Jimmy Johnson (brother)
Musical career
Genres	R&B blues
Instruments	Vocals guitar harmonica
Labels	Federal Twilight/Twinight Hi Boardwalk Delmark Hep-Me Evangeline
Associated acts	Syleena Johnson Jimmy Johnson

Sylvester Johnson (born Sylvester Thompson; July 1, 1936 – February 6, 2022) was an American blues and soul singer. He was also a talented musician, songwriter, and record producer. Some of his most famous songs include "Different Strokes" (1967), "Is It Because I'm Black" (1969), and "Take Me to the River" (1975).

Syl Johnson's Early Life and Music Career

Syl Johnson was born near Holly Springs, Mississippi. He was the sixth child in his family. His father was a farmer who played the harmonica. Around 1950, Syl and his family moved to Chicago. There, a famous blues guitarist named Magic Sam lived right next door!

Starting Out in Music

In the 1950s, Syl sang and played with Magic Sam. He also performed with other blues legends like Billy Boy Arnold and Howlin' Wolf. In 1959, he recorded with Jimmy Reed. The owner of the record label, Syd Nathan, suggested he change his last name from Thompson to Johnson.

That same year, Syl released his first solo song, "Teardrops." It was on the Federal Records label. The famous guitarist Freddie King played guitar on the song. Even with these recordings, Syl's early music didn't become very popular. He also worked as a truck driver during this time.

Becoming a Star at Twinight Records

After several years, Syl Johnson started recording for Twinight Records in Chicago. This was in the mid-1960s. He quickly became a big star for the label. He also produced music for other artists there.

First Big Hits

His first hit song for Twinight was "Come On Sock It to Me" in 1967. Another song from 1967, "Different Strokes," became very important later on. It was featured on a special album called Ultimate Breaks and Beats. Many years later, hip hop artists used parts of "Different Strokes" in their own songs. This is called sampling. Both "Come On Sock It to Me" and "Different Strokes" were on Syl's first album, Dresses Too Short, released in 1968.

Music with a Message

Like other Black songwriters of his time, Syl Johnson wrote songs about being African-American. He also sang about social issues. His song "Is It Because I'm Black" reached number 11 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1969. People have called this song "among the most affecting of the civil rights era." It also gave the title to his second album.

Success with Hi Records

In 1971, a music producer named Willie Mitchell invited Syl Johnson to join Hi Records. Together, they made three albums and many hit songs. These albums were recorded in Memphis with the amazing Hi Rhythm Section band.

Major Hits and Collaborations

Their songs included "We Did It" and "Back for a Taste of Your Love." His biggest hit was "Take Me to the River," which reached number 7 on the R&B chart in 1975. Another artist on Hi Records, Al Green, had first recorded this song.

Even though Syl made great music at Hi Records, he was sometimes overshadowed by Al Green. Willie Mitchell also preferred to use songs written by others, not Syl's own original music. However, many people believe Syl's music from Hi Records was even better than his earlier work. It had better melodies, stronger rhythms, and was produced very well.

Taking a Break from Music

After his time with Hi Records, Syl Johnson released two albums on his own label, Shama. One of these, Ms. Fine Brown Frame (1982), became his last hit song.

Around the mid-1980s, Syl mostly stopped performing music. He only played at blues clubs sometimes. During this time, he started a chain of seafood restaurants. He also began investing in real estate.

Returning to Music in the 1990s

In 1992, Syl Johnson discovered something amazing. His song "Different Strokes" had been sampled by many famous rappers. These included Wu-Tang Clan, Public Enemy, Kool G Rap, Hammer, and the Geto Boys. This made him want to return to the music world!

Back in the Game

He recorded a new album called Back in the Game, released in 1994. The Hi Rhythm Section played on this album, and his youngest daughter, Syleena Johnson, also sang.

Syl Johnson became one of the most sampled artists. His songs "Different Strokes" and "Is It Because I'm Black" were used a lot. He felt strongly that artists should be paid when their music is used. He even sued other artists for using his music without permission.

Documentary Film

In 2015, a documentary film called Any Way the Wind Blows was released. It was directed by Rob Hatch-Miller. The movie tells the story of Syl Johnson, a soul singer from the 1970s who was trying to make a comeback. It showed how his songs were sampled by artists like Wu-Tang Clan, Kid Rock, Jay-Z, and Kanye West. Often, Syl didn't get credit or money for his music being used.

Syl Johnson's Family and Legacy

Syl Johnson was the brother of blues guitarist and singer Jimmy Johnson. His other brother was bassist Mack Thompson. His daughter, Syleena Johnson, is also a singer.

Syl Johnson passed away peacefully on February 6, 2022, at the age of 85. This was just six days after his older brother Jimmy also passed away.

Selected Discography

Albums

Source:

Compilations

Source:

• 2000: The Complete Syl Johnson on Hi Records (Demon, UK)
• 2010: Syl Johnson: Complete Mythology (Numero Group)
• 2012: Backbeats Artists Series: Syl Johnson: Mississippi Mainman (Backbeats)

Chart Singles

Source:

See also

In Spanish: Syl Johnson para niños