Lonnie Johnson's early recordings are the first guitar recordings that display a single-note soloing style with use of string bending and vibrato. While it cannot be proven that this contains the influence of earlier players who did not record, it is the origin of Blues and Rock solo guitar. Johnson's influence is obvious in Django Reinhardt, T-Bone Walker and virtually all electric blues guitar players.
[citation needed] Raised in a family of musicians, Johnson studied violin and guitar as a child, but concentrated on the latter throughout his professional career. A 1917 tour to England with a revue may have saved his life, for he returned to New Orleans in 1919 to find that most of his family had died in the 1918 influenza epidemic.
In the early 1920s, Johnson worked with the orchestras of Charlie Creath and Fate Marable on riverboats, but he made St. Louis his home in 1925. There he entered and won an Okeh Records blues contest that resulted in his making a series of memorable recordings for the label between 1925 and 1932, including guitar duets with Eddie Lang and vocal duets with Victoria Spivey. In the 1920s, Johnson also made guest appearances on records by Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five, the Duke Ellington orchestra, and The Chocolate Dandies, playing 12-string guitar solos in an extraordinary, pioneering single-string style that greatly influenced such future jazz guitarists as Charlie Christian and Django Reinhardt, and gave the instrument new meaning as a jazz voice.
Lonnie Johnson's career was a rollercoaster ride that sometimes took him away from music. In between great musical accomplishments, he found it necessary to take menial jobs that ranged from working in a steel foundry to mopping floors as a janitor. He was working at Philadelphia's Benjamin Franklin Hotel in 1959 when WHAT-FM disc jockey Chris Albertson happened upon him. Albertson succeeded in securing for Johnson a Chicago engagement at the Playboy Club, which launched yet another comeback. Johnson subsequently performed with Duke Ellington and his orchestra and with an all-star folk concert, both at Town Hall, New York City.
He also toured Europe and recorded several albums for the Prestige Bluesville label, some with Elmer Snowden, and one with his Okeh vocal partner, Victoria Spivey. To his great regret, Johnson was always tagged as a blues artist, and he found it difficult to be regarded as anything else. "I had done some singing by then," he explained when asked why he entered the Okeh contest, "but I still didn't take it as seriously as my guitar playing, and I guess I would have done anything to get recorded--it just happened to be a blues contest, so I sang the blues."
Johnson died in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, June 16, 1970 of complications resulting from a 1969 auto accident. He was posthumously inducted into the Louisiana Blues Hall of Fame in 1997.
One of Elvis Presley's earliest recordings was Johnson's blues ballad, "Tomorrow Night", which was also recorded by LaVern Baker
Bob Dylan wrote about the performing method he learned from Johnson in Chronicles, Vol. 1. Dylan thinks Robert Johnson had learned a lot from Lonnie.
Four-O-Three Blues
Lonnie Johnson Lyrics
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‘Cause I got a big leg mama, so mellow as love can be.
Relief is all right for some people, but money is the thing for me.
Man, the work ain't hard, half of the time you somewhere ‘sleep.
Well the time is comin', you better hold on to your job like me.
You can jive me all you wanta, but you can't jive that Number Four-O-Three.
You better stop your loafin' and shovel some dirt with me.
Boy, you better watch out, ‘cause you headed for that Number Four-O-Three.
I think I better tell you ‘bout that number, ‘cause you don't seem to understand.
It's a unlucky number when that boss place it in your hand.
It means you ain't got no more job, and you're woman soon will have another man.
I've got a big leg mama. She's so fine and mellow to me.
She's got legs just like milk postes. I can't let my baby get away from me.
So you can do whatever you please, but that man will never hand me that Number Four-O-Three.
In Lonnie Johnson's song "Four-O-Three Blues," the lyrics depict a working-class perspective on the challenges of employment during a time of economic hardship. The singer acknowledges that relief is an option for some, but for him, having a steady job and earning money is the priority. He mentions his "big leg mama," referring to his partner, who brings him comfort and love. The phrase "big leg mama" may be a term of endearment or a metaphor for a supportive and caring partner.
The singer implies that work is not always demanding and often involves extended periods of rest or idleness. However, he warns that it's essential to hold onto one's job in uncertain times, emphasizing the importance of job security. The reference to "Number Four-O-Three" is unclear, but it suggests that it carries negative implications or entails unfavorable consequences, possibly related to losing one's job or facing hardship. The singer advises the listener to be cautious and avoid the fate associated with this number.
The lyrics also touch on the notion of hierarchy within the workforce, with the boss observing and scrutinizing employees' behavior. The singer urges his fellow workers to cease loafing or slacking off and instead put in their share of effort. He warns that if they don't take their work seriously, they may find themselves facing the consequences associated with "Number Four-O-Three."
Overall, "Four-O-Three Blues" reflects the realities of economic struggle, the significance of job security, and the importance of having a supportive partner to weather life's challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Relief is all right for some people, PW ‘s work is all right for me.
Some people find relief in different things, but for me, working for a paycheck is what suits me.
‘Cause I got a big leg mama, so mellow as love can be.
Because I have a girlfriend who is attractive and calm, just like the perfect embodiment of love.
Relief is all right for some people, but money is the thing for me.
While some people believe in seeking relief, I am more concerned about earning money.
Man, the work ain't hard, half of the time you somewhere ‘sleep.
To be honest, the work is not difficult, and most of the time, you can find yourself just resting.
Well the time is comin', you better hold on to your job like me.
However, the difficult times will come, so it's essential to secure and maintain your job just like I do.
You can jive me all you wanta, but you can't jive that Number Four-O-Three.
You might try to deceive or trick me, but you can't fool the consequences of losing that Number Four-O-Three (referring to a job).
Man, the boss is watching you, your head is hard, as hard can be.
The boss is constantly observing your actions, and you need to be as steadfast and disciplined as possible.
You better stop your loafin' and shovel some dirt with me.
Instead of wasting time, you should start working diligently alongside me.
Boy, you better watch out, ‘cause you headed for that Number Four-O-Three.
Listen up, because if you keep going down this path, you will end up losing that Number Four-O-Three (referring to a job).
I think I better tell you ‘bout that number, ‘cause you don't seem to understand.
I feel it's necessary to explain the significance of that number to you because it seems like you are unaware.
It's a unlucky number when that boss place it in your hand.
When the boss assigns you that number, it symbolizes bad luck and signifies that your job is in jeopardy.
It means you ain't got no more job, and you're woman soon will have another man.
It implies that you have lost your job and as a result, your partner may seek companionship elsewhere.
I've got a big leg mama. She's so fine and mellow to me.
I am fortunate to have a girlfriend who is curvaceous and exceedingly pleasing to me.
She's got legs just like milk postes. I can't let my baby get away from me.
Her legs are as smooth and attractive as milk bottles, and I cannot afford to lose my beloved partner.
So you can do whatever you please, but that man will never hand me that Number Four-O-Three.
You can pursue your own desires, but the boss will never dismiss me, causing me to lose that Number Four-O-Three (referring to a job).
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: LONNIE JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind