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.
Rocks in my bed
Lonnie Johnson Lyrics
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I've got rocks in my bed, and I just can't lay down there no more, no more.
Old rockin' chair 's got me, and the blues is knockin' on my door.
If you neva' been in love, please don't try to find it out.
If you neva' been in love, please don't try to find it out.
And if you feel your poor little heart slippin', please ask somebody what it's all about.
It hurts to love someone, that you can't have all by yo'self.
And the part that hurts so bad - when you've got to share them with somebody else.
Now you told me that you love me baby, and you told me a lie.
But today you quit me - make up your mind or die.
So get yo'self together, 'cause I ain't goin'a stand no more doggin' 'round.
I know you got somebody else, 'cause the talks all over town.
Babe I'm gettin' awful tired of sleepin' by myself.
If you don't want my lovin' I'll dish it out to somebody else.
Got to get myself together, tired of sleepin' by myself.
If you don't want my lovin' baby, I'll just shove it on out there to somebody else.
Lonnie Johnson's "Rocks In My Bed" is a powerful blues ballad that explores the pain of heartbreak and the disappointments of love. Throughout the song, the singer expresses his frustration and disappointment over a failed relationship, likening his emotional turmoil to rocks in his bed that keep him from sleeping. He laments the fact that he cannot seem to escape the blues that plague him, and notes that the pain of falling in love only hurts worse when you cannot have the object of your affection all to yourself.
The song's lyrics offer a poignant and heartfelt meditation on the struggles of love and romance.This is a classic song about heartbreak and the struggle to move on in the aftermath of a failed relationship. It is a reminder that love can bring both joy and pain, and that finding the courage to let go of what we cannot have is often the hardest part of the journey. The bluesy, soulful quality of the music only adds to the emotional impact of the lyrics, creating an unforgettable listening experience that resonates with listeners to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
I've rocks in my bed, and I just can't lay down there no more, no more.
I can't tolerate the pain and distress of loving someone who does not reciprocate my feelings anymore.
Old rockin' chair 's got me, and the blues is knockin' on my door.
I'm sad, heartsick, and engulfed with dire emotions.
If you neva' been in love, please don't try to find it out.
If you've never experienced love, it's better not to try, for it can cause you immense pain and heartbreak.
And if you feel your poor little heart slippin', please ask somebody what it's all about.
If you feel like you're falling in love, ask someone for guidance and advice to avoid the pain of rejection.
It hurts to love someone, that you can't have all by yo'self.
It's painful to love someone who is involved with someone else.
And the part that hurts so bad - when you've got to share them with somebody else.
The most painful part is having to share the one you love with someone else.
Now you told me that you love me baby, and you told me a lie.
You deceived me by professing your love, but it wasn't true.
But today you quit me - make up your mind or die.
You left me, so decide whether you want to stay or not.
So get yo'self together, 'cause I ain't goin'a stand no more doggin' 'round.
Pull yourself together because I cannot bear your indecision anymore.
I know you got somebody else, 'cause the talks all over town.
I know you're with someone else because the whole town is talking about it.
Babe I'm gettin' awful tired of sleepin' by myself.
I'm exhausted from sleeping alone every night.
If you don't want my lovin' I'll dish it out to somebody else.
If you don't want my love, I'll give it to someone else who deserves it more.
Got to get myself together, tired of sleepin' by myself.
I need to gather myself because I cannot bear sleeping alone anymore.
If you don't want my lovin' baby, I'll just shove it on out there to somebody else.
If you don't want my love, I'll give it to someone else who will appreciate it.
Writer(s): Lonnie Johnson
Contributed by Gabriella Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
funkality
Lonnie so underrated as a blues legend.
Tony Stone
Agreed! I’ve been playing blues for 30 years and just stumbled on him. I knew of him but didn’t delve deep until now. He influenced them all!
funkality
@Tony Stone yea there’s only a handful of videos I’ve seen of him live. He’s been cutting records since the 1920’s. Originally as a violinist simply amazing a true virtuoso
Creighton
I've always thought Lonnie was one of the best blues guitarists in my opinion. He had a Jazz edge to his music, which I've always loved!
funkality
Yea very true! He’s one of the most influential to all the giants of the blues guitar and you rarely hear his name mentioned. Daddystovepipe on YouTube has some good Lonnie tunes. Cheers to you!