Willie Johnson | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Born | Senatobia, Mississippi, U.S. | March 4, 1923
Died | February 26, 1995 Chicago, Illinois | (aged 71)
Genres | Electric blues,[1] Memphis blues[1] |
Occupation | Guitarist |
Instrument | Electric guitar |
Years active | 1940s–1950s |
Labels | Sun |
Formerly of | Howlin' Wolf |
Willie Johnson (March 4, 1923 – February 26, 1995) was an American electric blues guitarist. He is best known as the principal guitarist in Howlin' Wolf's band from 1948 to 1953.[2] His raucous, distorted guitar playing is prominent on Howlin' Wolf's Memphis recordings during 1951–1953, including the hit song "How Many More Years" (recorded May 1951).[3]
In 2017, Johnson was posthumously inducted in to the Blues Hall of Fame.[4]