Little Johnny Taylor: Difference between revisions
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Born in [[Gregory, Arkansas]], United States,<ref name="Dead"/> he is frequently confused with his contemporary and near namesake [[Johnnie Taylor]], especially since the latter made a [[cover version]] of the song that Little Johnny Taylor was most famous for, "[[Part Time Love]]" (1963), and the fact that both men began their careers as [[Gospel music|gospel]] singers. |
Born in [[Gregory, Arkansas]], United States,<ref name="Dead"/> he is frequently confused with his contemporary and near namesake [[Johnnie Taylor]], especially since the latter made a [[cover version]] of the song that Little Johnny Taylor was most famous for, "[[Part Time Love]]" (1963), and the fact that both men began their careers as [[Gospel music|gospel]] singers. |
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Little Johnny Taylor moved to [[Los Angeles]] in 1950, and sang with the [[Mighty Clouds of Joy]] before moving into secular music.<ref name="Bio_SBM">{{cite web|url=http://www.soulbluesmusic.com/littlejohnnytaylor.htm|title=Little Johnny Taylor Bio on Soul Blues Music|accessdate=24 August 2011}}</ref> Influenced by [[Little Willie John]], he first recorded as an R&B artist for the Swingin' [[record label]]. |
Little Johnny Taylor moved to [[Los Angeles]] in 1950, and sang with the [[Mighty Clouds of Joy]] before moving into secular music.<ref name="Bio_SBM">{{cite web|url=http://www.soulbluesmusic.com/littlejohnnytaylor.htm|title=Little Johnny Taylor Bio on Soul Blues Music|accessdate=24 August 2011}}</ref> Influenced by [[Little Willie John]], he first recorded as an R&B artist for the Swingin' [[record label]]. |
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However, he did not achieve major success until signing for [[San Francisco]]-based [[Fantasy Records]]' subsidiary label, Galaxy. His first hit was the mid-tempo blues "You'll Need Another Favor," sung in the style of [[Bobby Bland]], with [[arrangement]] by Ray Shanklin and [[record producer|produced]] by Cliff Goldsmith.<ref name="Bio_SBM" /><ref name="Bio_AllMusic">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/little-johnny-taylor-p545/biography|title=Artist Bio at AllMusic.com|accessdate=24 August 2011}}</ref> The follow-up, "[[Part Time Love]]", written by [[Clay Hammond]] and featuring Arthur Wright on guitar, became his biggest hit, reaching #1 in the [[United States|U.S.]] ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B]] [[record chart|chart]], and # 19 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|pop chart]], in October 1963. However, follow-ups on the Galaxy label were much less successful.<ref>[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=sOKZKESWys0C&pg=PA205&lpg=PA205&dq=%22Part+Time+Love%22+guitar+%22johnny+taylor%22&source=bl&ots=JgjSVldDZG&sig=xcuJaN1wWzUusRf9eBRHf-OPZR8&hl=en&sa=X&ei=S1ogU4H7KJOu7Ab5yoDQBw&ved=0CFoQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=%22Part%20Time%20Love%22%20guitar%20%22johnny%20taylor%22&f=false Gérard Herzhaft, ''Encyclopedia of the Blues'', University of Arkansas Press, p.203]. Retrieved 12 March 2014</ref> |
However, he did not achieve major success until signing for [[San Francisco]]-based [[Fantasy Records]]' subsidiary label, Galaxy. His first hit was the mid-tempo blues "You'll Need Another Favor," sung in the style of [[Bobby Bland]], with [[arrangement]] by Ray Shanklin and [[record producer|produced]] by Cliff Goldsmith.<ref name="Bio_SBM" /><ref name="Bio_AllMusic">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/little-johnny-taylor-p545/biography|title=Artist Bio at AllMusic.com|accessdate=24 August 2011}}</ref> The follow-up, "[[Part Time Love]]", written by [[Clay Hammond]] and featuring Arthur Wright on guitar, became his biggest hit, reaching #1 in the [[United States|U.S.]] ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B]] [[record chart|chart]], and # 19 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|pop chart]], in October 1963. However, follow-ups on the Galaxy label were much less successful.<ref>[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=sOKZKESWys0C&pg=PA205&lpg=PA205&dq=%22Part+Time+Love%22+guitar+%22johnny+taylor%22&source=bl&ots=JgjSVldDZG&sig=xcuJaN1wWzUusRf9eBRHf-OPZR8&hl=en&sa=X&ei=S1ogU4H7KJOu7Ab5yoDQBw&ved=0CFoQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=%22Part%20Time%20Love%22%20guitar%20%22johnny%20taylor%22&f=false Gérard Herzhaft, ''Encyclopedia of the Blues'', University of Arkansas Press, p.203]. Retrieved 12 March 2014</ref> |
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By 1971, Taylor had moved to the Ronn label subsidiary of [[Jewel Records (Shreveport record label)|Jewel Records]] in [[Shreveport, Louisiana]], where he had his second R&B [[Top 40|Top 10]] hit with "Everybody Knows About My Good Thing".<ref name="Bio_AllMusic" /> The following year, he had another hit with "Open House at My House". While at Ronn, Taylor also recorded some [[duet (music)|duets]] with Ted Taylor (also unrelated).<ref name="Dead"/> |
By 1971, Taylor had moved to the Ronn label subsidiary of [[Jewel Records (Shreveport record label)|Jewel Records]] in [[Shreveport, Louisiana]], where he had his second R&B [[Top 40|Top 10]] hit with "Everybody Knows About My Good Thing".<ref name="Bio_AllMusic" /> The following year, he had another hit with "Open House at My House". While at Ronn, Taylor also recorded some [[duet (music)|duets]] with Ted Taylor (also unrelated).<ref name="Dead"/> |
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Though he recorded only sparingly during the 1980s and 1990s, he remained an active performer until his death in May 2002 in [[Conway, Arkansas]], where he lived.<ref name="Dead"/><ref>[http://thenashvillebridge.com/2013/04/16/memphis-blues-alumni-jimmy-wolf-pays-tribute-to-little-johnny-taylor/ Memphis Blues Alumni Jimmy Wolf Pays Tribute to Little Johnny Taylor | The Nashville Bridge] Retrieved 2014-10-30.</ref> |
Though he recorded only sparingly during the 1980s and 1990s, he remained an active performer until his death in May 2002 in [[Conway, Arkansas]], where he lived.<ref name="Dead"/><ref>[http://thenashvillebridge.com/2013/04/16/memphis-blues-alumni-jimmy-wolf-pays-tribute-to-little-johnny-taylor/ Memphis Blues Alumni Jimmy Wolf Pays Tribute to Little Johnny Taylor | The Nashville Bridge] Retrieved 2014-10-30.</ref> |
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[[Category:People from Woodruff County, Arkansas]] |
[[Category:People from Woodruff County, Arkansas]] |
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[[Category:People from Conway, Arkansas]] |
[[Category:People from Conway, Arkansas]] |
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[[Category:20th-century American singers]] |
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Revision as of 19:33, 23 August 2015
Little Johnny Taylor (born Johnny Lamont Merrett; February 11, 1943 – May 17, 2002)[1] was an American blues and soul singer, who made recordings throughout the 1960s and 1970s, and continued public performances through the 1980s and 1990s.
Biography
Born in Gregory, Arkansas, United States,[1] he is frequently confused with his contemporary and near namesake Johnnie Taylor, especially since the latter made a cover version of the song that Little Johnny Taylor was most famous for, "Part Time Love" (1963), and the fact that both men began their careers as gospel singers.
Little Johnny Taylor moved to Los Angeles in 1950, and sang with the Mighty Clouds of Joy before moving into secular music.[2] Influenced by Little Willie John, he first recorded as an R&B artist for the Swingin' record label.
However, he did not achieve major success until signing for San Francisco-based Fantasy Records' subsidiary label, Galaxy. His first hit was the mid-tempo blues "You'll Need Another Favor," sung in the style of Bobby Bland, with arrangement by Ray Shanklin and produced by Cliff Goldsmith.[2][3] The follow-up, "Part Time Love", written by Clay Hammond and featuring Arthur Wright on guitar, became his biggest hit, reaching #1 in the U.S. Billboard R&B chart, and # 19 on the pop chart, in October 1963. However, follow-ups on the Galaxy label were much less successful.[4]
By 1971, Taylor had moved to the Ronn label subsidiary of Jewel Records in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he had his second R&B Top 10 hit with "Everybody Knows About My Good Thing".[3] The following year, he had another hit with "Open House at My House". While at Ronn, Taylor also recorded some duets with Ted Taylor (also unrelated).[1]
Though he recorded only sparingly during the 1980s and 1990s, he remained an active performer until his death in May 2002 in Conway, Arkansas, where he lived.[1][5]
Chart singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Pop[6] | US R&B[7] | ||
| 1963 | "You'll Need Another Favor" | - | 27 |
| "Part Time Love" | 19 | 1 | |
| 1964 | "Since I Found A New Love" | 78 | *[8] |
| 1966 | "Zig Zag Lightning" | - | 43 |
| 1971 | "Everybody Knows About My Good Thing Pt.1" | 60 | 9 |
| 1972 | "It's My Fault Darling" | - | 41 |
| "Open House At My House (Part 1)" | - | 16 | |
| 1973 | "I'll Make It Worth Your While" | - | 37 |
| 1974 | "You're Savin' Your Best Loving For Me" | - | 83 |
References
- ^ a b c d Thedeadrockstarsclub.com - accessed July 2010
- ^ a b "Little Johnny Taylor Bio on Soul Blues Music". Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ^ a b "Artist Bio at AllMusic.com". Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ^ Gérard Herzhaft, Encyclopedia of the Blues, University of Arkansas Press, p.203. Retrieved 12 March 2014
- ^ Memphis Blues Alumni Jimmy Wolf Pays Tribute to Little Johnny Taylor | The Nashville Bridge Retrieved 2014-10-30.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2003). Top Pop Singles 1955-2002 (1st ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 700. ISBN 0-89820-155-1.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995. Record Research. p. 435.
- ^ Billboard R&B chart not published at this time
External links
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
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