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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZSHINES, Johnny(b 26 April '15, Frayser TN; d 20 April '92, Tuscaloosa AL) Blues singer, guitarist; aka 'Little Wolf'. Father was a farmer, mother played guitar; he worked in the street for tips with other children, often worked outside music; hoboed playing and singing with Robert Johnson mid-'30s; appeared with Johnson on radio in Detroit '37; based in Memphis late '30s, in Chicago from '41, made first recordings '46 (for Columbia) not released until many years later on a compilation. He recorded for Chess '50, other labels '52--3 but had no success; with his strong, clear tenor, excellent bottleneck guitar, original compositions and thrilling re-creations of Johnson's songs, he was as good as the best, but perhaps too country for the R&B market. He quit music '58--65, bought a camera and took pictures in the clubs; rediscovered in mid-'60s he worked many blues festivals, clubs, tours incl. overseas: he was just as good as ever, but got tired of being asked about Johnson. Recordings for Vanguard '65 in 'Blues Today' series incl. 'Dynaflow Blues' on Johnson's classic 'Terraplane Blues'; further albums incl. Last Night's Dream '68 on Blues Horizon (with Walter Horton, Willie Dixon, drummer Clifton James; Otis Spann on one track), solo Sitting On Top Of The World '72 (incl. 'Dynaflow' and remake of 'Ramblin' Blues', legendary '51 JOB track itself based on Johnson's 'Walkin' Blues'), then with Dave Bromberg Band, both on Biograph; Country Blues '74 on Transatlantic/Xtra, made in Canada with harmonica, second guitar and bass. Also Johnny Shines '66 with Horton, Masters Of Modern Blues Vol. 1 '69, Standing At The Crossroads '70, all on Testament; Hey, Ba-Ba-Re-Bop on Rounder. |