Johnny Rawls

Last updated
Johnny Rawls
Johnny Rawls.jpg
Rawls in 2015
Background information
Born (1951-09-10) September 10, 1951 (age 72)
Hattiesburg, Mississippi, U.S.
Origin Purvis, Mississippi
Genres Soul blues [1]
Occupation(s) Singer, guitarist, arranger, songwriter, record producer
Instrument(s)Guitar], vocals
Years active1970spresent
LabelsCatfood Records, various
Website www.johnnyrawlsblues.com

Johnny Rawls (born September 10, 1951) [2] is an American soul blues singer, guitarist, arranger, songwriter, and record producer. He was influenced by the deep soul and gospel music of the 1960s, as performed by O. V. Wright, James Carr, and Z. Z. Hill, although his styling, production and lyrics are more contemporary in nature. [1] [2]

Contents

Rawls has released more than 20 albums under his name. [3] He has been nominated many times for a Blues Music Award, [4] [5] and at the 40th Blues Music Awards ceremony, Rawls' album, I'm Still Around, was named as the 'Soul Blues Album of the Year'. [6]

Life and career

Rawls was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. [1] [note 1] He was taught the rudiments of guitar playing by his blind grandfather, and also played the saxophone and clarinet in high school in Purvis, Mississippi. [1] Having mastered guitar playing by his mid teens, Rawls' schoolteacher arranged for him to back musicians who were touring through Mississippi, such as Z. Z. Hill and Joe Tex. In the mid 1970s, Rawls joined O. V. Wright's backing band, became his music director and played together with Wright until the latter's death in 1980. The band then continued billed as the Ace of Spades Band for another 13 years, and toured and performed with other musicians over this time span. These included B.B. King, Little Milton, Bobby Bland, Little Johnny Taylor, and Blues Boy Willie. [1] The band included the guitarist L.C. Luckett, and he and Rawls jointly released two albums including the 1994 album, Can't Sleep At Night, on Rooster Blues. [2] Rawls also produced and played guitars on Willie Cobbs 1995 album ‘Down To Earth’. [2]

His debut solo album, Here We Go, was released on JSP in 1996. The Allmusic journalist, Thom Owens, noted, "Rawls has a powerful, soulful voice which can make mediocre material sound convincing." [7] Rawls also worked as an arranger and record producer for JSP. [8] Further JSP releases included Louisiana Woman (1997), My Turn to Win (1999), and Put Your Trust in Me (2001), although by the time the latter was issued, Rawls had set up his own label, Deep South Soul. [2] Rawls appeared on the cover of the Living Blues magazine in April 2002, where he was described as "a soul-blues renaissance man". [4] [8] The 2005 release No Boundaries, on Catfood Records increased his profile. [8]

His 2006 album Heart & Soul, was nominated for a Blues Music Award for 'Best Soul Blues Album of the Year'. In the same year, the West Coast Blues Hall of Fame named him 'Best Vocalist'. Rawls has performed several times at the Chicago Blues Festival and regularly at music festivals each year in the US and Canada. He has toured Europe on many occasions as well as in Japan and Australia. Red Cadillac (2008), Ace of Spades (2010) and Memphis Still Got Soul (2012) all won the Critics Choice Award for Best Album of the Year in Living Blues. He has also been honored, along with Little Milton and Tyrone Davis, with a Blues Trail Marker in Hattiesburg. [4] The title song of Rawls 2009 album, Ace of Spades, was a tribute to his one time mentor, O. V. Wright. [8] The album also garnered Rawls with his first Blues Music Award for 'Best Soul Blues Album of the Year'. [9]

Rawls album Memphis Still Got Soul, was released in April 2011, his fourth album for Catfood Records. [4] [9] It was nominated for 2012 Blues Music Award for Soul Album of the Year, the title song for Song of the Year and Rawls for Male Soul Artist of the Year, his third nomination in that category. With a further reference to Wright, the album's track listing included Rawls cover of the song "Blind, Crippled and Crazy", which was originally associated with Wright. [5] His 2012 release, Soul Survivor, included another Wright song, "Eight Men Four Women". It was nominated for Soul Blues Album of the Year and Rawls was again nominated for Male Soul Artist of the Year at the 2013 Blues Music Awards. His 2013 release on Catfood Records, Remembering O.V., a tribute to O.V. Wright, featured Otis Clay as a special guest. Remembering O. V. was nominated for 2014 Soul Album of the Year and Rawls for Male Soul Artist of the Year, his 11th and 12th Blues Music Awards nominations.

In 2019, Rawls moved to Ohio's Third Street Cigar Records and since recorded four albums for the label, including I Miss Otis Clay (2019), Where Have All The Soul Men Gone (2020) and Going Back To Mississippi (2022). At the 40th Blues Music Awards ceremony in 2019, Rawls' first album for Third Street, I'm Still Around (2018), was named as the 'Soul Blues Album of the Year'. [6]

He is a prolific songwriter with over 100 of his songs recorded. [10] Rawls undertook co-production duties on all of his albums issued on Catfood Records, as well as on Barbara Carr's Keep The Fire Burning. [11]

Discography

Albums

YearTitleRecord labelNotes
1989You're The OneTouchwith L C Luckett
1994Can't Sleep At Night Rooster Blues with L C Luckett
1995Down to EarthRooster Blueswith Willie Cobbs
1996Here We Go JSP Records
1997Louisiana WomanJSP Records
1999My Turn to WinJSP Records
2001Put Your Trust in MeJSP Records
2002Lucky ManDeep South Soul
2002Get Up & GoJSP Records Compilation album
2004Partners & FriendsRock House Recordswith Roy Roberts
2004Live in MontanaDeep South Soul Live album
2005No BoundariesTopcat Records/Catfood Records
2006Heart & SoulDeep South Soul
2008Red CadillacCatfood Records
2009Ace of SpadesCatfood Records
2011Memphis Still Got SoulCatfood Records
2012Soul SurvivorCatfood Records
2013Remembering O. V.Catfood Recordswith special guest Otis Clay
2014Soul BrothersCatfood Recordswith Otis Clay
2016Tiger In A CageCatfood Records
2018I'm Still AroundThird Street Cigar Records
2019I Miss Otis ClayThird Street Cigar Records
2020Where Have All The Soul Men GoneThird Street Cigar Records
2020Live In EuropeContinental Blue Heaven Live album
2021Best of Johnny Rawls Vol. 1Catfood Records Compilation album
2022Going Back To MississippiThird Street Cigar Records
2023Walking Heart AttackCatfood Records

[2] [3] [8] [12]

See also

Notes

  1. Some sources cite Columbia, Mississippi, as Rawls' birthplace.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bobby Bland</span> American blues and soul singer and musician (1930–2013)

Robert Calvin Bland, known professionally as Bobby "Blue" Bland, was an American blues singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rufus Thomas</span> American singer (1917–2001)

Rufus C. Thomas, Jr. was an American rhythm-and-blues, funk, soul and blues singer, songwriter, dancer, DJ and comic entertainer from Memphis, Tennessee. He recorded for several labels, including Chess Records and Sun Records in the 1950s, before becoming established in the 1960s and 1970s at Stax Records. His dance records, including "Walking the Dog" (1963), "Do the Funky Chicken" (1969), and "(Do the) Push and Pull" (1970), were some of his most successful songs. According to the Mississippi Blues Commission, "Rufus Thomas embodied the spirit of Memphis music perhaps more than any other artist, and from the early 1940s until his death . . . occupied many important roles in the local scene."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Carr (singer)</span> American singer

James Edward Carr was an American R&B and soul singer, described as "one of the greatest pure vocalists that deep Southern soul ever produced".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bobby Rush (musician)</span> American singer-songwriter

Bobby Rush is an American blues musician, composer, and singer. His style incorporates elements of blues, rap, and funk, as well as a comic sense about blues tropes.

Southern soul is a type of soul music that emerged from the Southern United States. The music originated from a combination of styles, including blues, country, early R&B, and a strong gospel influence that emanated from the sounds of Southern black churches. Bass guitar, drums, horn section, and gospel roots vocal are important to soul groove. This rhythmic force made it a strong influence in the rise of funk music. The terms "deep soul", "country soul", "downhome soul" and "hard soul" have been used synonymously with "Southern soul".p. 18

James Carson Whitsett was an American keyboardist, songwriter, and record producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie Musselwhite</span> American blues musician (born 1944)

Charles Douglas Musselwhite is an American blues harmonica player and bandleader, one who came to prominence, along with Mike Bloomfield, Paul Butterfield, and Elvin Bishop, as a pivotal figure in helping to revive the Chicago Blues movement of the 1960s. He has often been identified as a "white bluesman".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Louis Walker</span> American singer-songwriter

Louis Joseph Walker Jr., known as Joe Louis Walker, is an American musician, best known as an electric blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer. His knowledge of blues history is revealed by his use of older material and playing styles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reggie Young</span> American musician (1936–2019)

Reggie Grimes Young Jr. was an American musician who was lead guitarist in the American Sound Studio house band, The Memphis Boys, and was a leading session musician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Bell (singer)</span> American soul singer and songwriter

William Bell is an American soul singer and songwriter. As a performer, he is probably best known for his debut single, 1961's "You Don't Miss Your Water"; 1968's top 10 hit in the UK "Private Number", a duet with Judy Clay; and his only US top 40 hit, 1976's "Tryin' to Love Two", which also hit No. 1 on the R&B chart. Upon the death of Otis Redding, Bell released the well-received memorial song "A Tribute to a King".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosco Gordon</span> American singer-songwriter

Rosco N. Gordon III, sometimes billed as Roscoe Gordon, was an American blues singer, pianist, and songwriter. He is best known for his hit songs "Booted," (1952), "No More Doggin'" (1952), and "Just a Little Bit" (1960). Gordon was a pioneer of the Memphis blues style. He played piano in a style known as the "Rosco rhythm," with the emphasis on the off-beat. This rhythm was an influence on later musical styles such as Jamaican ska and reggae.

Overton Vertis Wright was an American singer who is generally regarded as a blues artist by African-American fans in the Deep South; he is also regarded as one of Southern soul's most authoritative and individual artists. His best known songs include "That's How Strong My Love Is" (1964), "You're Gonna Make Me Cry" (1965), "Nucleus of Soul" (1968), "A Nickel and a Nail" (1971), "I Can't Take It" (1971) and "Ace of Spades" (1971).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian blues</span>

Canadian blues is the blues and blues-related music performed by blues bands and performers in Canada. Canadian blues artists include singers, players of the main blues instruments: guitar, harmonica, keyboards, bass and drums, songwriters and music producers. In many cases, blues artists take on multiple roles. For example, the Canadian blues artist Steve Marriner is a singer, harmonica player, guitarist, songwriter and record producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Gogo</span> Musical artist

David Gogo, is a Canadian blues guitarist, singer-songwriter and bandleader who is currently signed to the independent Cordova Bay Records label. He was formerly signed to EMI Records. Between 1994 and 2014, he released 12 solo albums. As of 2014, his touring band includes a Hammond organ/piano player, an electric bass player and a drummer.

Roosevelt Jamison was an American music manager, publicist and songwriter who worked in Memphis, Tennessee, during the 1960s. His most notable composition was "That's How Strong My Love Is", first recorded by O.V. Wright and released on Quinton Claunch's Goldwax record label in 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Otis Clay</span> American R&B and soul singer (1942–2016)

Otis Lee Clay was an American R&B and soul singer, who started in gospel music. In 2013, Clay was inducted to the Blues Hall of Fame.

James Armstrong is an American soul blues and electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. He released three albums on HighTone Records and is signed with Catfood Records. His songs have been used in the soundtracks of three films; Speechless, Hear No Evil, and The Florentine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Bomar</span> American musician, producer, and film composer

Scott Bomar is a Memphis-based musician, Emmy Award-winning film composer, Grammy-nominated music producer, and recording engineer. Scott Bomar's songs are represented by Downtown Music Publishing.

Lonnie Shields is an American electric blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist. His primary influence was B.B. King. He has released seven albums to date, and one publication described his music as "bewitching, funk-influenced variations on the oldest country blues".

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Richard Skelly. "Johnny Rawls | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Johnny Rawls". Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Music.us. October 4, 2010. Archived from the original on March 2, 2012. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
  3. 1 2 "Johnny Rawls | Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Johnny Rawls - "Keep the Blues Alive"". Johnnyrawlsblues.com. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
  5. 1 2 "Johnny Rawls - artist bio". Markpuccimedia.com. Archived from the original on April 26, 2012. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
  6. 1 2 "2019 Blues Music Awards Winners Announced". Antimusic.com. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  7. "Here We Go > Overview". Allmusic . Retrieved December 23, 2011.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Johnny Rawls and The Rays". Catfoodrecords.com. Archived from the original on December 16, 2011. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
  9. 1 2 Reverend Keith A. Gordon. "Johnny Rawls - Memphis Still Got Soul (2011)". Blues.about.com. Archived from the original on January 5, 2012. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
  10. "Johnny Rawls - Songs". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  11. "Keep The Fire Burning - Barbara Carr - Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  12. "Third Street Cigar". Thirdstreetcigarecords.com. Retrieved November 2, 2022.