Syl Johnson, much-sampled blues, funk and soul singer, dies aged 85
Also: Chicago Blues, Soul Legend Syl Johnson Dies at 85 (WBBM-TV)
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Source: The Guardian
Syl Johnson, much-sampled blues, funk and soul singer, dies aged 85
Singer’s upbeat and socially conscious songwriting appears on tracks by Wu-Tang Clan, Public Enemy and Kanye West
Ben Beaumont-Thomas
@ben_bt
Sun 6 Feb 2022 19.43 GMT
Syl Johnson, the blues, funk and soul singer whose work was much sampled in US hip-hop, has died aged 85.
No cause of death was announced by his family, who said of Johnson: “He lived his life as a singer, musician and entrepreneur who loved black music … A fiery, fierce, fighter, always standing for the pursuit of justice as it related to his music and sound, he will truly be missed by all who crossed his path.”
Born in Mississippi in 1936, Johnson was raised in Chicago where he remained throughout his life. He released his first solo material in 1959, and wrote genre-straddling work that led him to describe himself as “a jack-of-all-trades. More soul than Marvin [Gaye], more funk than James (Brown)”.
He had his biggest hit in 1975 with Take Me To the River, the song by labelmate Al Green that would also be recorded by Talking Heads. It reached No 7 in the US R&B chart and crossed over into the Top 50 of the pop chart.
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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/feb/06/syl-johnson-much-sampled-blues-funk-and-soul-singer-dies-aged-85
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Source: CBS Chicago/WBBM-TV
Chicago Blues, Soul Legend Syl Johnson Dies at 85
By CBS 2 Chicago Staff February 6, 2022 at 10:00 am
CHICAGO (CBS) – Chicago Blues and Soul singer Syl Johnson has died at the age of 85.
“It is with extreme sadness that our family announces the passing of Soul & Blues Hall of Fame Legend, Syl Johnson (born Sylvester Thompson in Holly Springs, MS). Dad, Brother, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, Uncle, Friend & Artist, he lived his life as a singer, musician, and entrepreneur who loved black music,” the family said in a statement.
His passing comes days after his brother Blues Hall of Famer Jimmy Johnson died at the age of 93.
His song ‘Different Strokes’ has been sampled by various artists including Wu-Tang Clan, Jay-Z and Kanye West, and Public Enemy.
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Read more: https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2022/02/06/chicago-blues-soul-legend-syl-johnson-dies-at-85/
