Johnny Dyer
Encyclopedia
Johnny Dyer is an American electric blues
harmonicist
and singer. He has received a nomination for a Blues Music Award, and been involved in a number of recordings
in the last three decades, both as a solo performer and with other musicians.
from the age of seven. His initial inspiration came from hearing Little Walter
on a Nashville, Tennessee
, based radio station
, and by his teenage years Dyer was playing acoustic harmonica and had formed his own band. He started playing amplified harmonica in the early 1950s, when he first performed alongside Smokey Wilson
.
Dyer relocated to Los Angeles, California
in January 1958, where he met George "Harmonica" Smith. Together they played concerts with a "father and son" billing. Dyer commented on that time stating, "Smith was the hottest thing around and the blues was really swinging! He taught me a lot. Everybody loved George." Following this Dyer set up his own combo, Johnny Dyer and the Blue Notes, and played with Jimmy Reed
, J.B. Hutto, and Jimmy Rogers
.
Times took a downturn for Dyer in the 1960s, and he stepped away from the music industry for some time. Finally appearing again in the 1980s, Dyer found work with other harmonica players, such as Shakey Jake Harris
, Harmonica Fats, and Rod Piazza
. Dyer released a couple of singles
including "Overdose of Love" and, in 1983, issued the Johnny Dyer and the LA Jukes album. The Scandinavian record label
, Black Magic featured Dyer on their Hard Times: L.A. Blues Anthology compilation album
.
Dyer later collaborated with guitarist Rick Holmstrom
, and together they issued two albums on Black Top Records
: Listen Up (1994) and Shake It! (1995). Listen Up included Dyer's cover version
of the blues standard
, "Driftin' Blues
". The album, Jukin, also released in 1995, was a re-issue of Dyer's debut LP with additional tracks. It contained Dyer's version of "Baby What You Want Me to Do
".
Dyer appeared on the bill at the Long Beach Blues Festival
in 2000, where he sang alongside James Cotton
. Over the years he has also been a featured performer on Mark Hummel
's annual Blues Harmonica Blowout tours.
Dyer received a Blues Music Award nomination in 2004, in the 'Blues Song Of The Year' category, for the track "Hard Times Won." He has also spent time in recent years playing with The Mannish Boys
, and has appeared on a number of their album releases.
Dyer's most recent album was Rolling Fork Revisited (2004), recorded with Mark Hummel
. The album contained reworkings of songs by another Rolling Fork native, Muddy Waters
.
Electric blues
Electric blues is a type of blues music distinguished by the amplification of the guitar, bass guitar, drums, and often the harmonica. Pioneered in the 1930s, it emerged as a genre in Chicago in the 1940s. It was taken up in many areas of America leading to the development of regional subgenres...
harmonicist
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
and singer. He has received a nomination for a Blues Music Award, and been involved in a number of recordings
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
in the last three decades, both as a solo performer and with other musicians.
Biography
Dyer grew up on the Stovall Plantation in Rolling Fork, and learnt to play the harmonicaHarmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
from the age of seven. His initial inspiration came from hearing Little Walter
Little Walter
Little Walter, born Marion Walter Jacobs , was an American blues harmonica player, whose revolutionary approach to his instrument has earned him comparisons to Charlie Parker and Jimi Hendrix, for innovation and impact on succeeding generations...
on a Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, based radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
, and by his teenage years Dyer was playing acoustic harmonica and had formed his own band. He started playing amplified harmonica in the early 1950s, when he first performed alongside Smokey Wilson
Smokey Wilson
Smokey Wilson ) is an American West Coast blues guitarist. He has spent most of his career performing West Coast blues and Juke Joint blues in Los Angeles, California. He has recorded at least eleven albums for record labels such as P-Vine Records, Bullseye Blues and Texmuse Records...
.
Dyer relocated to Los Angeles, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in January 1958, where he met George "Harmonica" Smith. Together they played concerts with a "father and son" billing. Dyer commented on that time stating, "Smith was the hottest thing around and the blues was really swinging! He taught me a lot. Everybody loved George." Following this Dyer set up his own combo, Johnny Dyer and the Blue Notes, and played with Jimmy Reed
Jimmy Reed
Mathis James "Jimmy" Reed was an American blues musician and songwriter, notable for bringing his distinctive style of blues to mainstream audiences. Reed was a major player in the field of electric blues, as opposed to the more acoustic-based sound of many of his contemporaries...
, J.B. Hutto, and Jimmy Rogers
Jimmy Rogers
Jimmy Rogers was an American Chicago blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player, best known for his work as a member of Muddy Waters' band of the 1950s.-Career:...
.
Times took a downturn for Dyer in the 1960s, and he stepped away from the music industry for some time. Finally appearing again in the 1980s, Dyer found work with other harmonica players, such as Shakey Jake Harris
Shakey Jake Harris
Shakey Jake Harris was an American Chicago blues singer, harmonicist and songwriter. Harris released five albums over a period of almost 25 years, and he was often musically associated with his nephew, Magic Sam....
, Harmonica Fats, and Rod Piazza
Rod Piazza
Rod Piazza is an American blues harmonica player and singer. He has been playing with his band The Mighty Flyers since 1980 which he formed with his pianist wife Honey Piazza...
. Dyer released a couple of singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
including "Overdose of Love" and, in 1983, issued the Johnny Dyer and the LA Jukes album. The Scandinavian record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, Black Magic featured Dyer on their Hard Times: L.A. Blues Anthology compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
.
Dyer later collaborated with guitarist Rick Holmstrom
Rick Holmstrom
Rick Holmstrom is an American electric blues and rhythm and blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. Holmstrom has released five albums since 1996, and previously worked with William Clarke and Rod Piazza. In addition, Holmstrom has played and recorded with Jimmy Rogers, Billy Boy Arnold, Jody...
, and together they issued two albums on Black Top Records
Black Top Records
Black Top Records was a New Orleans, Louisiana based independent record label founded in 1981 by brothers Nauman S. Scott, III and Hammond Scott. The label specialized in blues and R&B music. The first release was "Talk To You By Hand" by Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets...
: Listen Up (1994) and Shake It! (1995). Listen Up included Dyer's cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of the blues standard
Blues standard
A blues standard is a blues song that is widely known, performed, and recorded by blues artists. The following list identifies blues standards and some of the blues artists that have recorded them...
, "Driftin' Blues
Driftin' Blues
"Driftin' Blues" or "Drifting Blues" is a blues standard done in the West Coast blues style. Written and first recorded by Johnny Moore's Three Blazers,the song became one of the biggest blues hits of the 1940s. Over the years, it has been interpreted and recorded by numerous artists...
". The album, Jukin, also released in 1995, was a re-issue of Dyer's debut LP with additional tracks. It contained Dyer's version of "Baby What You Want Me to Do
Baby What You Want Me to Do
"Baby What You Want Me to Do" is a blues song that was written and recorded by Jimmy Reed in 1959...
".
Dyer appeared on the bill at the Long Beach Blues Festival
Long Beach Blues Festival
The Long Beach Blues Festival, in Long Beach, California, was established in full in 1980, and is one of the largest Blues festivals and is the second oldest on the West Coast . It is held on Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend. For many years it was held on the athletic field on the...
in 2000, where he sang alongside James Cotton
James Cotton
James Cotton is an American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter, who has performed and recorded with many of the great blues artists of his time as well as with his own band.-Career:...
. Over the years he has also been a featured performer on Mark Hummel
Mark Hummel
Mark Hummel is an American blues harmonica player, vocalist, songwriter, and long-time bandleader of The Blues Survivors. Since 1991, Hummel has produced the Blues Harmonica Blowout tour, of which he is also a featured performer. The shows have featured blues harmonica players such as James...
's annual Blues Harmonica Blowout tours.
Dyer received a Blues Music Award nomination in 2004, in the 'Blues Song Of The Year' category, for the track "Hard Times Won." He has also spent time in recent years playing with The Mannish Boys
The Mannish Boys
The Mannish Boys are an American blues band based in Los Angeles, California. They play classic blues in West Coast, Texas and Chicago styles....
, and has appeared on a number of their album releases.
Dyer's most recent album was Rolling Fork Revisited (2004), recorded with Mark Hummel
Mark Hummel
Mark Hummel is an American blues harmonica player, vocalist, songwriter, and long-time bandleader of The Blues Survivors. Since 1991, Hummel has produced the Blues Harmonica Blowout tour, of which he is also a featured performer. The shows have featured blues harmonica players such as James...
. The album contained reworkings of songs by another Rolling Fork native, Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters
McKinley Morganfield , known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician, generally considered the "father of modern Chicago blues"...
.
Albums
| Album title | Record label | Year of release |
|---|---|---|
| Johnny Dyer and the LA Dukes | Murray Brothers | 1983 |
| Listen Up | Black Top Records Black Top Records Black Top Records was a New Orleans, Louisiana based independent record label founded in 1981 by brothers Nauman S. Scott, III and Hammond Scott. The label specialized in blues and R&B music. The first release was "Talk To You By Hand" by Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets... |
1994 |
| Shake It! | Black Top Records | 1995 |
| Rolling Fork Revisited | Mountain Top Productions | 2004 |
Compilation albums
| Album title | Record label | Year of release |
|---|---|---|
| Jukin | Blind Pig Records Blind Pig Records Blind Pig Records is an American blues record label.Blind Pig was formed in 1977 in Ann Arbor, Michigan by Jerry Del Giudice, owner of the Blind Pig Cafe, and his friend Edward Chmelewski. The label is now based in San Francisco... |
1995 |