Lonnie Johnson

guitar, violin, vocals · 1899–1970 · New Orleans

His recordings for Okeh (about 130 between 1925 and 1932) are the first to show note-by-note solo guitar playing, with bends and vibrato; he also recorded with Louis Armstrong (1927), Duke Ellington (1928) and in duo with Eddie Lang. In 1948, "Tomorrow Night" (King) topped the Race Records chart for seven weeks.

Profile not yet validated. Written by Jazzency, not yet proofread: dates and facts to be confirmed.

Styles

• Blues, spirituals, work songs

Landmark tracks

• Tomorrow Night (1948)

Cited in 2 radio episodes

• Dec 3, 2025: Lonnie Johnson, ballade pour une légende du blues (Pour qui sonne le jazz, TSF Jazz, in French)
• Mar 10, 2025: Lonnie Johnson, ballade pour une légende du blues (Pour qui sonne le jazz, TSF Jazz, in French)

Sources

• Source

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