Johnnie Johnson dies at 80

The debt that The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, that rock 'n' roll as a genre owes Chuck Berry is incalcuable as is the debt Chuck Berry owes Johnnie Johnson.

Johnson was Berry's sideman for three decades, but in reality he was Berry's collaborator. While a federal judge dismissed Johnson's lawsuit against Berry claiming co-authorship of the music they made together, the dismissal was on the grounds of statute of limitations, not on the merits of his argument. Much of what gave Berry his trademark sound were chord voicings that were more natural at the keyboard than on the guitar, which offers compelling evidence to their true originator.

Now Playing: "Johnny B. Goode" Chuck Berry & Johnnie Johnson The Chess Box

Yes, LT, I read this in my paper this morning and thought of all the songs on The Great 28 which I love. I've read Chuck Berry's autobiography and seen Chuck Berry Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll more than once, so I know how egocentric and money-conscious Berry can be. It's interesting to note that Chuck Berry joined the Johnnie Johnson Band before the hits came.

Anybody who cares about rock 'n' roll and most of the popular music which sprang from it owes a big debt of gratitude to Johnnie (B. Goode) Johnson. Once again, it's too bad he's not here to receive it. R.I.P.