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Johnnie Johnson
b. 1924, Fairmont, West Virginia, USA. Johnson's name may not be well-known but his sound has been heard by millions: he was the piano player on most of Chuck Berry�s classic Chess Records tracks. Johnson began learning to play piano at the age of seven without the benefit of lessons, influenced by jazz and boogie-woogie musicians such as Earl Hines, Meade �Lux� Lewis and Clarence �Pinetop� Smith. After a spell in the US Army Johnson began performing professionally in 1946 and in 1952, leading the Sir John Trio, hired the young Berry as his guitarist. Berry soon began writing the group's songs and became its leader. Chess artist Muddy Waters suggested the group audition for that label and Berry was signed in 1955. Johnson can be heard on Berry hits such as "Maybellene," "Roll Over Beethoven" and "Johnny B. Goode," which Berry has stated was written for Johnson. Johnson also played in Berry's road band but in the '60s left, working with blues guitarist Albert King, among others. Johnson led his own band in the '70s but still worked with Berry on occasion. He was featured in the 1986 Berry concert film HAIL! HAIL! ROCK AND ROLL and later appeared as a guest on Keith Richards� debut solo album, TALK IS CHEAP. Johnson has recorded sparingly under his own name, releasing his first solo album in 1987.
Chuck Berry Wins Suit, Blames Keith Richards
Rock 'n' roll legend Chuck Berry has won his court dispute with piano player
Johnnie Johnson, who claimed he helped write such classics as "Roll Over
Beethoven" and deserved a share of the royalties.
U.S. District Judge Donald Stohr on Monday dismissed Johnson's suit in St.
Louis on the grounds that too many years had passed since the more than 30
songs in dispute were written, between 1955 and 1966.
There was no question that the men had played together for years, but Berry
simply asserted that he alone authored the songs.
Martin Green, attorney for Berry, said that the superstar, who is now 76 and
lives in Ladue, has no hard feelings for Johnson, 77.
"He likes him very much, considers him a friend, and expects to play with
him in the future," Green said.
"He doesn't blame Johnnie for the lawsuit. He blames some of Johnnie's
advisers," Green added. Specifically, Green said, Keith Richards of the
Rolling Stones and bluesman Bo Diddley recommended that Johnson pursue the
case.
Mitch Margo, attorney for Johnson, said his client had not decided yet
whether to appeal.
The songs under dispute include such classics as "Rock and Roll Music" and
"Sweet Little Sixteen."
Normally, the statute of limitations to seek royalty claims under the
federal Copyright Act is three years.
But in the suit, Margo claimed that Johnson was so addled by excessive
alcohol abuse and a low IQ that he was incapable of understanding that he
had a right to royalties that Berry collected for decades after the songs
were written.
Johnson claimed in a deposition during the case that he gave up drinking
after a 1989 incident in which he drank excessively during a concert with
Eric Clapton in London. He got a nosebleed that lasted all the way back to
St. Louis.
"Johnnie is a man who is a genius at the piano but has trouble doing other
things," Margo said Tuesday.
In his 19-page order dismissing the case, Judge Stohr said that "during his
70+ years, Mr. Johnson has lived independently and been generally competent
to manage his affairs unassisted." The judge noted that Johnson bought cars,
rented apartments, read the newspaper and managed his own finances.
In the end, the judge said he was "unpersuaded" that Johnson was not
competent to recognize his rights. In dismissing the case, he also threw out
Berry's own challenge to Johnson's trademark of the phrase "The Father of
Rock and Roll." Berry failed to pursue the claim in court, the judge said.
K.
Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Vs. Berry
.c The Associated Press
ST. LOUIS (AP) - A federal judge has thrown out a royalties lawsuit against
Chuck Berry by former collaborator Johnnie Johnson, ruling that too many
years had passed since the more than 30 songs in dispute were written.
Johnson, a piano player, sued Berry in November 2000 in U.S. District Court
here over royalties generated by songs written from 1955-66. They include
some of rock 'n' roll's most famous songs, including ``No Particular Place to
Go,'' ``Roll Over Beethoven'' and ``Sweet Little Sixteen.''
The lawsuit argued that Johnson and Berry were co-writers on many of the
songs Berry made famous, but because Berry copyrighted them in his name
alone, Johnson got none of the royalties.
After the lawsuit's dismissal Monday, Berry attorney Martin Green said his
76-year-old client, now living in the St. Louis suburb of Ladue, has no hard
feelings for Johnson, 77.
``He likes him very much, considers him a friend and expects to play with him
in the future,'' Green said. ``He doesn't blame Johnnie for the lawsuit. He
blames some of Johnnie's advisers,'' specifically the Rolling Stones' Keith
Richards and bluesman Bo Diddley for recommending that Johnson pursue the
case, Green said.
Johnson attorney Mitch Margo said his client had not yet decided whether to
appeal
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