Johnny Jenkins

Johnny Edward Jenkins (March 5, 1939 – June 26, 2006)[1][2] was an American left-handed blues guitarist, who helped launch the career of Otis Redding.[2] His flamboyant style of guitar playing also influenced Jimi Hendrix.[3]

For the American racecar driver, see Johnny Jenkins (racing driver).
Johnny Jenkins
Born(1939-03-05)March 5, 1939
Bibb County, Georgia, U.S.
DiedJune 26, 2006(2006-06-26) (aged 67)
Bibb County, Georgia, U.S.
GenresBlues
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsGuitar
Years active1962–1970
1996–2006

Career

In the 1960s Jenkins was the leader of the Pinetoppers, who employed a young Otis Redding as singer.[3] As Jenkins did not have a driver's license, Redding also served as his personal driver.[2] During a recording session in 1962 organized by the band's manager, Phil Walden, Jenkins left forty minutes of studio time unused. Redding used this time to record a ballad, "These Arms of Mine", on which Jenkins played guitar.[3] Scott Freeman, in his biography of Redding, Otis!: The Otis Redding Story, gives several accounts of that chaotic day at Stax Records.[4] In 1964, Jenkins released an instrumental single, "Spunky" (Volt V-122).[5]

With Phil Walden concentrating on Redding's flourishing career, Jenkins was sidelined, and it was not until after Redding's death in 1967 that Walden again concentrated on Jenkins's career.[2] In 1970, Jenkins released the album Ton-Ton Macoute!.[3] The opening track, a cover of Dr. John's "I Walk on Guilded Splinters",[2] has been sampled by numerous musicians, including Beck (Loser), and Oasis (Go Let It Out).[6] Several tracks on Ton-Ton Macoute! featured Duane Allman on guitar and dobro.[7]

With Walden again becoming involved in other projects, Jenkins became disillusioned with the music industry and did nothing of note until 1996. By then Walden had persuaded him to make a comeback, and he released the album Blessed Blues, recorded with Chuck Leavell.[3] Two further albums followed: Handle with Care and All in Good Time.[8]

Jenkins died from a stroke in June 2006 in the same town where he was born: Macon, Georgia. He was 67.[1][3]

Jenkins was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2012.[9]

On June 25, 2019, The New York Times Magazine listed his previous band, The Pinetoppers, among hundreds of artists whose material was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire.[10]

Discography
Solo
  • Ton-Ton Macoute! (1970)
  • Blessed Blues (1996)
  • Handle With Care (2001)
  • All in Good Time (2005)

With Otis Redding

References
  1. Doc Rock. "The Dead Rock Stars Club 2006 January To June". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 2014-07-14.
  2. "Guitarist Johnny Jenkins; Aided Otis Redding". Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2014-07-14.
  3. Richard Skelly (2006-06-26). "Johnny Jenkins | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-07-14.
  4. "Otis!: The Otis Redding Story: Amazon.co.uk: Scott Freeman: Books". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-07-14.
  5. "Johnny Jenkins - Spunky / Bashful Guitar (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2014-07-14.
  6. "Samples of I Walk on Gilded Splinters by Johnny Jenkins on WhoSampled". WhoSampled.com. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
  7. "Ton-Ton Macoute! - Johnny Jenkins | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-07-14.
  8. "Johnny Jenkins | Discography". AllMusic. 2006-06-26. Retrieved 2014-07-14.
  9. "Johnny Jenkins induction into the Georgia Music Hall Of Fame 10/13/12". YouTube. 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2014-07-14.
  10. Rosen, Jody (June 25, 2019). "Here Are Hundreds More Artists Whose Tapes Were Destroyed in the UMG Fire". The New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.