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Dean Alger said in February 6th, 2010 at 4:10 pm

Django was not the most influential guitarist of the 20th century. LONNIE JOHNSON was.

Django was and is celebrated as a great popular guitarist, even a genius, but his own playing was rather unique and has not, in reality, been widely adopted. In a basic inspirational sense,he has, however, affected many other guitarists, from jazz players to BB King.

But as I document in my forthcoming book, The Second Most Important Musician of the 20th Century – the Legendary Lonnie Johnson, Music and Society, it was Lonnie Johnson who was the primary figure who first recorded genuinely innovative, virtuoso lead guitar lines in jazz. He did so much more than Eddie Lang, who was significant, but gets more credit as the initiator of lead jazz guitar than merited – just listen to the 10 historic duets Lonnie and Eddie made, where Eddie defers to Lonnie to play lead the great majority of the time and Lonnie shows far more creative, inspired and improvised lead playing. Lonnie was the true Founding Father of lead and solo guitar for jazz and for blues – and ultimately, for all of popular music.

Further, Lonnie J was the prime pioneer force in development of the EXPRESSIVE capacities of the guitar, starting with his first recordings in November 1925, and especially demonstrated in his stunning solo guitar instrumentals of Feb 1928, “Away Down in the Alley Blues” and 3 others, as well as the 10 guitar duets with Eddie Lang in 1928-1929. In addition, there were his vital contributions to 3 landmark Louis Armstrong-Hot Five recordings in December 1927 and 4 recordings with Duke Ellington’s band in fall 1928, especially the masterpiece, “The Mooche”, featuring Lonnie J.

His profound influence on BB King, who in turn, was hugely influential on so many Blues and Rock guitarists over the last 60 years must be noted (as BB himself has gladly acknowledged). That influence especially included the extraordinary TONE Lonnie got on the guitar – also part of his unparalleled expressive guitar work. (That tone, BTW, was far superior to the tone Django achieved.)

Further, we know that Django was most greatly influenced by Louis Armstrong, and he listened to “Savoy Blues” with Lonnie J’s sparkling lead guitar work (and no doubt he also listened to and was influenced by the other 2 Louis and Lonnie gems, “Hot and Bothered” and “I’m Not Rough”).

Lonnie Johnson’s influence was simply immense, from Eddie Lang himself, to Django to Charlie Christian, to BB King to Buddy Guy to Eric Clapton and many, many others. As BB King told me, “When you mention guitar, the first thing I think of is Lonnie Johnson.”

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Lance K said in February 1st, 2013 at 3:15 pm

Enjoyed your list. I got to number 6 and thought, “what about Hot Club Sandwich, of Seattle?” But you got ’em.

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admin said in February 1st, 2013 at 3:22 pm

Love ’em!

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