A Chat about Howlin' Wolf's Guitar Genius Willie Johnson

Howlin Wolf's Sun recordings feature guitarist Willie Johnson playing jazzy chords and jabbing leads with a distorted, roaring tone and nearly frantic aggression, matching the Wolf's raw voice and huge presence. Willie Johnson's style may have began in the Delta but it aspired towards the more urbane guitar stylings of Johnny Moore, T Bone Walker and Pee Wee Crayton, with unique and unforgettable results. I listened to a 92 song youtube playlist of songs Willie Johnson recorded backing Wolf as well as other singers such as Willie Nix, Sonny Lewis and Earring George. I realized that while Johnson has a consistent style throughout, he never repeats himself and like Earl Hooker or Jody Williams, finds endless creative variations within his style. Bearing that in mind, this lesson's less of a "licks" lesson and more a discussion of the elements of his style: the swing chords, the jabbing leads, his sustained tone and his phrasing. Have fun checking out this singular guitarist. Thanks to Dave Waldman and Illinois Slim for some anecdotes and insights into WJ's style and for Don Deering for compiling that amazing 92 song playlist!
I'll be posting a lesson on the blues greats once a week which will always be free. Small donations are gratefully accepted via paypal at [e-mail] or venmo at Johnny-Burgin-1 and THANK YOU! PM me at [e-mail] for private skype, zoom, or googlemeet lessons to build your confidence as a player, become better at improvising, and grow your blues vocabulary. If you dig this kind of music, connect at my website at www.johnnyburgin.com and follow on instagram at @johnnyburgin, twitter at @burginjohnny and johnnyburgin.bandcamp.com/​ on Bandcamp and on Spotify. Please share, comment -- stay safe and thanks! Thanks to Chicago Blues Network for sharing this video on their youtube channel. Chicago Blues Network is a great place to learn how to play blues and I'm proud to be on their faculty.

[@DwainDwight]

Willie Johnson is so massively under rated. goes not get the recognition he deserves. wonderful feel & sound. just amazing.

[@tonypersson9998]

That was fun!

[@TomBarradas]

Not that he needed it or anything, but Willie Johnson added even more fire and intensity to Howlin' Wolf's early sound. Great breakdown. Thanks!

[@kirkfletcher2845]

This was awesome!! The Wolf sides changed my life!

[@chicagobluesnetwork8468]

Thank you, Kirk. Just wanted to let you know that when people sign up for our lessons, we always ask who are their blues influencers/idols, and your name comes up a lot. Just came up this morning with a new student of ours from California.

[@kirkfletcher2845]

@@chicagobluesnetwork8468 Thats wonderful, Im truly happy that you all at Chicago blues network are doing these lesson's! The list of players are all Top Notch!!!! Love from Switzerland

[@kenairockband]

That first moaning at midnight has to be the first distorted guitar on record

[@andrewpearson1903]

Same year as “Rocket 88,” which gets all the press for having slightly thin and sizzly tone. Meanwhile Willie’s overdrive on “How Many More Years” is intentional, and so juicy

[@denniswillmott3897]

A big YES to you Johnny Burgin!

[@52goldtop]

You betta watch out there how you drive that Cadillac there! I'm tellin' you... ain't that a fine machine!? Nailed it from the git, man... thank you for picking one of my favorite songs to listen to, to start out with and dissect/run through this week, Johnny... aside from the overdrive, Willie Johnson has a such a unique 'feel' and I didn't realize a lot of that was letting those notes hang like that and his use of those jazz chords. I have only scrubbed this so have to return and re-watch as with all your lessons, but wanted to thank you as always for taking the time to put these sweet lessons on the best of players, together for the rest of us peasants.

[@martinellins4470]

Really interesting lesson, thanks for your insights.

[@chicagobluesnetwork8468]

Thanks, Martin. Be sure to check out Johnny's other lessons here, such as kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6q1YWBnesadZpY

[@seanyoung8085]

Thanks so much Johnny, I absolutely love Wille Johnson’s sound and really appreciate the tutorial.

[@chicagobluesnetwork8468]

Thanks, Sean. Take a look at Johnny's video lesson of That's Alright by Jimmy Rogers, kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6q1YWBnesadZpY

[@TheVatonaught]

Got that espresso brewin'? Great post.

[@swingandbluesguitar]

great lesson, thank you ! any chance you could share the 92 songs playlist ? :-)

[@chicagobluesnetwork8468]

I will check with Johnny on that play list he mentioned in the lesson.

[@chicagobluesnetwork8468]

here is the link to the first song on that playlist, and it will take you to the full 92

[@frogslips]

Would love to find those 92 songs

[@nubbins40]

kzbin.info/aero/PLsY6VJc9zDqmqrO0B8CBh47coQw0CD6wl&si=CZcA4feF1_Hmy7IH

[@TerriYoung-m4c]

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