Remembering Syl Johnson

Bullseye with Jesse Thorn

NPR

Society & Culture

4.7 • 2.7K Ratings

🗓️ 4 March 2022

⏱️ 34 minutes

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Summary

Syl Johnson, the Chicago soul and blues singer, died last month at 85. He was probably best known for his work on Hi Records, the home of Ann Peebles and, of course, Al Green. In fact, he turned down a record deal that ended up going to Green. The songs Johnson cut for Hi in Memphis were some of the best soul records of their time. Hip-hop producers have feasted on Johnson's records, making him one of the most frequently sampled recording artists in the history of the genre. But more than that, Johnson was a career artist. He lived in Chicago, where he raised his daughter Syleena, a great soul singer in her own right. He made soul and blues records throughout his life. We spoke to Syl back in 2012. He was in his 70s then and gigging relentlessly, and his albums had just been re-released by Numero Group. Johnson was whip-smart, funny... and maybe a little cantankerous. He'll be sorely missed.

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0:00.0	Bullseye with Jesse Thorn is a production of MaximumFun.org and is distributed by NPR.
0:14.0	It's Bullseye, I'm Jesse Thorn.
0:16.2	Sil Johnson died last month.
0:18.0	He was 85.
0:19.6	Sil was a Chicago soul and blues singer.
0:22.0	He was probably best known for his work on high records, the Memphis home of N.P. Bullse
0:28.1	and of course Al Green.
0:31.2	Sil was a soul and blues singer, born and bred in Chicago.
0:34.9	He was probably best known for his work on high records, the Memphis home of N.P. Bullse
0:40.7	and of course Al Green.
0:42.6	In fact, he turned down a record deal that ended up going to Reverend Green.
0:48.2	The songs Sil Johnson cut for high in Memphis were some of the best soul records of their
0:53.2	time.
0:54.4	Where Green's voice was light and romantic, Johnson's had weight and edge.
1:00.6	In Johnson wasn't just a voice.
1:02.7	He wrote some of his greatest tracks too.
1:05.1	Like this one, 1970s is it because I'm black?
1:08.6	This I wanna say to you, my sisters and my brothers, right on sister, right on brother,
1:27.5	this is if we keep on pushing on.
1:28.9	Oh, we got to make it a little bit further.
1:31.9	We got to make it a little further.
1:33.7	All we got to do is try, try, try.
	...

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