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Johnny Laws

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Johnny Laws
Born(1943-01-12)January 12, 1943
Chicago, Illinois, United States
DiedMarch 28, 2021(2021-03-28) (aged 78)
GenresChicago blues, electric blues[1]
Occupation(s)Guitarist, singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals
Years activeMid-1960s–present
LabelsWolf Records, Electro-Fi Records

Johnny Laws (January 12, 1943 – March 28, 2021)[2] was an American Chicago blues guitarist, singer and songwriter.[1] A regular performer for over half a century in Chicago's South Side clubs,[3] Laws released two albums, including Burnin' in My Soul, of which Blues & Rhythm magazine in November 1999 noted, "It's a real shame that Johnny Laws has been unjustly ignored in the past... This is an enjoyable CD... Full marks to those folks at Electro-Fi."[4]

His version of McKinley Mitchell's "End of the Rainbow" demonstrated his versatility and vocal range.[5]

In an April 1999 editorial leader, the Toronto Star remarked that "South Side Chicago fave Johnny Laws... [is] winning plaudits for his seductive, soul-drenched blues."[6]

Life and career

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Laws was born in Chicago, Illinois, and remained there all his life. He played and performed on the South Side of Chicago from the mid-1960s, remaining largely a local cult favorite for decades.[1] He learned his Chicago blues craft mainly from listening to Jimmy Reed and Buster Benton.[7] His aching falsetto voice and vast repertoire gained much local acclaim.[1] His style ranged from soul to postwar blues to, occasionally, country music.[7] In addition to a regular weekend slot at the Cuddle Inn, Laws was a frequent performer at the annual Chicago Blues Festival,[3][5] including a set in 2000.[8] Laws was featured in a 1993 issue of Living Blues magazine.[9]

Laws released his debut album, My Little Girl, for Wolf Records in 1995.[7] The album contained a couple of blues standards, but most of the songs were written by Laws.[3]

His second album, Blues Burnin' in My Soul, was released on Electro-Fi Records in 1999,[3] containing cover versions of Junior Wells's song "Little by Little"; "Steal Away", by Jimmy Hughes; "Honest I Do" and "Ain't That Lovin' You Baby", by Jimmy Reed; and "Sadie", written and originally recorded by Hound Dog Taylor.[10] The autumn 1999 issue of Juke Blues stated that "Johnny Laws has a smooth, silky voice, at times almost a whisper, then rising into a falsetto, and falling back again into gentle expressiveness... His appeal is in a delivery that seems so deceptively effortless".[4]

Laws died on March 28, 2021, at the age of 78.[2]

Discography

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Albums

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Year Title Record label
1995 My Little Girl Wolf Records
1999 Blues Burnin' in My Soul Electro-Fi Records

[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Ankeny, Jason. "Johnny Laws: Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Living Blues Living Blues #281: Obituaries". Digital.livingblues.com. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d "Johnny Laws". Allaboutbluesmusic.com. July 12, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Johnny Laws – Blues Burnin' in My Soul". Parsifal.be. April 9, 1999. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  5. ^ a b Soto, Alfred. "Johnny Laws: Theater Critic's Choice". Chicago Reader. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  6. ^ Chapman, Geoff (April 9, 1999). "This weekend in T.O." Toronto Star. p. 18. Retrieved June 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b c Komara, Edward (2006). Encyclopedia of the Blues. New York: Routledge. p. 585. ISBN 0-415-92699-8.
  8. ^ "Johnny Laws Chicago Blues Festival 2000 Part 2". Song.vepees.tk. January 21, 2012. Archived from the original on August 19, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  9. ^ Sharp, Steve (1993). "Chicago Special: Johnny Laws". Living Blues. Vol. 110. pp. 34–35.
  10. ^ "Johnny Laws". SecondHandSongs.com. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  11. ^ "Johnny Laws: Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
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