Louis Johnson Archives

Louis Johnson was something special. In this special clip, we hear him thumping and plucking on the the Tranzit tune “Dance” from 1983. His trusty Musicman Sabre also makes an appearance.

In this episode, I’m breaking one of the greatest funk/dance tracks in history: “Stomp!” (1980) by the Brothers Johnson (produced by Quincy Jones) and the incredible bass playing by the late, great Louis Johnson (and his iconic bass solo!)

Stuart Clayton of Bassline Publishing has just released a new transcription book featuring 14 lines from the Brothers Johnson. The track list includes the band’s biggest hits like “Stomp,” “Strawberry Letter 23,” “Ain’t We Funkin’ Now,” and more.

I’m still going down my Louis Johnson rabbit hole, and I keep finding cool stuff! In this clip from 1994, most likely in Japan, Louis looks to be holding a clinic of some sort.

Today, I’m coming at you with an isolated bass video featuring the great Louis Johnson! In this clip, we hear LJ’s bass from “Off The Wall”, and the two basses for the recording: the trusty Stingray, and the classic Alembic Series I bass.

I have a special treat today! Louis Johnson is one of my favorite bassists, but criminally underrated. Here he is with the Fifth Beatle, Billy Preston. Can you believe he was only 17? Armed with a P Bass, Louis is in full force.

Louis Johnson was one of the most dynamic bassists of all time. Here’s a great clip of him performing “Silly Fightin'” with the George Duke Band in Tokyo during a 1983 concert - complete with a killer bass solo.

Michael Jackson’s hit 1979 album Off the Wall has been reissued in a deluxe edition that features not only the album, but also the Spike Lee-directed documentary “Michael Jackson’s Journey from Motown to Off the Wall.” Off the Wall was a juggernaut, selling 30 million copies worldwide and producing four Top 10 singles, including the Number One singles “Don’t Stop...

If you hear a rumble coming from the Midwest, don’t worry. It’s just the buildup to Detroit Bass Day on August 8th, 2015. This year’s event will take place at the Detroit Institute of Music Education and promises to be the biggest one yet. Detroit Bass Day 2015 will be hosted by Lola George with special guest speaker Will Austin,...

Bass legend Louis Johnson, the funk session musician who played on Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean”, has passed away of undisclosed causes. He was 60 years old. Nicknamed “Thunder Thumbs,” Johnson was born in Los Angeles in 1955 and learned to play bass alongside his brother George. The duo would work alongside each other with Bobby Womack, the Supremes, and Billy...

Here’s one great and funky bass line, isolated for your listening pleasure. The tune is “Strawberry Letter 23” by The Brothers Johnson. The bassist of course is the legendary Louis Johnson. Rick Suchow, who shared the isolated track, shares some info on this one: “Hear the actual bass track from the Brothers Johnson tune ‘Strawberry Letter 23’, from the original...

A long, long time ago, when I decided to leave the confines of my basement and embark on weekly private lessons, I was lucky enough to find a teacher who opened my eyes and ears to the playing and players of bass. Yes, we focused on technique and theory. And yes, I was a known procrastinator — notorious for squeezing...