Johnny Fuller (April 20, 1929 – May 20, 1985) was an
American West Coast and electric blues singer and guitarist. Fuller showed musical diversity, performing in
several musical genres including rhythm and blues, gospel and rock and roll.
His distinctive singing and guitar playing appeared on a number of 1950s San
Francisco Bay Area recordings.
Johnny Fuller was born in Edwards, Mississippi, but moved
to Vallejo, California with his parents as a young child. As a child, he taught
himself to play guitar and by his teenage years, he formed a gospel group known
as the "Gold West Gospel Singers." By the early 1950's, he began
recording for the Heritage Record label in Oakland, California. During this
time, he taught himself to play the piano and the organ.
Fuller recorded for a number of independent record
labels, sometimes those associated with Bob Geddins. These included Hollywood,
Flair, Specialty, Aladdin, Imperial and Checker Records. His debut recording
was made in 1948 on the obscure Jaxyson record label, with a couple of gospel
based songs. In 1954, he began a regular recording career which lasted until
1962. Fuller recorded twenty sides in 1954 alone for Geddins.
Fuller had local hits with his singles "All Night
Long" and the original version of "Haunted House," the latter of
which was written and produced by Geddins. Fuller's ability to switch styles,
saw him appear in late 1950s rock and roll package tours, performing on the
same bill as Paul Anka and Frankie Avalon. While touring with these acts, he
found time to record for the Aladdin and Rhythm Record labels. However, this
same factor lost his black audience, which left him neglected in the 1960s
blues revival.
During the 1960's, he toured Europe and continued touring
throughout the United States. By the 1970's, however, Fuller was limited to
performing in local venues around the Oakland, California area. In 1974, Fuller
issued his debut album, Fuller's Blues which was well received, but saw little
commercial success. Fuller played at the San Francisco Blues Festival in 1973
and 1977.
He latterly worked as a mechanic in a local garage from
1968 to 1983 yet continued performing in the Oakland area during the 1980's. He
died from lung cancer in Oakland, California, in May 1985, at the age of 56.
(Info edited from Wikipedia & Findagrave)
1 comment:
For JOHNNY FULLER/ Complete Recordings go here:
http://www25.zippyshare.com/v/30388711/file.html
and here:
http://www25.zippyshare.com/v/37241865/file.html
For track listing go here:
http://jukegh.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/johnny-fuller-west-coast-bluesman-and.html
A big thank you to Gerard Herzhaft for this wonderful home compilation.
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