Johnny Temple (musician)

Johnny Temple (October 18, 1906 – November 22, 1968)[1] was an American Chicago blues guitarist and singer, who was active in the 1930s and 1940s.[2] He was variously billed as Johnny Temple, Johnnie Temple and Johnnie "Geechie" Temple.

Johnny Temple
Born(1906-10-18)October 18, 1906
Hazlehurst, Mississippi, United States
DiedNovember 22, 1968(1968-11-22) (aged 62)
Canton, Mississippi, United States
GenresDelta blues, folk blues
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals, piano, washboard

Life and career

Temple was born in Canton, Mississippi, and grew up around Jackson.[3] He learned to play guitar and mandolin as a child and began playing house parties as a teenager.[4] While in Jackson he befriended Skip James.[5] He moved to Chicago in the early 1930s and started playing with Joe McCoy in clubs.[3] Temple began recording songs such as "The Evil Devil Blues" and "Lead Pencil Blues" in 1935.[6] His most popular record, "Louise Louise Blues," released by Decca Records, was a hit in 1936.[7] The Harlem Hamfats, a Chicago jazz band formed in 1936, provided backup music for Temple and other singers.[3] By 1940, Decca had released two dozen of his records.[6]

Temple continued recording with various labels through most of the 1940s. His connection with the record producer Mayo Williams provided him with recording opportunities until 1949.[3] After World War II, Temple played an important role in welcoming blues musicians who arrived from the South.[5] Though his recording career ended, he continued to perform gigs, often alongside Big Walter Horton and Billy Boy Arnold. He returned to Mississippi in the mid-1950s, where he continued to perform in clubs and juke joints in and around Jackson.[4]

Temple eventually gave up the blues to become a minister.[5] He died of cancer on November 22, 1968,[1] aged 62, in Jackson.

Discography

ArtistRecording DateMatrixSongCatalogRelease Date
Johnnie Temple14 May 1935C-987-AThe Evil Devil BluesVocalion 029871935
Johnnie Temple14 May 1935C-987-BJacksonville BluesVocalion 029871935
Johnnie Temple14 May 1935C-983-BLead Pencil Blues (It Just Won't Write)Vocalion 030681935
Johnnie Temple14 May 1935C-986-BBig Boat WhistleVocalion 030681935
Johnnie Temple14 May 1935C-985-BMorning Prayer BluesVocalion (unissued)
Johnnie Temple14 May 1935C-988-BCypress Grove BluesVocalion (unissued)
Johnnie Temple12 November 193690980-ANew Vicksburg BluesDecca 72441936
Johnnie Temple12 November 193690981-ALouise Louise BluesDecca 72441936
Johnnie Temple12 November 193690981-BBig Leg Woman[8]Decca 72441936
Johnnie Temple14 May 193791249-APeepin' Through the KeyholeDecca 73161937
Johnnie Temple14 May 193791251-AEast St. Louis BluesDecca 73161937
Johnnie Temple14 May 193791247-ASo Lonely and BlueDecca 73371937
Johnnie Temple14 May 193791248-ANew Louise Louise BluesDecca 73371937
Johnnie Temple and the Harlem Hamfats6 October 193762653-AGimme Some of That Yum Yum YumDecca 73851937
Johnnie Temple and the Harlem Hamfats6 October 193762654-AHoodoo WomanDecca 73851937
Johnnie Temple and the Harlem Hamfats6 October 193762655-AMama's Bad Luck ChildDecca 74161937
Johnnie Temple and the Harlem Hamfats14 May 193791246-ASnapping CatDecca 74161937
Johnnie Temple14 May 193791250-APimple BluesDecca 74441937
Johnnie Temple6 October 193762656-AMean Baby BluesDecca 74441937
Johnnie Temple28 October 1937C-2046-2Beale Street SheikVocalion (unissued)
Johnnie Temple28 October 1937C-2049-2The Hoodoo PlanVocalion (unissued)
Johnny Temple with the Harlem Hamfats22 April 193863670-AWhat Is That Smells Like GravyDecca 74561938
Johnny Temple with the Harlem Hamfats22 April 193863674-ACounty Jail BluesDecca 74561938
Johnny Temple with the Harlem Hamfats22 April 193863671-AEvery Dog Must Have His DayDecca 74951938
Johnny Temple with the Harlem Hamfats22 April 193863672-AFare You WellDecca 74951938
Johnny Temple with the Harlem Hamfats22 April 193863673-AStavin' ChainDecca 75321938
Johnny Temple with the Harlem Hamfats22 April 193863675-AGonna Ride 74Decca 75321938
Johnny Temple17 October 193891520-ABig Leg WomanDecca 75471938
Johnny Temple17 October 193891523-ABetween Midnight and DawnDecca 75471938

Selected discography

Year Title Genre Label Notes
2003 The Essential (original recording remastered) Chicago blues Classic Blues 2 CDs, 36 tracks

References

  1. "Johnny Temple (2) Discography". discogs. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  2. Du Noyer, Paul (2003). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music. Fulham, London: Flame Tree Publishing. p. 181. ISBN 1-904041-96-5.
  3. Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books. pp. 175–176. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
  4. Koda, Cub. "Johnnie "Geechie" Temple". Allmusic. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  5. Herzhaft, Gerard (1992). Encyclopedia of the Blues (2nd ed.). University of Arkansas Press. p. 206. ISBN 1610751396.
  6. "The Secret History of Chicago Music: Johnnie Temple". Chicago Reader. January 15, 2017. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  7. Santelli, Robert (2001). The Big Book of Blues. Penguin Books. page 454. ISBN 0-14-100145-3.
  8. Johnny Temple – Topic (November 7, 2014), Big Leg Woman, retrieved April 10, 2016
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