Called the Founding Father of Rock and Roll, Johnnie Johnson was born July 8th, 1924 in Fairmont, West Virginia. He began playing piano at age 4 and by age 9 was playing on the radio. After WWII Johnnie moved to Chicago apprenticing with Muddy Waters
By 1952 he was playing with Chuck Berry and in 1955 they recorded "Maybellene" collaborating on songs such as "Sweet Little Sixteen", "School Days", and "Roll over Beethoven", Berry writing the lyrics and Johnson the music. "Johnnie B. Goode" was written by Berry about Johnson.
His first solo album, "Blue Hand Johnnie" began a new chapter. His performances with the likes of Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, George Thorogood, Buddy Guy and countless others cements his legacy. A true rock and roll pioneer. Although he was lost to us in April, 2005, his accomplishments and music live on. A well deserving inaugural inductee into our Hall of Fame. Johnnie passed away April 13, 2005.