Johnny Heartsman

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Johnny Heartsman
Houston, Texas, United States
OriginSan Fernando, California, U.S.
DiedDecember 27, 1996(1996-12-27) (aged 60)
Sacramento, California, United States
GenresElectric blues, soul blues[1]
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, musician, arranger
Instrument(s)Vocals, bass guitar, flute, keyboards, guitar
Years active1953–1996
LabelsAlligator Records

John Leroy "Johnny" Heartsman (February 9, 1936 – December 27, 1996)

electronic organ and flute. He contributed his distinctive guitar playing to a number of recordings made in the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1950s and 1960s. He continued playing until his death.[1]

His best-known recording, "Johnny's House Party", was an R&B hit in 1957.

Joe Simon.[4]

He is not to be confused with the American jazz singer Johnny Hartman.

Biography

Heartsman was born Johnnie Eastman Jr. in

record billed the act as John Heartsman, the Rhythm Rocker and the Gaylarks.[3]

His continued working as a session musician into the early 1960s. He played on Tiny Powell's "My Time After Awhile" and Al King's

Joe Simon. He spent 1970–1973 in Midland, Texas, as the leader of the house band at the Chateau Club. It was here that he hired the young blues guitarist and singer-songwriter Jay Boy Adams
. Adams credits Heartsman as one of his musical mentors.

By the late 1980s, Heartsman had reverted to playing the blues. His debut album, Sacramento, was released in 1987.[1] It was described by one reviewer as "a great success".[4] He had previously appeared at the San Francisco Blues Festival in 1985. The record producer Dick Shurman oversaw the recording of Heartsman's album The Touch, released by Alligator Records in 1991.[1]

Over the years, Heartsman wrote songs for Jesse James ("Are You Gonna Leave Me"), Roy Buchanan ("Goose Grease"), John Hammond, Jr. (Got to Find My Baby"), Amos Garrett ("Move On Down the Line"), and several more for Joe Simon.[5]

He continued his music career until he died of a stroke in Sacramento, California, in December 1996, at the age of 60.[2]

Discography

Year Title Record label
1984 Music Of My Heart Cat 'n Hat Records CNH-1001
1987 Sacramento CrossCut
1991 The Touch Alligator
1995 Made in Germany (
live album
)		 In-Akustik
2000 Still Shinin' Have Mercy

[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Dahl. Bill. "Johnny Heartsman: Biography". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  2. ^
    ISBN 978-0313344237
    .
  3. ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–1995. Record Research. p. 188.
  4. ^
    ISBN 1-55728-452-0
    .
  5. ^ "Johnny Heartsman: Songs". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  6. ^ "Johnny Heartsman: Discography". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 2014-01-26.

External links

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