Syl Johnson: Legend of Chicago SoulChicago Soul/R&B legend Syl Johnson makes a rare club appearance at SPACE on Thanksgiving eve!
A gifted vocalist, guitarist and harmonica player, Syl Johnson's resumé reads like a history of Chicago and Memphis Soul, Blues and R&B - having performed, toured and recorded with artists such as Howlin' Wolf, Jimmy Reed, Magic Sam, Freddie King, Junior Wells, Willie Mitchell and The Hi Rhythm Section.
Often compared to Al Green, Syl coincidentally had his biggest hit with "Take Me To The River" which reached #7 on the Billboard charts back in 1975. His 2010 boxed set "The Complete Mythology" (released by Chicago's Numero Group label) received 2 Grammy Nominations and rave reviews worldwide. From The New York Times review: "Syl Johnson's earliest songs show traces of the sweet post-doo-wop style also heard in that era from the Impressions and Major Lance, and the box continues through big-beat soul in the vein of James Brown, many of the songs written and produced by Mr. Johnson himself. The late 1960s bring more somber, socially conscious material ("Is it Because I'm Black?"), and by the end of the box Mr. Johnson is in deep funk...the box set tells a broad story about American music"
Syl Johnson's deep soul grooves are also some of the most sampled sounds in Rap, Hip Hop and R&B including recordings by Michael Jackson, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Cypress Hill, Wu-Tang Clan and Kid Rock.
"Syl Johnson: soulful like Marvin Gaye, funky like James Brown." - NPR