Biography
Johnny Heartsman, distinguished by his shaven head, mastered so many facets of music that assigning him to any single category proved futile. His lead guitar produced a signature low moan that elevated numerous Bay Area blues sessions throughout the 1950s and 1960s, while his command of dynamics and dexterity on the instrument remained undiminished into the 1990s. Heartsman proved equally adept at unleashing inventive lines on organ or crafting unexpected flute solos, an instrument rarely associated with blues settings. His vocal delivery featured a mellow, warmly burnished tone as well.
Guitarist Lafayette "Thing" Thomas, one of Heartsman's chief influences, facilitated an introduction during the artist's teenage years to Bay Area producer Bob Geddins. Heartsman supplied bass for Jimmy Wilson's 1953 recording of "Tin Pan Alley" and contributed guitar or piano on additional Geddins-supervised dates. For Ray Dobard's Music City label he waxed the two-part instrumental "Johnny's House Party," an homage to "Honky Tonk" that registered as a national R&B hit in 1957.
Extensive session activity marked the early 1960s, encompassing Tiny Powell's "My Time After Awhile," which Buddy Guy later covered, and Al King's update of Lowell Fulson's "Reconsider Baby." By this period Heartsman's practice of manually adjusting the volume knob on his guitar to yield an eerie moan had become his recognized trademark. Engagements with show bands, performances in jazz-oriented cocktail lounges, and a role as organist for soul singer Joe Simon preceded his deliberate return to blues performance. Dick Shurman produced the 1991 Alligator album The Touch, Heartsman's most rewarding collection to that point. He sustained his broad musical range until his death in December 1996.
Guitarist Lafayette "Thing" Thomas, one of Heartsman's chief influences, facilitated an introduction during the artist's teenage years to Bay Area producer Bob Geddins. Heartsman supplied bass for Jimmy Wilson's 1953 recording of "Tin Pan Alley" and contributed guitar or piano on additional Geddins-supervised dates. For Ray Dobard's Music City label he waxed the two-part instrumental "Johnny's House Party," an homage to "Honky Tonk" that registered as a national R&B hit in 1957.
Extensive session activity marked the early 1960s, encompassing Tiny Powell's "My Time After Awhile," which Buddy Guy later covered, and Al King's update of Lowell Fulson's "Reconsider Baby." By this period Heartsman's practice of manually adjusting the volume knob on his guitar to yield an eerie moan had become his recognized trademark. Engagements with show bands, performances in jazz-oriented cocktail lounges, and a role as organist for soul singer Joe Simon preceded his deliberate return to blues performance. Dick Shurman produced the 1991 Alligator album The Touch, Heartsman's most rewarding collection to that point. He sustained his broad musical range until his death in December 1996.
Albums
