Johnny Temple (October 18, 1906 – November 22, 1968) was an American Chicago blues guitarist and singer, who was active in the 1930s and 1940s. He was variously billed as Johnny Temple, Johnnie Temple and Johnnie "Geechie" Temple.
Life and career Temple was born in Canton, Mississippi, and grew up around Jackson. He learned to play guitar and mandolin as a child and began playing house parties as a teenager. While in Jackson he befriended Skip James. He moved to Chicago in the early 1930s and started playing with Joe McCoy in clubs. Temple began recording songs such as "The Evil Devil Blues" and "Lead Pencil Blues" in 1935. His most popular record, "Louise Louise Blues," released by Decca Records, was a hit in 1936.Santelli, Robert (2001). The Big Book of Blues. Penguin Books. page 454. . The Harlem Hamfats, a Chicago jazz band formed in 1936, provided backup music for Temple and other singers. By 1940, Decca had released two dozen of his records.
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. After World War II, Temple played an important role in welcoming blues musicians who arrived from the South. 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.
Temple eventually gave up the blues to become a minister. He died of cancer on November 22, 1968, aged 62, in Jackson.
Discography
ArtistRecording dateMatrixSongCatalogRelease dateJohnnie TempleC-987-A"The Evil Devil Blues"Vocalion 029871935Johnnie TempleC-987-B"Jacksonville Blues"Vocalion 029871935Johnnie TempleC-983-B"Lead Pencil Blues (It Just Won't Write)"Vocalion 030681935Johnnie TempleC-986-B"Big Boat Whistle"Vocalion 030681935Johnnie TempleC-985-B"Morning Prayer Blues"Vocalion (unissued)—Johnnie TempleC-988-B"Cypress Grove Blues"Vocalion (unissued)—Johnnie Temple90980-A"New Vicksburg Blues"Decca 72441936Johnnie Temple90981-A"Louise Louise Blues"Decca 72441936Johnnie Temple90981-B"Big Leg Woman" Decca 72441936Johnnie Temple91249-A"Peepin' Through the Keyhole"Decca 73161937Johnnie Temple91251-A"East St. Louis Blues"Decca 73161937Johnnie Temple91247-A"So Lonely and Blue"Decca 73371937Johnnie Temple91248-A"New Louise Louise Blues"Decca 73371937Johnnie Temple and the Harlem Hamfats62653-A"Gimme Some of That Yum Yum Yum"Decca 73851937Johnnie Temple and the Harlem Hamfats62654-A"Hoodoo Woman"Decca 73851937Johnnie Temple and the Harlem Hamfats62655-A"Mama's Bad Luck Child"Decca 74161937Johnnie Temple and the Harlem Hamfats91246-A"Snapping Cat"Decca 74161937Johnnie Temple91250-A"Pimple Blues"Decca 74441937Johnnie Temple62656-A"Mean Baby Blues"Decca 74441937Johnnie TempleC-2046-2"Beale Street Sheik"Vocalion (unissued)—Johnnie TempleC-2049-2"The Hoodoo Plan"Vocalion (unissued)—Johnny Temple with the Harlem Hamfats63670-A"What Is That Smells Like Gravy"Decca 74561938Johnny Temple with the Harlem Hamfats63674-A"County Jail Blues"Decca 74561938Johnny Temple with the Harlem Hamfats63671-A"Every Dog Must Have His Day"Decca 74951938Johnny Temple with the Harlem Hamfats63672-A"Fare You Well"Decca 74951938Johnny Temple with the Harlem Hamfats63673-A"Stavin' Chain"Decca 75321938Johnny Temple with the Harlem Hamfats63675-A"Gonna Ride 74"Decca 75321938Johnny Temple91520-A"Big Leg Woman"Decca 75471938Johnny Temple91523-A"Between Midnight and Dawn"Decca 75471938
Selected discography YearTitleGenreLabelNotes2003The Essential (original recording remastered) Chicago bluesClassic Blues 2 CDs, 36 tracks
References
External links [ Johnny "Geechie" Temple (All-Music Guide)] Illustrated Johnny Temple discography