Saturday, October 16, 2010

General Johnson, R. I. P.

General Johnson, lead singer of the popular beach music trio Chairmen of the Board, died this week at age 69.

Johnson died Wednesday in suburban Atlanta of complications from lung cancer, his son, Norman Johnson, said Friday.

4 comments:

Todd Mason said...

Goodness. Having summered for several years as a kid in Virginia Beach, I was even more aware of the Beach Music bands than I might've been otherwise, but hadn't thought of them for years. Remarkable how regional styles will persist, such as go-go in DC, whether or not they have support elsewhere...

Deb said...

I knew them from "Give Me Just A Little More Time," had no idea they continued as a regional beach band.

The obit said Johnson won a grammy for writing Clarence Carter's hit "Patches." Coincidently, not long ago on the TV show "Pawn Stars" a lawyer was trying to pawn that very grammy. Rick Harrison claimed to have never heard the song and, because the grammy did not have a "big" name on it, declined to buy it.

Todd Mason said...

Wow. If I'd ever wanted to watch PAWN STARS, that dissuades me.

Beach music is a kind of bouncy soul music, sort of the other side of Motown from Stax/Volt grittiness. Most perpetuated in the North Carolina/Tidewater Virginia shore communities.

Fred Blosser said...

He also wrote the Honeycones' WANT ADS and Frieda Payne's BRING THE BOYS HOME. Fine music.