Springfield, Ohio
Springfield is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Clark County. The municipality is located in southwestern Ohio and is situated on the Mad River, Buck Creek, and Beaver Creek, approximately west of Columbus and northe ...
– December 15, 1995 in Springfield) was a
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a majo ...
drummer and vibraphonist.
Life and career
Lytle grew up in Springfield, Ohio in a family of musicians, the son of a trumpeter father and an organist mother. He began playing the drums and piano at an early age. Before studying music in earnest, he was a boxer, and was a successful Golden Gloves champion. During the late '50s, Lytle continued to box, but landed jobs as a drummer for
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...
,
Jimmy Witherspoon
James Witherspoon (August 8, 1920 – September 18, 1997) was an American jump blues singer.
Early life, family and education
Witherspoon was born in Gurdon, Arkansas. His father was a railroad worker who sang in local choirs, and his mot ...
and
Gene Ammons
Eugene "Jug" Ammons (April 14, 1925 – August 6, 1974), also known as "The Boss", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. The son of boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons, Gene Ammons is remembered for his accessible music, steeped in soul and ...
. Then he switched from drums to
vibraphone
The vibraphone is a percussion instrument in the metallophone family. It consists of tuned metal bars and is typically played by using mallets to strike the bars. A person who plays the vibraphone is called a ''vibraphonist,'' ''vibraharpist, ...
and toured with organist Hiram "Boots" Johnson from 1955 to 1957. He formed his first group in 1957 with saxophonist Boots Johnson, organist Milton Harris and drummer William "Peppy" Hinnant. He impressed the producer
Orrin Keepnews
Orrin Keepnews (March 2, 1923 – March 1, 2015) was an American jazz writer and record producer known for founding Riverside Records and Milestone Records, for freelance work, and for his work at other labels.
Biography Early life
Keepnews w ...
Lionel Hampton
Lionel Leo Hampton (April 20, 1908 – August 31, 2002) was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, and bandleader. Hampton worked with jazz musicians from Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman, and Buddy Rich, to Charlie Parker, Charle ...
said Lytle was "the greatest vibes player in the world." Lytle was known for his great hand speed and showmanship. He was also a songwriter, penning many of his own hits, including "The Loop", "The Man", "Selim", "Lela", and the jazz classic "The Village Caller". Lytle recorded more than 30 albums for various jazz labels including Jazzland, Pacific Jazz,
Solid State
Solid state, or solid matter, is one of the four fundamental states of matter.
Solid state may also refer to:
Electronics
* Solid-state electronics, circuits built of solid materials
* Solid state ionics, study of ionic conductors and their u ...
,
Milestone
A milestone is a numbered marker placed on a route such as a road, railway, railway line, canal or border, boundary. They can indicate the distance to towns, cities, and other places or landmarks; or they can give their position on the rou ...
and
Muse
In ancient Greek religion and mythology, the Muses ( grc, Μοῦσαι, Moûsai, el, Μούσες, Múses) are the inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge embodied in the ...
. Throughout his career he performed and recorded with jazz greats including Louis Armstrong,
Lionel Hampton
Lionel Leo Hampton (April 20, 1908 – August 31, 2002) was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, and bandleader. Hampton worked with jazz musicians from Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman, and Buddy Rich, to Charlie Parker, Charle ...
,
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926September 28, 1991) was an American trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Davis adopted a variety of musi ...
Bobby Timmons
Robert Henry Timmons (December 19, 1935 – March 1, 1974) was an American jazz pianist and composer. He was a sideman in Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers for two periods (July 1958 to September 1959; February 1960 to June 1961), between which he w ...
and
Roy Ayers
Roy Ayers (born September 10, 1940) is an American funk, soul, and jazz composer, vibraphone player, and music producer. Ayers began his career as a post-bop jazz artist, releasing several albums with Atlantic Records, before his tenure at Po ...
. Lytle was such an admirer of the music of Miles Davis that he wrote "Selim" (Miles spelled backwards) in honor of Davis. He also featured his son, Marcel Lytle, on several recordings, as a vocalist and drummer.
He found success early in his career with chart-topping albums like ''A Groove'', ''Moon Child'', and ''The Loop''. From his swinging uptempo tracks to his soul-satisfying ballads, Lytle knew how to keep a groove. And with a nickname like "Fast Hands", he could always keep the attention of an audience. In addition to his musicianship, his gregarious personality made him a popular attraction on the jazz circuit. Even though he did not experience the same success he was privileged to during the 1960s, he did continue to record and build a respectable catalog of music with recordings in the '70s, '80s and '90s.
Lytle remained a popular concert attraction in the U.S. and Europe; his last performance was with the Springfield (Ohio) Symphony Orchestra in his hometown on November 18, 1995. Passing away from kidney failure the following month, he was survived by his wife Barbara Jean Lytle, his son Marcel Anthony (of Atlanta), Michael-Lamont (of Toronto), and daughter Ayo Michelle Hagans (of Springfield). At the time of his death, Lytle was scheduled to begin recording a new album on the Muse label. In his hometown of
Springfield, Ohio
Springfield is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Clark County. The municipality is located in southwestern Ohio and is situated on the Mad River, Buck Creek, and Beaver Creek, approximately west of Columbus and northe ...
, the street where he used to live was renamed 'Johnny Lytle Avenue' in his honor.
Discography
As Leader
* ''
Blue Vibes
''Blue Vibes'' is the debut album by American jazz vibraphonist Johnny Lytle which was recorded in 1960 for the Jazzland label.Jazzland 22, 1960)
* '' Happy Ground'' (Jazzland 44, 1961) -reissued on Riverside 470 in 1963.
* '' Nice and Easy: The Soulful Vibes of Johnny Lytle'' (Jazzland 67, 1962) -with
Johnny Griffin
John Arnold Griffin III (April 24, 1928 – July 25, 2008) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Nicknamed "the Little Giant" for his short stature and forceful playing, Griffin's career began in the mid-1940s and continued until the month of ...
,
Bobby Timmons
Robert Henry Timmons (December 19, 1935 – March 1, 1974) was an American jazz pianist and composer. He was a sideman in Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers for two periods (July 1958 to September 1959; February 1960 to June 1961), between which he w ...
; CD later reissued on OJC/Fantasy in 1999.
* '' Moon Child'' (Jazzland 81, 1962) -with
Ray Barretto
Raymundo "Ray" Barretto Pagán (April 29, 1929 – February 17, 2006) was an American percussionist and bandleader of Puerto Rican descent. Throughout his career as a percussionist, he played a wide variety of Latin music styles, as well as Lati ...
; reissued on Riverside 3017 in 1968; CD later reissued on Milestone in 2001.
* '' Got That Feeling!'' ( Riverside 456, 1963) -CD later reissued on Milestone in 2001.
* '' The Village Caller!'' (Riverside 480, 1963) -reissued as ''A Groove'' on Riverside 3003 in 1967; CD later reissued on OJC/Fantasy in 1998.
* '' The Loop'' (Tuba 5001, 1965) -CD later reissued on Beat Goes Public/BGP in 1990.
* '' New and Groovy'' (Tuba 5002, 1966) -CD later reissued on Beat Goes Public/BGP in 1990.
* ''Look! Johnny Lytle Done it Again'' ( Pacific Jazz 10125, 1967) -CD later reissued on Get On Down in 2011.
* ''
Swingin' at the Gate
''Swingin' at the Gate'' is a live album led by American jazz vibraphonist Johnny Lytle which was recorded in 1967 at the Top of the Gate, an upper-story performance space above The Village Gate, for the Pacific Jazz label.ive(Pacific Jazz 10129, 1967)
* ''
A Man and a Woman
''A Man and a Woman'' (french: Un homme et une femme) is a 1966 French film written and directed by Claude Lelouch and starring Anouk Aimée and Jean-Louis Trintignant. Written by Lelouch and Pierre Uytterhoeven, the film concerns a young widow a ...
'' (
Solid State
Solid state, or solid matter, is one of the four fundamental states of matter.
Solid state may also refer to:
Electronics
* Solid-state electronics, circuits built of solid materials
* Solid state ionics, study of ionic conductors and their u ...
18014, 1967)
* ''The Sound of Velvet Soul'' (Solid State 18026, 1968)
* ''Be Proud'' (Solid State 18044, 1968)
* '' Close Enough for Jazz'' (Solid State 18056, 1969)
* ''
The Soulful Rebel
''The Soulful Rebel'' is an album by vibraphonist Johnny Lytle recorded in 1971 and originally issued on the Milestone label.Payne, D.Johnny Lytle discographyaccessed April 14, 2015Fitzgerald, M.accessed April 14, 2015
Reception
Allmusic gave ...
'' (
Milestone
A milestone is a numbered marker placed on a route such as a road, railway, railway line, canal or border, boundary. They can indicate the distance to towns, cities, and other places or landmarks; or they can give their position on the rou ...
9036, 1971) -CD later reissued on Real Gone Music in 2013.
* '' People & Love'' (Milestone 9043, 1972) -with Butch Cornell; CD later reissued on Real Gone Music in 2013.
* '' Everything Must Change'' (
Muse
In ancient Greek religion and mythology, the Muses ( grc, Μοῦσαι, Moûsai, el, Μούσες, Múses) are the inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge embodied in the ...
5158, 1977) -with
Big John Patton
John Patton (July 12, 1935 – March 19, 2002) was an American jazz, blues and R&B pianist and organist often known by his nickname, Big John Patton.
Patton was one of the most in-demand organists during the golden era of the Hammond B-3 organ ...
Houston Person
Houston Person (born November 10, 1934) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist and record producer. Although he has performed in the hard bop and swing genres, he is most experienced in and best known for his work in soul jazz. He received the ...
; later reissued on 32 Jazz in 1998.
* '' Good Vibes'' (Muse 5271, 1981) -with Houston Person
* ''Los Grandes del Jazz'' (Sarpe
pain
Pain is a distressing feeling often caused by intense or damaging stimuli. The International Association for the Study of Pain defines pain as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, ...
1982) -also released as ''I Giganti Del Jazz, Vol. 93'' (Curcio
taly
Taly (russian: Талый) is a rural locality (a settlement) in Alexandrovskoye Urban Settlement, Alexandrovsky District, Perm Krai, Russia. The population was 17 as of 2010. There are 11 streets.
Geography
Taly is located 26 km southeast of ...
1982).
* ''Happy Ground'' (Muse 5387, 1989
el. 1991
EL, El or el may refer to:
Religion
* El (deity), a Semitic word for "God"
People
* EL (rapper) (born 1983), stage name of Elorm Adablah, a Ghanaian rapper and sound engineer
* El DeBarge, music artist
* El Franco Lee (1949–2016), American ...
-with Houston Person; later reissued on 32 Jazz in 1998.
* ''Moonchild'' (Muse 5431, 1991 el. 1992 -with Houston Person
* ''Possum Grease'' (Muse 5482, 1992 el. 1995 -with Houston Person
As Sideman
With
Bobby Timmons
Robert Henry Timmons (December 19, 1935 – March 1, 1974) was an American jazz pianist and composer. He was a sideman in Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers for two periods (July 1958 to September 1959; February 1960 to June 1961), between which he w ...
Prestige
Prestige refers to a good reputation or high esteem; in earlier usage, ''prestige'' meant "showiness". (19th c.)
Prestige may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media Films
* ''Prestige'' (film), a 1932 American film directed by Tay Garnett ...
7387, 1964) - CD later reissued on Prestige in 1994.
With
Roger Troutman
Roger Troutman (November 29, 1951 – April 25, 1999), also known as Roger, was an American singer, songwriter, record producer, multi-instrumentalist and the founder of the band Zapp who helped spearhead the funk movement and heavily influen ...
Reprise
In music, a reprise ( , ; from the verb 'to resume') is the repetition or reiteration of the opening material later in a composition as occurs in the recapitulation of sonata form, though—originally in the 18th century—was simply any repe ...
, 1987)
References
Further reading
* Richard Cook & Morton, Brian: The Penguin Guide To Jazz on CD'', 6th Edition, London, Penguin, 2002
* Andrew Scott, Fast hands'', Wax Poetics No. 40