Legacy
In November 2000, Johnson sued Berry, alleging he deserved co-composer credits (and royalties) for dozens of songs, including "No Particular Place To Go", "Sweet Little Sixteen", and "Roll Over Beethoven", that credit Berry alone. The case was dismissed in less than a year because too many years had passed since the songs in dispute were written.
In 2001, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame after a tireless campaign by businessman George Turek, author Travis Fitzpatrick and Rolling Stones' guitarist, Keith Richards. He also has his own star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame. His last band still performs today as The Johnnie Johnson Band.
Johnson was the subject of a Homespun Tapes piano instructional video entitled The Blues/Rock Piano of Johnnie Johnson – Sessions with a Keyboard Legend. Originally released in 1999 (DVD version in 2005), the video is hosted by David Bennett Cohen along with Johnson's band featuring guitarist Jimmy Vivino.
Johnson died in St. Louis, Missouri on April 18, 2005. He was interred in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.
A documentary about Johnson, Johnnie Be Good, by St. Louis newsman and filmmaker, Art Holliday, is currently in production.
The Johnnie Johnson Blues & Jazz Festival is held annually in Fairmont West Virginia, only a few blocks from where Johnson was born.
Read more about this topic: Johnnie Johnson (musician)
Famous quotes containing the word legacy:
“What is popularly called fame is nothing but an empty name and a legacy from paganism.”
—Desiderius Erasmus (c. 1466–1536)