Johnny Dyer
| Johnny Dyer | |
|---|---|
| Born |
December 7, 1938 Rolling Fork, Mississippi, United States |
| Died | November 11, 2014 (aged 75) San Dimas, California, United States |
| Genres | Electric blues |
| Occupation(s) | Harmonicist, singer, songwriter |
| Instruments | Harmonica, vocals |
| Years active | 1950s–2014 |
Johnny Dyer (December 7, 1938 – November 11, 2014) was an American electric blues harmonicist and singer. He made numerous recordings, both as a solo performer and with other musicians. He was nominated for a Blues Music Award,
Dyer grew up on the Stovall Plantation in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, and learned to play the harmonica from the age of seven. His initial inspiration came from hearing Little Walter on radio station from Nashville, Tennessee, and by his teenage years he was playing acoustic harmonica and had formed his own band. He started playing amplified harmonica in the early 1950s, when he first performed alongside Smokey Wilson.
Dyer relocated to Los Angeles, California, in January 1958, where he met George "Harmonica" Smith. Together they played concerts with a "father and son" billing. Dyer commented on that time stating, "Smith was the hottest thing around and the blues was really swinging! He taught me a lot. Everybody loved George." Following this Dyer set up his own combo, Johnny Dyer and the Blue Notes, and played with Jimmy Reed, J.B. Hutto, and Jimmy Rogers.
Dyer left the music industry in the 1960s. Resurfacing in the 1980s, he found work with other harmonica players, such as Shakey Jake Harris, Harmonica Fats (Harvey Blackston, 1927–2000), and Rod Piazza. Dyer released a couple of singles, including "Overdose of Love" and, in 1983, issued the album Johnny Dyer and the LA Jukes album. The Dutch record label Black Magic featured Dyer on the album Hard Times: L.A. Blues Anthology compilation album.
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