Syl Johnson Dead At 85: ‘Another Legend Gone’

R&B singer Syl Johnson is dead at 85. He passed away only six days after the death of his older brother, Jimmy Johnson. Johnson’s 1967 single “Different Strokes” has been sampled by numerous artists throughout the decades.

No cause of death was given in a statement by his family, who called him a “legend.”

“It is with extreme sadness that our family announces the passing of Soul & Blues Hall of Fame legend Syl Johnson (born Sylvester Thompson in Holly Springs, MS). Dad, Brother, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, Uncle, Friend & Artist, he lived his life as a singer, musician, and entrepreneur who loved black music.”

Syl Johnson was born in Holly Springs, Mississippi, in 1936. He was an American blues and soul singer and record producer. He made a name for himself in the 1960s and 1970s with the Chicago label “Twinight,” which released his 1968 debut album, “Dresses Too Short.” It was that album that featured the legendary hit “Different Strokes.”

His hit song was sampled in numerous influential works, including Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power,” Wu-Tang Clan’s “Shame On A N---a,” Eric B. & Rakim’s “I Know You Got Soul,” Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “The Joy” featuring Curtis Mayfield, De La Soul’s “The Magic Numbers,” and many more. WhoSampled reports that over 300 songs have sampled portions of Johnson’s hit song!

That being said, Johnson was also fiercely protective of his work. In 2011, he sued Jay-Z and Kanye West for using portions of his song without permission. He also sued Michael Jackson, Cypress Hill, and several others for sampling his work without permission.

Through the years, Johnson released a dozen successful  R&B albums, including “Is It Because I’m Black,” “Back for a Taste of Your Love,” “Uptown Shakedown,” and “Bridge to Legacy.”

In 2010, Numerou Group released a box set of his work called the “Complete Mythology.” This earned Johnson two Grammy nominations: one for Best Historical Album and one for Best Liner Notes.

Fans who want to learn more about Johnson can check out the documentary about his life, titled, “Syl Johnson: Any Way The Wind Blows.” It featured an original score by Yo La Tengo and featured interviews with RZA, De La Soul’s Prince Paul, Jonathan Lethem, and many others!

Many paid tribute to the late Syl Johnson for his contributions to the music industry.