HAZLEHURST, MS (GlossyNews) — Sources close to GlossyNews confirm that today one of the most influential voices in Delta Blues has gone to heaven. Or so we hope.
The oldest child of sharecroppers Sam and Thelma Johnson, “Deaf Willie” never let his disability hold him back. According to his sister, Sandra Johnson-Morgenstern, a vice president who oversees new acquisition leverage at Goldman Sachs, Willie enjoyed all forms of music from an early age, even though he couldn’t hear any of it.
“He would just dance around and sing. Even as a toddler, you could tell he had a really unique approach to music. After Daddy bought him that harmonica, there was no looking back.”
Loving tributes have cascaded in, the likes of which have not been seen since the death of Bob Dylan. Former Beatle Ringo Starr posted on his Facebook page this message: “That bloke, when he played, like he didn’t care what the other lads were playing at all. Very much like George [Harrison] in that respect. He will be missed.”
Those who collaborated with Deaf Willie in the famous Chess Records Sessions were overcome with grief. Blues great B.B. King said, “When Deaf Willie started playing harmonica, everybody stopped what they were doing, even the band! He was so different. There was nobody like that guy.”
Planning is already underway for a tribute concert, according to an inside source speaking on condition of anonymity. Ms. Morgan Loynkloth, an organizer out of Alexandria, VA announced that Clapton, KISS and David Cassidy have already signed on. “This is going to be big,” she said.
As tributes spring up around the globe for this brave man who never let disability stop his pursuit of musicianship, one thing is certain: Deaf Willie Johnson came to us an enigma, possessing courage few of us will ever understand, and left the same way.
Johnson spent the last seven years of his life at the Holly Oaks nursing home. He entered the facility in 2003 after suffering five major heart attacks. More recently, he had been placed on daily regimen of Digitalis.
In an exclusive to GlossyNews, Deaf Willie’s caregivers revealed the blue legend’s final words before he suffered his fatal heart attack. “What what? Speak up, would you? You’re reminding me to be sure to rape my fart hills? What the hell does that mean?”
I really enjoyed your article, Liberties-Taken. Ha! It left me with a big smile. Since you leave the obvious unstated–that Deaf Willie could only have created a racket–the respectful references by B.B. King and Ringo are made even more hilarious because we can read the joke beneath them. And the ‘author’ sums it up: “Deaf Willie Johnson came to us an enigma, possessing courage few of us will ever understand…” It was subtle, it was nice–and it was very funny! And the kicker of his last words in that short final paragraph was a sudden bold stroke out of left field that contrasted well with the tone of the previous writing. Good job!
Thanks for kind words Robert. I live in north Mississippi, knee deep in the Blues and “Blind” so & so therefore I stood valiantly for the forgotten hearing impaired legends.
You can hit my blog libertiestaken.blogspot.com and it’s mostly smartass lame dreck. Most recent post is about how one can buy a home test kit for darn near everything at Walgreens.
Again Robert, thanks for your encouraging words. Be sure to rape your fart hills.
Hello , everyone .
When is this “tribute-concert ” to be held ???? Any further INFO on this …?????
P.S.
You are referring to Bob Dylan`s death ….. As far as I know , he is well and sound and still on tour ( he is coming May 29th to Greece )