In Memoriam: Syl Johnson, legendary soul singer, dies at 85

R&B and soul legend Syl Johnson, known for hits including “Different Strokes,” “Is it Because I’m Black,” and “Take Me to the River”, has died. He was 85.

Family statement

His family confirmed his death in a statement that read in part, “Fiery, fierce, fighter, always standing for the pursuit of justice as it related to his music and sound … He will truly be missed by all who crossed his path. His catalog and legacy will be remembered as impeccable and a historical blueprint to all who experience it. To his fans around the world, he loved you all. A lover of music and a Chicago icon, Syl Johnson lived his life unapologetically.”

Syl Johnson’s career

Born Sylvester Thompson in Holy Springs, Mississippi on July 1, 1936, Johnson moved to Chicago with his family at 14. He began his music career in the late 1950s as a backup singer for blues icons such as Billy Boy Arnold, Howlin’ Wolf, Junior Wells, and Magic Sam.

Johnson signed a recording deal with Twinight Records in the mid-1960s. He charted his first singles in 1967 with “Come on Sock it to Me” and “Different Strokes.” A top-15 R&B hit, “Different Strokes” became one of the most heavily sampled songs.

He followed those successes with “Dresses too Short,” “Back for a Taste of Your Love,” and “Is it Because I’m Black,” which he wrote in response to the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968).

Johnson’s greatest hit came in 1975 with the single “Take Me to the River,” written by Al Green. It became Johnson’s only top ten R&B hit and his only song to crack the top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. He continued to release music until his retirement in the mid-1980s.

Sampled work

Syl Johnson was heavily sampled by Hip-Hop artists and have been sampled over 300 times. Some songs that used his music was Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power,” Wu-Tang Clan’s “Shame on a N***a,” Eric B. & Rakim’s “I Know You Got Soul,” Kwamé’s “Ownlee Eue,” De La Soul’s “The Magic Number” EPMD’s, “It’s My Thing,” Boogie Down Production’s “Criminal Minded,” Kool G Rap & DJ Polo’s “Talk Like Sex,” RUN-DMC’s “Beats to the Rhyme,” Nas’ “Made You Look (Apache Remix),” and Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “The Joy,” starring the late Curtis Mayfield are jams that feature elements of his work, specifically the hit single “Different Strokes,” from his 1968 debut album Dresses Too Short.

In 2011, Johnson sued rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West for the unauthorized use of portions of his song in their production, “The Joy.” The lawsuit was eventually settled and the song was permitted using the sample. Other artists sued by Johnson for using his work without proper permission were Michael Jackson and Cypress Hill.

Syl Johnson is the father of singer Syleena Johnson.

Johnson’s brother, Blues legend Jimmy Johnson, died a week before him on January 31.