Louis Johnson, one half of the Brothers Johnson and esteemed session bassist, has died at the age of 60.
Best known in the UK for their 1980 hit Stomp! (as seen on recent repeats of Top of the Pops on BBC Four), Louis and his brother George had a string of US hits in the late ’70s and sporadically throughout the ’80s, including Look Out For #1, I’ll Be Good To You and Strawberry Letter 23, the latter of which was the brothers’ first UK top forty hit in 1977. Although Stomp! was their only top thirty hit in this country, Louis played bass on numerous other hits including Donna Summer’s State of Independence, Michael McDonald’s I Keep Forgettin’ and USA For Africa’s We Are The World, as well as Michael Jackson’s Off The Wall and Thriller albums.
Boot- I simply cannot believe the news. Devastated. I love you so much. We did so much together and had such great times. #RIPLouisJohnson
— Quincy Jones (@QuincyDJones) May 22, 2015
Just heard the great bass player and song writer Louis Johnson has passed away. Awe man….Going to miss U Thunder Thumbs.
— Steve Arrington (@Steve_Arrington) May 22, 2015
Thank you for blessing me and the world with your original #funk. RIP #LouisJohnson "Thunder Thumbs" #brothersjohnson pic.twitter.com/25MUwpf6gK
— Lenny Kravitz (@LennyKravitz) May 22, 2015
