ArtistInfo Logo  ArtistInfo

Artist Portrait

Johnny Hammond

org, 1933-1997 US, Louisville, Kentucky
Musician / Composer of Jazz and R&B/Soul
A.k.a. John Robert Smith

American organist, composer, artist. Born: 16 December 1933 in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. Died: 4 June 1997 in Victorville, California, USA (aged 63). Smith became known as Johnny 'Hammond' Smith in the mid-1950s as he emerged as an organ player, to avoid confusion with the guitarist John Smith, and the more famous organist Jimmy Smith. He dropped the Smith part of his name when he signed for the Kudu label in 1971. Smith played with Paul Williams and Chris Columbo before forming his own group. His bands featured singers Etta Jones, Byrdie Green, saxophonists Houston Person, Earl Edwards, guitarists Eddie McFadden, Floyd Smith, James Clark, vibist Freddie McCoy. His career took off as he was serving as accompanist to singer Nancy Wilson. One of his last accomplishments also included Nancy Wilson. He wrote the song "Quiet Fire" for her "Nancy Now" release in 1989. After a 10-year spell on Prestige Records throughout the 60s resulting in a series of albums, he signed for soul/R&B influenced Kudu imprint of the well-regarded CTI Records label in 1971. His first album for CTI, "Breakout" was chosen that year to launch Kudu. The album featured Grover Washington Jr. as a sideman prior to the launch of his career as a solo recording artist. Three further albums followed on Kudu, as he decided to refer to himself as "Johnny Hammond", after deciding to drop "Smith" from his name. His style had become increasingly funky as he adapted to the style changes in music, culminating in two popular albums with the Mizell Brothers, "Gambler's Life" (1974) for the CTI offshoot, Salvation Records (US) and then in 1975, "Gears" after switching to another jazz label, Milestone Records. He began using electric and acoustic pianos, starting with "Gambler's Life", in addition to his signature instrument. Hammond's song "Shifting Gears" was featured on the breakbeat compilation Ultimate Breaks and Beats, and was also featured in the soundtrack of the 2006 video game Driver: Parallel Lines as well. Smith also taught at the Cal Poly Pomona music department for several years, beginning in January 1987.

     
Instruments
  • Organ
  • Electric piano
  • Synthesizer
  • Keyboards
Genres
  • Jazz
  • R&B/Soul
  • Blues
  • Pop
Popular Tracks   
De Pierewaaier Polka on De Pierewaaier Polka by Johnny Hammond

Track list and 30sec audio provided by


Band Members
Discography



Title Artist Year Type
Mukatsuku Presents: First Time On A 45 Classics, Vol. 1The Three Pieces / Johnny Hammond2017Single
Los Conquistadores ChocolatesJohnny Hammond2008Album
Fantasy (Faze Action Remixes, Original Mix)Johnny Hammond2008Album
Good 'NuffJohnny Hammond2003Compil.
Open HouseJohnny Hammond2001Compil.
The Soulful BluesJohnny Hammond2000Compil.
Soul FlowersJohnny Hammond1999Compil.
Black CoffeeJohnny Hammond1997Compil.
Johnny "Hammond" SmithJohnny Hammond1996Compil.
That Good Feelin'Johnny Hammond1996Compil.
Talk That TalkJohnny Hammond1995Compil.
That Good Feelin' • Talk That TalkJohnny Hammond1993Compil.
Gears / Forever TaurusJohnny Hammond1992Compil.
Shifting GearsJohnny Hammond1988Album
Don't Let The System Get YouJohnny Hammond1978Album
Storm WarningJohnny Hammond1977Album
Forever TaurusJohnny Hammond1976Album
GearsJohnny Hammond1975Album
Los Conquistadores ChocolatesJohnny Hammond1975Single
Higher GroundJohnny Hammond1974Album
Yesterday Was CoolJohnny Hammond1974Single
Gambler's LifeJohnny Hammond1974Album
Thunder & LightningJohnny Hammond1973Single
Rock SteadyJohnny Hammond1972Single
The ProphetJohnny Hammond1972Album
Wild Horses Rock SteadyJohnny Hammond1972Album
Workin' On A Groovy ThingJohnny Hammond1971Single
BreakoutJohnny Hammond1971Album
I'll Be There / Smokin' KoolJohnny Hammond1971Single
What's Going OnJohnny Hammond1971Album
Black Feeling!Johnny Hammond1970Album
The Best Of Johnny "Hammond" Smith For LoversJohnny Hammond1970Compil.
Here It 'TisJohnny Hammond1970Album
The Best Of Johnny "Hammond" SmithJohnny Hammond1969Compil.
Soul TalkJohnny Hammond1969Album
Soul TalkJohnny Hammond1969Single
Ebb TideJohnny Hammond1968Album
Soul FlowersJohnny Hammond1968Album
Dirty GrapeJohnny Hammond1968Album
Dirty GrapeJohnny Hammond1968Single
Nasty!Johnny Hammond1968Album
Ebb Tide / Stand By MeJohnny Hammond1967Single
N.Y.P.D. / Dirty AppleJohnny Hammond1967Single
Love Potion #9Johnny Hammond1967Album
A Little TasteJohnny Hammond1967Album
The Stinger Meets The Golden ThrushJohnny Hammond With Byrdie Green1966Album
They Call It Stormy Monday / The Golden ThrushJohnny Hammond1966Single
Open House!Johnny Hammond1966Album
Opus De FunkJohnny Hammond1966Album
Opus De FunkJohnny Hammond1966Single
The StingerJohnny Hammond1965Album
Brother John / Cleopatra And The African KnightJohnny Hammond1965Single
The StingerJohnny Hammond1965Single
Black CoffeeJohnny Hammond1963Single
Look OutJohnny Hammond With Seldon Powell1963Album
Black CoffeeJohnny Hammond1963Album
Mr. WonderfulJohnny Hammond1963Album
Johnny "Hammond" Smith Cooks With Gator TailJohnny Hammond & Willis Jackson1962Album
Gettin' The MessageJohnny Hammond With Lem Winchester1961Album
Swanee RiverJohnny Hammond1961Single
StimulationJohnny Hammond1961Album
On The Street Where You LiveJohnny Hammond1961Single
Talk That TalkJohnny Hammond1960Album
Sticks An' StonesJohnny Hammond1960Single
All SoulJohnny Hammond1959Album
The Masquerade Is Over / All SoulJohnny Hammond1959Single
That Good Feelin'Johnny Hammond1959Album
I'll Remember April / That Good Feelin'Johnny Hammond1959Single
Have You Heard Johnny SmithJohnny Hammond1958Album
Sweet Cookies / Secret LoveJohnny HammondSingle
EcstacyJohnny HammondSingle
The Good Miss Brown / I BelieveJohnny HammondSingle
Imagination - Pt. 1Johnny HammondSingle
External Links
Homepage Logo Home Page  Wikipedia Logo Wikipedia  Discogs Logo Discogs  iTunes Logo iTunes  Spotify Logo Spotify  
ArtistInfo App
ArtistInfo for iOS and ArtistInfo for Mac are presenting musicians, composers and producers that are envolved in the musical work that you are listening to in Apple Music, iTunes, or Spotify. Discover new music via the network among artists. Manage your favorite musicians and albums via iCloud and share recommendations with your friends via email, AirDrop, or Social Media.

App Store Logo     Mac App Store Logo

Acknowledgements
To all the music fans that are contributing on Discogs, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia. Thanks to Franz Flückiger for providing Storygram used to visualize band membership.
Other Search Results
Johnny Hammond dr, perc, bvoc
Universal Link: https://music.metason.net/artistinfo?name=Johnny%20Hammond
ArtistInfo Community
Most seen topics within ArtistInfo:

Top 10 Artists    Top 20 Albums
 
What others are currently looking for:

Recent Artists    Recent Albums

ArtistInfo Logo ArtistInfo by Metason © 2015-2020 Metason Logo