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Theard Johnson
Theard Johnson (born October 23, 1927) got the first singing job at 16 when promoter Percy Stovall booked the Billy Eckstine-inspired crooner at his 'Hurricane Club.'
In 1946 Theard became the star vocalist with Dave Bartholomew's big band. "He used to let me use the baton and direct the band," said Theard. "We played the 'Club Rocket,' carnival balls, the Labor Union Hall, 'The San Jacinto.'"
By late 1949 Theard was gradually inched out by blues shouter Tommy Ridgley. "When Dave found out I could sing 'Stardust'," recalled Ridgley, "that was the beginning of the end of Theard Johnson." The change to rockin' R&B came suddenly after Johnson's departure in November 1949, with Bartholomew producing the first record by Fats Domino, among others.
For a time Theard played bongos for Professor Longhair at the 'Caldonia Inn.' He pinned a lot of hope on his Mercury recordings: "That record brought me to a nervous breakdown, really, because the man (Murray Nash) that was here, he only had a couple of nights to do the session… During the night (the band) couldn't read the music right and they kept goin' outside. Whatever they were doin', they didn't come back the same person. They were playin' music all different ways. I was tired and the technician was tired also… So that's the reason 'Downbeat' said the voice was beautiful, but the music was muddy."
The trumpet player on Johnson's tracks is unknown -- although Dave Bartholomew apparently wrote I Walk In My Sleep for Theard, he would not have moonlighted on such a session, in addition to the fact that the soft, high-pitched cornet sound was clearly not his style.
Released on May 8, 1950, the record got local airplay, but on September 23 Dr. Daddy-O reported that Theard was in Charity Hospital, likely from his nervous breakdown.
In 1951 popular bandleader Buddy Johnson (who made balladeer Arthur Prysock famous) heard Theard at the 'Dew Drop Inn' and offered him a job. "Oh, man," recalled Theard, "I was so enthused and happy I went out that night. He didn't exactly say what time they were leaving, but when I woke up the next day it was after one o'clock and Buddy was gone."
Soon afterward Theard left with a promoter and played New York's 'Apollo Theatre' and much of the country. From the late 1950s to the late 1960s he played clubs in California, though did not record again.
Although the era of the romantic balladeer seems only a distant memory, for some it is a strong memory indeed. Joe Gaines, who met and heard Theard only once – at the Mercury sessions – thought he recognized him on a city bus several years ago: "I asked him, 'I'm gonna sing a song for you, you tell me if there's anything about this song that you remember.' And I started singing the song." Theard replied in astonishment that the song, Lost Love, was one that he had recorded 40 years earlier. Theard Johnson died on September 22, 1990.
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The Mercury New Orleans Sessions (2-CD)
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