Dallas Area Loss (RIP) News

[Guitar Dave T]

Dallas Blues and Soul Bassist and Pianist, Johnnie Lee Woods passed last Monday at 64 years old. Johnnie was an awesome player who could play in the pocket like very few could do.

Johnnie was a little guy with a huge heart, and was absolutely the "real deal". He will be missed in our little community greatly.

We had a benefit last night at Nate's to help cover Johnnie's funeral costs, and all the local Sr. blues and soul heavy hitters showed up, and raised a couple thousand dollars to help provide a respectful send-off.

For those of you who had the honor of knowing Johnnie, playing with him, or just want to pay respects:

There is viewing tonight 7:30 to 9:30
at Cooper and Wilson Funeral Home,
3114 Martin Luther King Jr Blv,
South Dallas,
TX 75215
214.421.9774

Funeral service will be tomorrow (Tues) at 11:00am:
Damascan Missionary Baptist Church
3600 Cleveland Ave
Dallas,Tx
214.428.2615

RIP, Johnnie.

11/21 EDIT - ADDED PIC:
http://www.guitardavetaylor.com/JLW01.jpg

[frank62]

Sorry to hear of your loss Dave. The man no doubt did what he loved and loved what he did. To me that is a successful life.

[TFRED]

RIP. Sorry to hear of our loss. My prayers are with him, and his.

[Guitar Dave T]

Johnnie played with Al T.N.T. Braggs (http://www.deadog.com/page/DDR/PROD/Peacock-1601a), Ernie Johnson (http://bluescritic.com/erniejohnson.htm) & Lightning Hopkins (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightnin'_Hopkins). He had a lust for life and brought the level up wherever he went.

There's an old saying that goes something like, "Many things in life catch your eye, but only a few catch your heart - Pursue those." That's what Johnnie Lee Woods did.

[Guitar Dave T]

Here's a picture of Johnnie from a mutual friend. This one will probably get blown up, framed and hung on the wall at Nate's in Dallas:

http://www.guitardavetaylor.com/JLW01.jpg

[Guitar Dave T]

The first time I played with Johnnie, I brought some charts and tried to pass them across the band stand to him. He just lowered his sunglasses and gave me "the look".

I said, "Ok, I'll just keep these then."

Johnnie didn't need them.