Louis Johnson (bassist)

Louis Johnson (April 13, 1955 – May 21, 2015) was an American bass guitarist. Johnson was best known for his group the Brothers Johnson and his session playing on several hit albums of the 1970s and 1980s, including the best selling album of all time, Michael Jackson's "Thriller".
His signature sound came from the Music Man StingRay bass guitar, which Leo Fender made for him, and from his slapping technique. He is ranked number 38 on "Bass Player" magazine's list of "the 100 Greatest Bass Players of All Time".
Biography.
His work appears on many well-known records by prominent artists. Johnson played on Michael Jackson's albums "Off the Wall", "Thriller" and "Dangerous", and hit songs "Billie Jean" and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". He also played on George Benson's "Give Me the Night". He was one of three bassists on Herb Alpert's 1979 album "Rise", which included its top-10, Grammy-winning disco/jazz title-track. Due to his distinctive style, Johnson was nicknamed "Thunder-Thumbs". His slap bass playing arrived soon after Larry Graham brought it into the mainstream, and both are considered the "grandfathers" of slap-bass playing.
His slap bass lines figure prominently in his work with Stanley Clarke on the "Time Exposure" album, his work with Grover Washington, Jr. ("Hydra"), George Duke ("Guardian of the Light", "Thief in the Night"), Jeffrey Osborne ("Jeffrey Osborne", and "Stay with Me Tonight"). The bass line for Michael McDonald's "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)" has been sampled as a backing track for dozens of rap songs. An excellent example of his thumb playing can be heard on the Earl Klugh song "Kiko". Without any plucking at all, Johnson sets a complicated funky bass line using a combination of counterpoint slapping with right hand using right thumb, counterpoint with left hand middle finger as a mute tec., called a slap choke, thus creating a percussive sound like drums, adding to the bass notes. His style incorporated more funk plucks in combination with his thumping, which along with the Music Man StingRay sound gives a very funky, unique sound. He was the bassist on Earl Klugh's 1976 jazz/pop album "Living inside Your Love" and 1977 jazz/pop album "Finger Paintings", as well as Quincy Jones' 1975 "Mellow Madness".
Johnson also worked with Andrae Crouch, Angela Bofill, Anita Baker, Aretha Franklin, Billy Preston, Bill Withers, Björk, the Controllers, the Crusaders, Dave Grusin, David Diggs, Deniece Williams, Donna Summer, Donn Thomas, Gábor Szabó, Gene Van Buren, Harvey Mason, Herbie Hancock, Hiroshima, Irene Cara, the Jacksons, James Ingram, John Mellencamp, Karen Carpenter, Kent Jordan, Kenny Loggins, Lee Ritenour, Leon Haywood, Lesley Gore, Makoto Izumitani, Natalie Cole, Patti Austin, Paul McCartney, Peabo Bryson, Peggy Lee, Phil Collins, Pointer Sisters, Randy Badazz, Rene & Angela, the Ritz, Rufus, Sérgio Mendes, Side Effect, Sister Sledge, Stevie Nicks, Stevie Wonder, Sweet Comfort Band, Temptations, George Duke, and Toshiki Kadomatsu.
Death.
Louis Johnson died on May 21, 2015, at the age of 60. The cause of death was gastrointestinal bleeding of the esophagus.
Collaborations.
With Aretha Franklin
With Billy Preston
With Deniece Williams
With George Benson
With Michael McDonald
With Peabo Bryson
With John Mellencamp
With Barbra Streisand
With Jeffrey Osborne
With Betty Wright
With Michael Jackson
With Irene Cara
With Patti Austin
With Bill Withers
With Donna Summer