Lil Johnson was a female blues artist who made her mark on the music scene from the late 1920s to the late 1930s. Known for her bawdy and often risqué lyrics, Lil Johnson recorded a number of tracks that pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable in the conservative societal norms of her day. While information on her early life and personal details remain rather obscure, her musical legacy is captured in the body of her work.

Johnson's music is a snapshot of the gritty and uninhibited side of pre-war blues, with records like "Swamps" and "Press My Button" hinting at the playful double entendres for which she became infamous. Her collaboration with artists such as Barrelhouse Annie helped contribute to the popularity of the barrelhouse blues style—a raucous, boogie-woogie-inflected strain of the genre. Throughout the 1930s, Lil Johnson's music captured the spirit of an era, and her various compilations, such as "Lil Johnson Vol. 1 (1929 - 1936)," "Lil Johnson Vol. 2 (1936-1937)" and "Lil Johnson & Barrelhouse Annie Vol. 3 1937," help to chart her progression as an artist and the evolution of blues itself on the eve of World War II. Although she disappeared from the music scene after her heyday, Lil Johnson left behind a legacy of potent, provocative blues that still resonates with fans of the genre.

Genres

Traditional Blues

Vintage Swing

Latest Release

Cool song about math teach

Lil Johnson

Single - Released June 17, 2024