Johnny Lytle
Born in Springfield, Ohio on October 13, 1932, Johnny Lytle was a jazz drummer,
vibraphonist and songwriter. While he initially studied drums and piano when he
was young, he pursued a career as a boxer. He balanced both hobbies, but music
soon took over in the late 1950s when he secured live gigs playing with Ray
Charles, Jimmy Witherspoon, and Gene Ammons. Between 1955 and 1957, he moved
from drums to vibraphone when he played in organist Hiram ‘Boots’ Johnson’s
band. His skill on the vibraphone inspired Lionel Hampton to call him ‘the
greatest vibes player in the world’. Johnny...
