Johnny Fuller
b. 20 April 1929, Edwards, Mississippi, USA. Major Fuller moved his family west to Vallejo, California in 1935, perhaps drawn by work in the shipyards. Although he played guitar, son Johnny was a largely self-taught musician, his first interest being C&W music, the songs of Ernest Tubb and Gene Autry. At 15, he was singing in church, later forming the Teenage Gospel Singers, which became the Golden West Gospel Singers. About 1948 he made solo gospel records for Jackson, and for several years performed every Sunday on stations KWBR in Oakland, and KRE in Berkeley. In the early '50s, he learned piano and organ and played blues in a style that suggested Charles Brownwithout the sophistication. This was evident on his first record, Train, Train Blues, for Bob Geddins’ Rhythm label. Subsequent sessions were sold to Flair and Hollywood. His tribute, Johnny Ace's Last Letter, leased to Aladdin, became his first success and put him on the package tour circuit for several years. His 1956 single for Imperial, Don't Slam That Door, was later covered by Snooks Eaglin Later records for Irma and Specialty strayed into rock ‘n’ roll and rockabilly. He spent much of the '60s outside music, returning to the clubs of Oakland and Richmond at the end of the decade. In 1973 he recorded an album, released in Australia, combining new material with older songs such as Fools Paradise, Bad Luck Overtook Me and Strange Land, with a band that also featured Philip Walker. Further club and festival work continued through the '70s, since when nothing has been reported.