R.I.P. JOHNNY NEEL

R.I.P. JOHNNY NEEL

A piano and organ virtuoso based in Nashville, Tennessee, Johnny Neel died of a heart attack on October 6, 2024. He was seventy years old.

In 2019, he suffered a stroke from which he never fully recovered.

Born in Delaware and blind from birth, he developed a special gift for music. He quickly became a keyboard virtuoso, so much so that he recorded his first single at the age of twelve.

As a young man, he formed his first band (The Johnny Neel Band) with which he recorded two albums.

In 1984, Johnny moved to Nashville. One night, while performing in a club, he caught the attention of Dickey Betts and Warren Haynes who asked him to join the Dickey Betts Band. Johnny thus participated in the recording of Dickey's album, "Pattern Disruptive" (he is also credited on most of the tracks on this record released in 1988).

Even if the understanding was not always cordial, when Dickey Betts released a new recording, father Gregg Allman always listened. Seduced by Johnny's playing, he asked him to join the Gregg Allman Band on tour. Johnny co-wrote the song "Island" on Gregg's album "Just before the bullets fly" (some malicious tongues would even insinuate that Gregg wanted to annoy Dickey by stealing his gifted keyboard. Who knows!).

Thus, in less than a year, Johnny entered history by playing for the two cornerstones of the legendary Allman Brothers Band.

And when these two "enemy brothers" buried the hatchet in 1989, it was quite natural that they asked Johnny to join the resurrected A.B.B. Johnny therefore participated in the recording of the album "Seven turns" (on which he co-wrote four tracks including "Good clean fun") and in the American tour in the wake.

Subsequently, he would release many records with his own group.

He would also join various projects such as Blue Floyd (a "jam band" improvising on Pink Floyd themes), The Italian Experience (with members of the Italian group W.I.N.D.), or Rattlebone with ex-Outlaws Chris Anderson.

He would also record several cartoon songs for Disney studios.

Still active in the music industry despite his health problems, he would hammer out his black and white keys until the end. Excellent in all styles (blues, jazz, country, soul, rock), he will remain in the memories of all the profession as a musician of great talent.

A great career for a little blind man born in Delaware!

Olivier Aubry