Super Chikan
Encyclopedia
James "Super Chikan" Johnson (born February 16, 1951, Darling, Mississippi
) is an American
blues
musician
, based in Clarksdale
, Mississippi
. He is the nephew of fellow blues musician Big Jack Johnson
.
One commentator noted that Super Chikan, along with Big Jack Johnson, Booba Barnes
, R. L. Burnside
, and Paul "Wine" Jones
were "present-day exponents of an edgier, electrified version of the raw, uncut Delta blues sound."
and working on his family's farms. He was fond of the chickens on the farm, and before he was old enough to work in the fields, he would walk around talking to them. This led his friends to give him the nickname "Chikan Boy". At an early age, Johnson got his first rudimentary musical instrument, a diddley bow
. As he grew up, he came up with new ways to improve and vary the sounds he could make with it, and in 1964, at the age of thirteen, he bought his first guitar
, an acoustic model that had only two strings, from a Salvation Army
store in Clarksdale.
and record them. He then started playing with some renowned local musicians, but he decided he would rather perform on his own than try to conform his style to that of his bandmates. He did so, and in 1997 he released his debut album, Blues Come Home to Roost, influenced by such musicians as Muddy Waters
, John Lee Hooker
, and Chuck Berry
. He went on to release What You See (2000), Shoot That Thang (2001), Chikan Supe
(2005), and Sum Mo Chikan
(2007). In the Clarksdale area, he is probably best-known for performing regularly at Morgan Freeman
's Ground Zero
blues club and for being Freeman's favorite blues performer. He also played support to Steven Seagal's band, 'Thunderbox.'
Super Chikan's latest release was Chikadelic, which was distributed by BluesTown Records. It was recorded in Notodden
, Norway
's Juke Joint Studios, and was released at the 2009 Notodden Blues Festival
. Super Chikan was backed by Norway's, Spoonful of Blues.
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, based in Clarksdale
Clarksdale, Mississippi
Clarksdale is a city in Coahoma County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 20,645 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Coahoma County....
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
. He is the nephew of fellow blues musician Big Jack Johnson
Big Jack Johnson
Big Jack Johnson was an American electric blues musician.One commentator noted that Johnson, along with R. L...
.
One commentator noted that Super Chikan, along with Big Jack Johnson, Booba Barnes
Booba Barnes
Roosevelt "Booba" Barnes was an American Delta blues musician. One commentator noted that Barnes, along with R. L...
, R. L. Burnside
R. L. Burnside
Not to be confused with R. H. Burnside, stage director.R. L. Burnside , born Robert Lee Burnside, was an American blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist who lived much of his life in and around Holly Springs, Mississippi. He played music for much of his life, but did not receive much attention...
, and Paul "Wine" Jones
Paul "Wine" Jones
Paul "Wine" Jones was an American contemporary blues guitarist and singer.One commentator noted that Jones, along with R. L...
were "present-day exponents of an edgier, electrified version of the raw, uncut Delta blues sound."
Early life
He spent his childhood moving from town to town in the Mississippi DeltaMississippi Delta
The Mississippi Delta is the distinctive northwest section of the U.S. state of Mississippi that lies between the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers. The region has been called "The Most Southern Place on Earth" because of its unique racial, cultural, and economic history...
and working on his family's farms. He was fond of the chickens on the farm, and before he was old enough to work in the fields, he would walk around talking to them. This led his friends to give him the nickname "Chikan Boy". At an early age, Johnson got his first rudimentary musical instrument, a diddley bow
Diddley bow
The diddley bow is a string instrument of African origin made popular in America, probably developed from instruments found on the Ghana coast of west Africa. The diddley bow is rarely heard outside the rural south...
. As he grew up, he came up with new ways to improve and vary the sounds he could make with it, and in 1964, at the age of thirteen, he bought his first guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, an acoustic model that had only two strings, from a Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
store in Clarksdale.
Musical career
As an adult, Super Chikan began driving a truck for a living. During the long stretches on the road, he began composing his own songs. When he showed some of the songs to his friends, they convinced him to go to a recording studioRecording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
and record them. He then started playing with some renowned local musicians, but he decided he would rather perform on his own than try to conform his style to that of his bandmates. He did so, and in 1997 he released his debut album, Blues Come Home to Roost, influenced by such musicians as Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters
McKinley Morganfield , known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician, generally considered the "father of modern Chicago blues"...
, John Lee Hooker
John Lee Hooker
John Lee Hooker was an American blues singer-songwriter and guitarist.Hooker began his life as the son of a sharecropper, William Hooker, and rose to prominence performing his own unique style of what was originally closest to Delta blues. He developed a 'talking blues' style that was his trademark...
, and Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
. He went on to release What You See (2000), Shoot That Thang (2001), Chikan Supe
Chikan Supe
Chikan Supe is an album by James "Super Chikan" Johnson, released in 2005.-Track listing:#"Poor Broke Boy"#"Reliable Sources"#"Wavy Thoughts"#"Just Ain't The Same No Mo'"#"Old Field Song"#"Ground Zero"#"Clarksdale"#"Don't Play"#"Special Glow"...
(2005), and Sum Mo Chikan
Sum Mo Chikan
Sum Mo Chikan is an album by Super Chikan released 2007.Produced and mixed by Lawrence "Boo" Mitchll and Charley Burch. Burch secured Super Chikan a record deal with Vizztone Records.-Track listing:# Freddy's Thang# Crystal Ball Eyes# Hookin' Up...
(2007). In the Clarksdale area, he is probably best-known for performing regularly at Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman is an American actor, film director, aviator and narrator. He is noted for his reserved demeanor and authoritative speaking voice. Freeman has received Academy Award nominations for his performances in Street Smart, Driving Miss Daisy, The Shawshank Redemption and Invictus and won...
's Ground Zero
Ground Zero (blues club)
Ground Zero is a blues club in Clarksdale, Mississippi that is co-owned by Morgan Freeman, attorney Bill Luckett, and Memphis entertainment executive Howard Stovall. It got its name from the fact that Clarksdale has been historically referred to as "Ground Zero" for the blues. It opened in May...
blues club and for being Freeman's favorite blues performer. He also played support to Steven Seagal's band, 'Thunderbox.'
Super Chikan's latest release was Chikadelic, which was distributed by BluesTown Records. It was recorded in Notodden
Notodden
is a town and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Øst-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Notodden....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
's Juke Joint Studios, and was released at the 2009 Notodden Blues Festival
Notodden Blues Festival
Notodden Blues Festival is one of the largest blues music festivals in Europe and the largest in Scandinavia. The festival is held in Notodden, Norway, usually in early August.-History:...
. Super Chikan was backed by Norway's, Spoonful of Blues.
Discography
- 1997 - Blues Come Home to Roost
- 2000 - What You See
- 2001 - Shoot That Thang
- 2005 - Chikan SupeChikan SupeChikan Supe is an album by James "Super Chikan" Johnson, released in 2005.-Track listing:#"Poor Broke Boy"#"Reliable Sources"#"Wavy Thoughts"#"Just Ain't The Same No Mo'"#"Old Field Song"#"Ground Zero"#"Clarksdale"#"Don't Play"#"Special Glow"...
- 2007 - Sum Mo ChikanSum Mo ChikanSum Mo Chikan is an album by Super Chikan released 2007.Produced and mixed by Lawrence "Boo" Mitchll and Charley Burch. Burch secured Super Chikan a record deal with Vizztone Records.-Track listing:# Freddy's Thang# Crystal Ball Eyes# Hookin' Up...
(Producers and Mixers: Charley Burch and Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell) - 2009 - Chikadelic (Producer: Charley Burch) Winner of 2010 BMA Traditional Blues Album of The Year
- 2011 - "Okiesippi Blues" Watermelon Slim and Super Chikan (Producers and Mixers: Charley Burch and Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell)
Awards
- Living BluesLiving BluesLiving Blues is a bi-monthly magazine focused on covering the African American blues tradition, and America's oldest blues periodical. The magazine was founded as a quarterly in Chicago in 1970 by Jim O'Neal and Amy van Singel. Alligator Records owner and founder Bruce Iglauer was also one of the...
Critics Award (5) - 1998 - W.C. Handy Award Nominee
- 2004 - Mississippi Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts
- 2010 - Blues Music Awards Winner, Traditional Blues Album of the Year