Willie Johnson (guitarist)

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Willie Johnson (March 4, 1913 - February 21, 1995) was a guitarist born in Senatobia, Mississippi, USA. He should not be confused with the earlier gospel artist Blind Willie Johnson. Johnson was the guitarist in the first band led by Howlin' Wolf, and appeared on most of Wolf's recordings between 1951 and 1953, providing the slightly jazzy yet raucous guitar sound that was the signature of all of Wolf's Memphis recordings. When Wolf moved to Chicago c. 1953, he could not convince Johnson to go with him. Johnson stayed on in Memphis for several years before relocating to Chicago, by which time Wolf had already hired guitarist Hubert Sumlin as Johnson's permanent replacement.

Johnson played briefly in the band of Muddy Waters, as well as a number of other local Chicago blues musicians in the mid and late 1950s. He made his living mainly outside of music for the rest of his life, occasionally sitting in with the bands of his old friends around Chicago.

Willie Johnson died in Chicago.

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Another musician is also known as Willie Johnson (singer). He was a singer and a member of the Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet until 1948, when he joined the Jubilaires.