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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 Lytle formed his first band in 1957, eventually signing to the Jazzland label in 1960. Johnny Lytle released over 30 albums as a leader of several formations including trios, quartets and quintets. His catalog includes Blue Vibes (1960), Nice and Easy: The Soulful Vibes of Johnny Lytle (1962), Happy Ground (1963), The Loop (1965), Moon Child (1968), The Sound of Velvet Soul (1968), and Close Enough for Love (1969). While working on his own albums, he was still able to play on sessions with Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, Miles Davis, Nancy Wilson, Roy Ayers, and others. Johnny Lytle was also an acclaimed songwriter, penning many songs for his own albums. Johnny Lytle was a popular live performer, often touring Europe and the U.S. He continued to perform up until a month before his death. Johnny Lytle died of kidney failure on December 15, 1995.
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