Periodically in music history, “bands of brothers” have emerged whose familial chemistry fueled a certain magic both onstage and in the recording studio. In the 50’s, the Everly Brothers stormed both the rock and country worlds. In the 60’s, the Kinks and Bee Gees emerged to challenge all comers in British rock. And in the soul/funk arena from the mid 70’s until the early 80’s, The Brothers Johnson, led by guitarist/vocalist George and his sibling bassist Louis “Thunder Thumbs” Johnson, loomed especially large. The combination of George’s mellow, baritone vocals with Louis’s inventive, “slap bass” lines always yielded something special.
We feature here the Brothers in 1976 performing “I’ll Be Good To You” from their debut album Look Out For #1. The track reached # 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was just the first of several hits they would release over their career, including among others “Strawberry Letter 23.” Enjoy.
By Robb Patryk
