Brothers Johnson — Louis Johnson, right; GAB Archive/RedfernsBrothers Johnson bass player Louis Johnson has died, The New York Times reports. He was 60. Johnson’s death was confirmed for the paper on Sunday by the band’s manager Jeff Mullen, who said the cause of death had not been determined. Johnson was found dead in his Las Vegas home Thursday, May 21.
Louis and his brother, guitarist and singer George Johnson, topped the R&B chart in the mid-’70s with #1 funk hits “I’ll Be Good to You,” “Strawberry Letter #23” and “Stomp!,” which reached #3, #5 and #7 on the pop chart, respectively. Louis, nicknamed “Thunder Thumps” for his slapping bass style, also had a successful career as a session musician, including playing bass on Michael Jackson‘s smash albums Off the Wall and Thriller.
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