He learned to play the piano and taught himself guitar in regular tuning and open D for slide. The energetic music of the Church of God in Christ nourished Willie Johnson growing up. He gathered many of his song's lyrics from old hymnals. It was at church functions where Johnson first began to exercise his talents. He developed incomparable timing and tone, using a pocket-knife slider to double his voice, finish a verse, or play a sparkling solo. As the spirit moved him, his gruff woice could shake with fierce vibrato.

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