R.I.P. Smokey Johnson

Joseph “Smokey” Johnson has died, a month shy of his 79^th birthday. He was one of the great New Orleans drummers, known for his work with Earl King and Fats Domino, known for his deep groove – a guy who became a huge influence on the Motown sound too. Johnson was trained on trombone before switching to drums as a teenager and taking up with dance club b…