Meet Johnny Lee Schell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Johnny Lee Schell.

Hi Johnny Lee, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Grew up in the Texas Panhandle. Began playing guitar at age thirteen. After playing in various local and regional bands, I moved to southern California in the mid-’70s. Befriending another Texan, Bobby Keys who played sax with the Rolling Stones, I was introduced to Ian McLagan, who had played keyboards on the latest Stones tour. I played and sang on his two solo albums, along with Ronnie Wood, Keith Richards and Ringo Starr. In 1981 I played on a Bonnie Raitt album, Green L:ights, and began a twelve-year stretch of touring and recording with her, including her album Nick of Time, which won some Grammys and was the album of the year. When my work with Bonnie was done, I began playing recording sessions with some of my blues heroes including John Lee Hooker, Otis Rush, Buddy Guy and B B King.

Various other artists were included in that time, the most memorable being Delbert McClinton and Joe Cocker. In the early 90s I played some sessions with Taj Mahal and began touring with him, an association which continues to this day. I am also now a member of the Blues Brothers stage band for the last 25 years or so. In the mid 90’s I installed professional recording equipment and began making master recordings, mostly for The Phantom Blues Band which continues to this day. Our little studio has won a Grammy award, blues song of the year and blues album of the year with various friends coming through including Little Feat, Tower of Power, Eric Burdon and many others. I still enjoy my work and living in southern California.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being a self-employed musician will always be a life of uncertainty, but with that comes great freedom to be creative. With the help of my wife of 37 years and many friends, I have been more fortunate than most.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I believe that mostly working hard, being kind and showing up on time not being an idiot. I love singing and playing roots-based music of all kinds, but generally consider myself a traditional blues player. In my studio, I record all genres of roots-based music, from country to classical.

What were you like growing up?
As a young man, I was mostly interested in science. I was salutatorian of my high school class with a 95-grade average for four years. I was offered a work-study program at White Sands missle range in New Mexico, which I declined. I was also a three-year varsity letterman in football and basketball and a captain of both teams. I won the district championship in the long jump as a junior, all the while playing in various teenage rock and soul bands.