The early years of Ebony Rhythm Funk Campaign’s Lester Johnson

May 04, 2025

This week on Echoes of Indiana, we're joined by bassist and Ebony Rhythm Funk Campaign co-founder Lester Johnson to reflect on his early years in music. Lester got his start as a teenager playing on the Avenue with Harvey Cook and the Blue Tones. 

We'll explore his time with groups like The Chordells and The Golden Soul Show Band, and talk about the deep musical roots in his family—including blues great Guitar Pete Franklin, jazz guitarist Johnny Shacklett, and his grandmother Flossie Franklin, who has been credited with writing lyrics for the Indianapolis blues legend Leroy Carr.