Johnnie Felton
By Marv Goldberg
© 2025 by Marv Goldberg
My Teddy Williams article documented a singer who had minimal recorded output before totally disappearing from the music scene. Here we go again. Johnnie Felton only had a few records to his credit and only a few appearance ads that I could find. On the other hand, I like two of his songs and that's all it takes to set me going.
Johnnie Myrrh Felton (often seen as "Johnny") was born on November 28, 1911 in Memphis, Tennessee. That's the date he gave to Social Security and to the draft board, although his reported age in various censuses lead to birth years from 1910 to 1915.
Johnnie's parents were William Felton and Isabella T. Palmer; their other children were daughters Ruby, Ivorie, and Rosie B.
The 1920 census, in Memphis, showed Isabella, Ruby, Ivorie, Johnnie, and Rosie B.; I don't know where father William was. Johnnie was 9, which ties into a 1910 birth year (assuming the November birth month is correct). His age would be inconsistent in every census.
In the 1930 census, William is back. All the children were there, but Rosie B. is now called Bertice. Johnnie was down as 17, which would indicate a 1912 birth year.
In the 1931 Memphis City Directory, Johnnie was a houseman (a general worker) at the William Len Hotel.
On August 5, 1931, Johnnie Myrrh Felton married Ollie May Roll in Crittenden County, Arkansas (just across the Mississippi River from Memphis). At least that's what the marriage license document says. Her actual name was Ollie Mae Rhodes. They had a son, Johnnie M. Felton, Jr in 1932, but the marriage didn't last (she would marry again in January 1934).
In the 1934 Memphis City Directory, Johnnie was a presser, working for Gillespie & Burnette (tailors). This is a day job he'd have many times in his life.
In the 1940 census, he was still in Memphis, back with mom and dad, along with sisters Ivory [sic] and Birttese [sic]; he was a hotel porter. Now, it said, he was 24, meaning a birth year of 1915. This is truly a math-challenged family.
Later that year (October 16, 1940), he registered for the draft and gave his birth date as November 28, 1911. Assuming he actually knew it, he would have had no reason to lie about his birthday, since males born anytime prior to 1919 had to register on that day. He gave his employer as Bry's, a large Memphis department store.
By 1940, he'd signed up for Social Security. Strangely, his number was issued to him by the Railroad Board (for some reason, railroad employees had a separate range of numbers), although there's no evidence that he ever worked for a railroad.
[I'm sure you need to know that the first Social Security payment was to Ernest Ackerman, who received the munificent sum of 17 cents in January 1937. He'd retired one day after Social Security went into effect, and they'd deducted five cents from his pay. Before 1940, you got a lump sum payout, not a monthly payment. I hope he used it for travel.]
In the 1942 City Directory, Johnnie's occupation was "fruits". In the 1943 book, he was back to being a presser.
Sometime in 1943 or 1944, Johnnie Felton moved to Detroit. According to his son, Thornail, something happened in Memphis (he didn't talk about what it was) and he never returned there, becoming estranged from his family.
On August 12, 1945, Johnnie married Ruthie Mae Bostic in Detroit. The age he gave (29), again pointed to 1915 as a birth year, but he finally said he was a musician. Their son, Bostic Felton, was born in late 1945. (He became an actor and was in the 1963 movie "The Cool World" and later, an off-Broadway play, "The Toilet".)
Another thing Johnnie did in Detroit was put together a band. The October 6, 1945 Michigan Chronicle had an advertisement showing a photo of Johnnie's band (he's the drummer), with the following caption:
The hottest small combination among Detroit's jazz bands is Little Johnny and his sextet. The unit is available for dances, parties, and special occasion every night, except Friday. Special rates for clubs for a few weeks only. For appointments, call Johnny Felton at TEmple 2-3597. - Adv." (I called, but Johnnie was out.)
Nothing would ever name a single member of any of his bands.
The December 1, 1945 Michigan Chronicle had a photo of Johnnie at his drum set with this caption:
Johnnie Felton and his big, little band are currently thrilling the patrons at the Cotton Club, Beaubien and Bethune. The combine has a unique way of making your favorite juke box numbers jump. Patrons are wild in their applause for the band members.
From January 19 to March 9, 1946, there were ads for Johnnie Felton And His Orchestra at Little Sam's Bar in Detroit. They'd be there four nights a week, Thursday through Sunday. On February 12, there was an ad saying that Little Johnnie Felton's Band would be at the 275 Craftsmens Club every Tuesday.
The February 9, 1946 Michigan Chronicle had a photo of "Little Johnny Felton And His Music Makers" who were coming to the 275 Craftmens Club. When "Johnny Felton's Leading Band" was advertised on May 18, it was for the Brown Derby on Saturday and the 275 Craftsmen Club on Sunday.
On August 29, they performed at a "Clean Block Party" dance in the 4400 block on Rivard. Bring a broom.
The International Musician was the "Official Journal Of The American Federation Of Musicians" (the musicians' union, headed by James C. Petrillo). Johnnie Myrrh Felton's name appears in the June 1947 edition, in a list of musicians expelled from Detroit's Local 5. Since he'd relocated to New York by that time, it's possible that he hadn't paid his union dues in Detroit and they resented it.
Around the same time, his and Ruth's second son, Thornail, was born.
In New York, he put together another band (about which nothing is known). In March 1948, they were at Corby's Fleetwood Lodge in Mount Vernon, New York, just north of New York City.
His photo appeared in the December 18, 1948 New York Age, which said:
Incidentally, just about the hottest, jumpiest band about town is Johnny Felton's good little crew who plays for both Tondaleyo's [Melody] Room and Bowman's intimate Rainbow Room, where they've become favorites with the clubs who throw their affairs there. [Both venues were in the same building. One ad called them the "Jumpin' Rhythm Boys". The name of his band keeps changing, but usually they have no name at all.]
The February 12, 1949 New York Age said: "Since Cliff Aliston took over the Melody Room at Bowman's Lounge, business has picked up 75%. Johnny Felton's band has a lot to do with it." And the April 30 Age had this:
The Sequanians [a social club] really gathered them in at Bowman's Rainbow Room, with Johnny Felton's Band providing the music. Feature of the evening was the Spotlighters Quartette from Brooklyn, composed of DiFosco Ervin [soon to be a member of the Argo Pastels and, later on, call himself "Big Dee Ervin"], Alfred Miller (student at L.I.U.), Monroe Powell (member of the All City Chorus [and future member of the Dominoes and Platters]), and Roy Penn.
I don't know exactly when, but son Wayne was probably born in 1949.
On June 26, 1949, the band played for the Fisk Alumni Club's function at Bowman's Melody Room.
Remember when Johnnie was expelled from the Detroit Local of the American Federation Of Musicians back in 1947? The July 1949 International Musician has him being expelled again.
The New York Age of October 29, 1949 said: "The Friendly Five balled back at Bowman's Rainbow Room the other night as Johnny Felton's really sensational band had the joint jumping."
On November 11 and 12, 1949, the band was at the Happy Hour Club, on Boston Road in The Bronx. He was listed as an extra added attraction.
The November 12, 1949 Age said: "The 3 Keys present their Armistice Day Frolic at Bowman's Rainbow Room Friday November 11th, while Les Demoiselles S. C. [Social Club] will hold forth one week from then at the same place where they will present a Fall Fantasy. Music will be supplied by Johnny Felton for both occasions."
In the 1950 census, Johnnie and Ruth were living in Manhattan with their three sons: Bostic, Thornail, and Wayne. His age again suggests a 1915 birth year and he was a "musician - private jobs".
There's nothing else about Johnnie in 1950.
On January 26, 1951, he copyrighted a song called "You've Been Spending My Money Too Fast", as "Johnnie Myrrh Felton". It was copyrighted again on April 13, by Peter Doraine, under the title "You're Spending My Money Too Fast" (and crediting "Johnny Felton" as the writer).
Probably in January, he recorded four songs for Peter Doraine's Abbey Records: "You're Spending My Money Too Fast", "One Note", "Oh! Yes He Does" (backing up singer Jewyl Lang), and "Barber Jim" (also backing Jewyl Lang).
"You're Spending My Money Too Fast" and "One Note" were released, on Abbey, in February 1951 (as "Johnny Felton and His Orchestra"). The label to "One Note" says he's singing, but it's an instrumental, mostly featuring an annoyingly repetitive one note.
Both Billboard and Cash Box reviewed the songs on March 3, 1951:
You're Spending My Money Too Fast (BB; 84): A very funny and original novelty lyric is sold bright and sprightly by Felton and the boys - real sleeper item here.
One Note (BB; 64): Jump riffer centered around one note gets a bit frantic and fuzzy.
You're Spending My Money Too Fast (CB; no rating): A novelty with one of the cleverest set of lyrics we've heard in a long while is offered here by Johnny Felton and his band. Singing out the words himself, Johnny makes this a dish you can hear over and over again.
One Note (CB; no rating): The second side is a driving instrumental piece, which has a lot of interest in itself. These two ends are perfect for the machines.
When the song was advertised in Billboard, Abbey spelled the title incorrectly: "Your Spending My Money Too Fast".
The Jewyl Lang songs were released the same month (as "Jewyl Lang - accompanied by Johnny Felton Orch.").
I find it strange that, with a well-received record out, there's no trace of him appearing anywhere (and hasn't been since late 1949). It turns out that he mostly played in after-hours clubs (many extremely unsavory), which didn't advertise. He continued to be a presser during the day.
Not a word about him in all of 1952. But, around June 1953, there was another record, this time on Tommy Robinson's Atlas Records: "Darling Mother-In-Law", backed with "That's All Baby" as ("Johnnie Felton and Orch."). He copyrighted both those songs on November 19, 1953.
Billboard didn't get around to reviewing the record until their December 19, 1953 edition:
Darling Mother-In-Law (72): Felton invites his wife and himself to his mother-in-law's house for a visit and gets more than his share of in-law troubles.
That's All Baby (69): In this lively blues material, Felton gives his girl the gate. The group works up a good rocking beat and swings Felton's vocal with exciting drive.
Many newspapers (for example the January 1, 1954 St. Paul Recorder) had this:
Mothers-in-laws [sic] get a hard way to go from Johnnie Felton on his original composition of DARLING MOTHER-IN-LAW. This is good for many a laugh. Flip is the shuffle boogie, THAT'S ALL BABY.
It took Cash Box until January 9, 1954 to review the disc:
That's All Baby (C): Johnnie Felton sings a middle beat bounce about the gal who don't want him as she can't use him anymore.
Darling Mother-In-Law (C+): Johnnie sings a slow tempo narration type item with chuckley lyrics. Story is about the mother-in-law who is a real witch.
The thing that the reviewers missed is that it isn't Johnnie singing "That's All Baby"; it's a woman's voice (but not anyone considered worthy enough to be mentioned on the label). It even contains the line "I work hard, daddy, tryin' to help you pay your bills". I'll make a wild guess and say she's "Shirley Depree", but you'll have to wait a little bit to find out why that's my guess.
On April 9, 1954, his band was at Wells' Music Bar in Harlem. The ad said "Opening", but there don't seem to be any further ads.
Even with a record out, this was the only known appearance that year. In fact, that was the last mention of him appearing anywhere.
However, on September 8, 1954, he copyrighted a song called "No One Ever Loved Me". Since songs tended to be copyrighted after they were recorded, I'll make the wild guess that he'd already recorded that for Allo Records (1650 Broadway, Manhattan). The flip was an instrumental: "Johnnie Felton Jump". The top side was credited to "Johnnie Felton And The Group", while the instrumental was "Johnnie Felton And His Orchestra". But there's a problem. Not only was it released on Allo, but on Mid-Nite, where both sides were credited to "Johnnie Felton And His Orch.". No problem there, you say? Don't be naïve; of course there is. "No One Ever Loved Me" on Mid-Nite has the main artist as Shirley Depree, who wasn't named at all on the Allo label. In fact, according to Victor Pearlin: "'No One Ever Loved Me' [on Allo] has a female singing, with a long spoken passage by a male, whom I assume is Johnnie. There may be a female group behind the lead singer, but it is faint." I'm placing the release of both records in early 1955, but I have no idea which came first.
In 1960, Johnnie's wife, Ruth, found out about some extra children Johnnie had fathered in the neighborhood. At that point, Johnnie relocated to Philadelphia (where he continued to work as a presser), but they never got a divorce, nor did he ever have another band.
Johnnie's mother, Isabella, died in April 1966. The small notice in the Memphis Press-Scimitar said that her son, Johnnie, lived in New York. He'd been estranged from the family for so long that they didn't know he'd moved to Philadelphia years before.
On January 13, 1972, son Wayne was shot to death in Manhattan. It took a year and a half to arrest someone named Robert Battice for the murder.
In September 1973, father William died. Once again, the blurb in the Press-Scimitar said that Johnnie lived in New York. A couple of months later (December 21, 1973), Johnnie's estranged wife, Ruth, died in New York.
At least he kept in touch with one of his siblings. When sister Ivorie died in February 1976, the Press-Scimitar had Johnnie living in Philadelphia.
But when sister Ruby died in March 1982, the obit in the Commercial-Appeal once again said her brother lived in New York.
Johnnie Myrrh Felton died, in Philadelphia, on June 6, 1984; there was no obituary. Only 16 days later, his last remaining sibling, Rosie, died in Memphis.
Finally, on February 6, 1995, Johnnie Felton, Jr died in Memphis. There was no mention of either of his parents.
I really like "You're Spending My Money Too Fast" and "Darling Mother-In-Law", but there's really not all that much here to document Johnnie Felton's career.
Special thanks to Jim Bakay and Johnnie's son, Thornail Felton.
ABBEY (Johnny Felton and His Orchestra)
3022 You're Spending My Money Too Fast / One Note (instr) - ca. 2/51
Note: The "One Note" label says he's singing, but it's an instrumental
3023 Barber Jim / Oh! Yes He Does - ca. 2/51
Jewyl Lang, accompanied by Johnny Felton Orch.
ATLAS (Johnnie Felton and Orch.)
1030 Darling Mother-In-Law / That's All Baby - ca. 6/53
ALLO
100 No One Ever Loved Me / Johnnie Felton Jump (instr) - ca. early 55
Johnnie Felton And The Group / Johnnie Felton And His Orchestra
MID-NITE
MN-001 No One Ever Loved Me / Johnnie Felton Jump (instr) - ca. early 55
Shirley Depree - Johnnie Felton And His Orch. / Johnnie Felton And His Orch.