Artist Snapshot
John Earl Sayles, Jr. (February 9, 1937 – August 17, 1993), known as Johnny Sayles, was an American R&B and soul singer. Sayles was born in Winnsboro, Texas. Around 1955 he moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he sang with Eugene Neal’s Rocking Kings, and with Ike Turner's band, the Kings of Rhythm. Reported to have always wanted to sing ‘sweet’ like Roy Hamilton, his vocal power was immense, and at times, his stage presence was said to have rivalled even that of James Brown. After visiting Chicago while on tour, Sayles settled there and signed a recording deal with the Mar-V-Lus label run by George Leaner.