Johnny Hammond is an American organist and composer who emerged in the 1950s as a pioneering force in funk-influenced jazz and soul music. Born John Smith in Louisville, Kentucky, he adopted the "Johnny Hammond" moniker to distinguish himself in a crowded field of organ players. His signature sound—blending soulful Hammond B-3 organ with increasingly funky arrangements—made him a sought-after accompanist and bandleader throughout his career.
Hammond's recording legacy spans multiple influential labels, beginning with a prolific 10-year run on Prestige Records during the 1960s. His breakthrough came with "Breakout" (1971), the inaugural release for CTI Records' Kudu imprint, which featured a young Grover Washington Jr. on saxophone. Throughout the early 1970s, Hammond's style evolved toward funk and soul fusion, notably through collaborations with the Mizell Brothers on albums like "Gambler's Life" (1974) and "Gears" (1975) on Milestone Records. His incorporation of electric and acoustic pianos alongside his signature organ created a dynamic, dance-floor-ready aesthetic that anticipated future developments in funk and electronic music. The track "Shifting Gears" gained renewed recognition through its inclusion in the breakbeat compilation Ultimate Breaks and Beats, cementing Hammond's influence on producers and DJs sampling classic funk and soul.