Syl Johnson Autographs
Sylvester Johnson (born Sylvester Thompson; July 1, 1936 – February 6, 2022) was an American blues and soul singer, musician, songwriter and record producer. His most successful records included "Different Strokes" (1967), "Is It Because I'm Black" (1969) later covered by reggae artists Ken Boothe and Delroy Wilson, and "Take Me to the River" (1975), a cover of Al Green's 1974 original.
Born near Holly Springs, Mississippi, the sixth child of a harmonica-playing farmer, he moved with his family in about 1950 to Chicago, where blues guitarist Magic Sam was his next-door neighbor. Johnson sang and played with Magic Sam and other blues artists, such as Billy Boy Arnold, Junior Wells and Howlin' Wolf, in the 1950s. He recorded with Jimmy Reed for Vee-Jay in 1959, and – after label owner Syd Nathan suggested he change his name from Thompson to Johnson – made his solo debut that same year with "Teardrops" on Federal, a subsidiary of King Records of Cincinnati, backed by Freddie King on guitar. However, Johnson's recordings for King and Federal met with little success, and he also kept a day job as a truck driver.
After several years of recording for small local labels, and performing regularly in local clubs, Johnson began recording for Twilight/Twinight of Chicago in the mid-1960s. Beginning with his first hit, "Come On Sock It to Me", in 1967, he dominated the label as both a hit-maker and a producer. His song "Different Strokes", also from 1967, is included on the breakbeat compilation album, Ultimate Breaks and Beats (SBR 504), and some years later was sampled on many hip hop tracks. Both "Come On Sock It to Me" and "Different Strokes" featured on Johnson's debut LP, Dresses Too Short, in 1968.
Read more about Syl Johnson on Wikipedia
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Traded items with a signature of Syl Johnson
The most expensive item with a signature of Syl Johnson (1939 Play Ball # 28 Syl Johnson Sample Autographed Card PSA/DNA Pop 1) was sold in June 2025 for $275.00 while the cheapest item (Syl Johnson - Signed 3x5 Card - Deceased 1985 - Debut 1922 - Tigers) found a new owner for $0.99 in October 2017. The month with the most items sold (4) was February 2026 with an average selling price of $8.98 for an autographed item of Syl Johnson. Sold items reached their highest average selling price in June 2025 with $275.00 and the month that saw the lowest prices with $0.99 was October 2017. In average, an autographed item from Syl Johnson is worth $9.99.
Most recently, these items with a signature of Syl Johnson were sold on eBay - click here for more items.
| Picture | Item Title | Price | Store |
 | 1920s CARDINALS: Syl Johnson, SIGNED Vintage 3x5 (VC) - Died 1985 | $8.98 |  |
| 1920s CARDINALS: Syl Johnson, SIGNED Vintage 3x5 (VC) - Died 1985 | $8.98 | |
| 1920s CARDINALS: Syl Johnson, SIGNED Vintage 3x5 (VC) - Died 1985 | $6.98 | |
| 1922 TIGERS: Syl Johnson, SIGNED 3x5, D.1985 | $2.99 | |
| 1939 Play Ball # 28 Syl Johnson Sample Autographed Card PSA/DNA Pop 1 | $275.00 | |
| 1972 TCMA The 1930's Syl Johnson Philadelphia Phillies 415 Signed/Auto XA3183 | $11.99 | |
| Si & Syl Johnson JSA Coa Signed by 2 9x11 1933 Whos Who Page Autograph | $58.95 | |
| Syl Johnson autographed Philadelphia Phillies vintage Rowe Postcard | $9.95 | |
| SYL JOHNSON Autographed Signed GPC Cardinals 1931 World Champions Died-1985 | $14.99 | |
 | Syl Johnson PSA DNA Signed 1940 Play Ball Autograph | $97.25 | |
| Syl Johnson PSA DNA Signed 1940 Play Ball Autograph | $94.95 | |
| Syl Johnson Signed Philadelphia Phillies Index Card JSA Certified Autograph -1 # | $37.00 | |
| Syl Johnson Signed PSA/DNA 10 Cut AUTO | $6.63 | |
| Syl Johnson Signed/Auto Cut Photo on 3x5 Index Card 1926 Cardinals PSA/DNA | $44.00 | |
| Syl Johnson- (d.1985) Signed/Autograph/Auto Index Card Philadelphia Phillies MLB | $9.99 | |
