Louis Johnson, the founding member and bassist of funk band The Brothers Johnson, passed away at the age of 60 on Thursday, May 21.
His nephew, Troy, confirmed the news of Johnson's passing via Instagram, but the cause of death has yet to be revealed.
The Brothers Johnson was based in Los Angeles, and featured Louis and his brother George, hence the name of the two-person band.
Johnson was always in-demand, and even played parts for Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," according to CNN.
"I've never been given parts to play in my whole life. I'm the most rare bass player in the whole world," Johnson told Rolling Stone contributing writer Steve Knopper in 2013 for the upcoming book "MJ: The Genius of Michael Jackson."
"No one ever gave me music paper to read; no one ever gave me anything to read. They tell me, 'Here's a track, play what you want. "
The brothers released their first LP in 1976, and it was called "Look Out for #1."
After the first LP, it was all success from there.
The Brothers Johnson racked up three No. 1 hits on the r&b charts: 1976's "I'll Be Good to You," their 1977 cover of Shuggie Otis' "Strawberry Letter 23," and 1980's smash "Stomp!"
"It was like an open door. The Lord blessed me with that - I prayed to God and my prayer he answered. He said, 'OK, you got the whole world now.' Every time I'd get in the car to go somewhere, I'd hear me playing the bass ... I was all over the place. I released the funk on everybody," Johnson told Rolling Stone.
Watch Brothers Johnson perform "Strawberry Letter 23."
