Born in New Orleans, Lonnie Johnson was probably one of the most musically sophisticated blues guitarists. Lonnie Johnson's legacy is immense, and not just in the blues genre. Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, LaVern Baker, Bob Dylan and countless others have recorded his songs. He has left an indelible mark on modern American music. As with other blues musicians of his generation, Lonnie Johnson's musical activity declined in the 1950s, leaving him to work only as a cook or janitor. "Blues & Ballads" is one of the albums that marked his comeback.