Syl Johnson was a soul and blues singer and guitarist known for songs including “Different Strokes,” “Is it Because I’m Black,” and “Take Me to the River.”Johnson grew up in a musical family that included his brother, blues guitarist Jimmy Johnson (1928–2022). In his early career, he played with blues legends including Junior Wells (1934–1998) and Howlin’ Wolf (1910–1976). Johnson began his own recording career in the late 1950s, and he began charting singles in 1967 with “Come on Sock it to Me” and “Different Strokes.” A top-15 R&B hit, “Different Strokes” became one of the most heavily sampled songs, heard in tracks by artists including Public Enemy and the Wu-Tang Clan.