Tina Knowles just wrote a beautiful homage to her beloved Uncle Johnny. He served as the glue that held Beyoncé and Solange’s family together, creating a wonderland filled with joy, laughter and a deep-rooted sense of connection. Johnny’s Galveston, Texas upbringing helped mold him into a true source of strength. His firecracker exuberance exploded quite an impact on each of us and the many others he touched. Part mad scientist, part stand-up comedian—his wondrous inventions and inspired nonsense were the stuff of legends especially to his adoring nieces.
Johnny’s presence was both powerful and fragile. He was the heart and soul of their family, always bringing happiness and hype into their household. His irreverent goofiness won the kids over. He had a special connection with Solange, who he would often clown around with simply to get a laugh from her. As Knowles looked back on their time, she remembered how Johnny had the ability to make anything a point of hilarity.
The interplay of their energies was notable too, as a kind of brother-sister-ish playful, but bewildering competitiveness. “Johnny and I would have fistfights once a week,” Knowles said, recalling those spirited moments shared with her cousin, Ronnie. In just these playful physical competitions you can see the playfulness of their tight-knit family that cemented their childhood.
Visitors often crowded Johnny’s life, including many of the drag queens who would later visit Johnny. And to those Royal Ladies, he took great pride in designing the most exquisite gowns for them to wear — displaying the best of fashion and style talent. “He was a boss, and everyone in the family knew it,” Knowles remarked, emphasizing Johnny’s commanding presence in their lives.
Though known for his great strength and might, Johnny had deep emotional struggles of his own. Yet at the same time, he had such a deep understanding of the narrator’s struggles at school and provided such stalwart encouragement. When Selena’s upstairs neighbors vacated their duplex, Johnny easily absorbed their rent. Yet this decision underscored his commitment to keeping families intact through difficult circumstances.
As the years went on, Johnny would start to falter in health. Although he managed to hide the severity of his illness while the narrator and Destiny’s Child were on tour, the family remained concerned. “He had a sense of humor and would often try to make me see the funny side of things,” Knowles shared, highlighting how Johnny’s spirit persisted even amidst adversity.
A gifted wig maker, Johnny teamed up with Knowles to create wigs, which only deepened their relationship. He loved family life and held the best feelings in life towards Knowles and Solange. Though many assumed he would recover, as the days went by, his health continued to deteriorate. It soon became obvious that he needed more specialized care.
Eventually, as Johnny’s health continued to decline, Johnny entered hospice care. His passing truly was the end of an era for the Knowles clan. All who knew him were heartbroken by the loss.