Michael Johnson (singer)

Michael Johnson (born 8 August 1944), is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for his hit song "Bluer Than Blue."

Life

Johnson started playing the guitar at 13. In 1963, he went off to Colorado State University to study music but his college career was truncated when he won an international talent contest two years later. First prize included a deal with Epic Records. Epic put out "Hills," written and sung by Johnson, as a single. Johnson began extensive touring of clubs and colleges, finding a receptive audience everywhere he went.

Wishing to hone his instrumental skills, 1966 found him in Barcelona, Spain at Liceo Conservatory studying with the eminent classical guitarist, Graciano Tarrago. Upon his return to the States, he joined Randy Sparks in a group called the New Society and did a tour of the Orient. When the band dissolved in 1967, he signed on with the Chad Mitchell Trio for a year, spending some of that time co-writing with another member, John Denver. The group was renamed Denver, Boise & Johnson. When the trio came to an end, Johnson made a radical departure from everything he had done previously by taking on a major supporting role in the off-Broadway production of "Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris." The show visited New York, Los Angeles and Chicago over the next year and by then Johnson was ready to return to creating and performing his music.

In 1971, Johnson signed with Atco Records to release his first album, There Is A Breeze, released in 1973, produced by Peter Yarrow and Phil Ramone in New York. Feeling this first effort wasn't a true reflection of his music, Johnson self-produced his next LP in 1975, For All You Mad Musicians, relying solely on his voice and guitar for a jazzy, folk feel. He followed this up with Ain't Dis Da Life, where he added a rhythm section, With each new recording and his continued touring, his popularity was increasing. It was time to make a move on the national market.

Teaming up with Brent Maher and Steve Gibson in Nashville, Johnson created a two-song demo consisting of "Bluer Than Blue" and "Almost Like Being In Love" from the Broadway musical Brigadoon. EMI America took one listen and wasted no time in signing him, quickly getting The Michael Johnson Album out in 1978. The first single, "Bluer Than Blue" went straight to Number 1 on the Pop and Adult Contemporary charts, leading to its being nominated for a Grammy. "Almost Like Being in Love" went to Number 1 with R&B while hitting the Top 5 in Pop and AC. His next EMI album, Dialogue, provided his third big hit, "This Night Won't Last Forever" and a Gold Record for European sales of "I'll Always Love You."

Johnson recorded five albums in all for EMI and in 1985 moved over to RCA, where he adopted a contemporary country style that stayed compatible with his soft, mellow leanings; this shift was evident in his choice of duet partners country-pop singers Juice Newton and Sylvia. Johnson's change proved successful, as he scored five Top Ten country hits from 1986 to 1989, including the chart-toppers "Give Me Wings" and "The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder." After two country albums on RCA (plus two greatest hits collections), Johnson moved over to Atlantic Records in 1991, which effectively halted his commercial momentum. He recorded sporadically in the 1990s for smaller labels. In 1995, the country music group 4 Runner scored a minor hit with the single "Cain's Blood", which Johnson co-wrote with Jack Sundrud. Michael also proved to be a successful writer of print when he wrote The Solo Performer columns for the Performing Songwriter Magazine from 1993 through 1998.

In August of 2007 he underwent successful quadruple-bypass heart surgery. A charitable organization, "Friends of Michael Johnson," has been set up to help defray medical expenses.

Discography

There Is A Breeze Atlantic Records, 1973, re-released on Sanskrit Records, 1976, and EMI America, 1981
For All You Mad Musicians Sanskrit Records, 1975, re-released on EMI America, 1982
Ain't Dis Da Life Sanskrit Records, 1977, re-released on EMI America, 1982
The Michael Johnson Album EMI America, 1978, includes the hit singles: "Bluer Than Blue" and "Almost Like Being In Love".
Dialogue EMI America 1979, includes the hit singles: "This Night Won't Last Forever" and "I'll Always Love You".
You Can Call Me Blue EMI America, 1980
Home Free EMI America, 1981
Lifetime Guarantee EMI America, 1983
"I Love You By Heart" RCA, 1985 hit single — duet with Sylvia Kirby
Wings RCA, 1986, includes the hit singles: "Gotta Learn To Love Without You", "Give Me Wings" (#1 country song and Billboard Country Song Of The Year 1987) and "The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder" (#1 Country song, 1987)
That's That RCA 1988, includes hit singles: "Cryin Shame", "I Will Whisper Your Name" and "That's That", as well "It Must Be You," a duet with pop singer Juice Newton.
The Best Of Michael Johnson RCA, 1990
Michael Johnson Atlantic Records, 1992 (featuring a second version of "It Must be you" with Juice Newton)
Departure Vanguard Records, 1995
Then And Now Intersound Records, 1997 with "Whenever I Call You Friend", with Alison Krauss
The Very Best Of Michael Johnson: Bluer Than Blue (1978–1995) Razor & Tie Records, 1999
LIVE At The Bluebird Cafe American Originals, 2000
Classic Masters EMI, 2002
Always - Roberto Bianco with Michael Johnson, 2005 (guitar only)

External links