Molly Johnson

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Molly Johnson is a Canadian jazz singer.

Molly Johnson has earned her reputation as one of Canada's greatest voices. Her accomplishments in blues, jazz and rock have moved audiences across the country. Her talents have led to collaborations, as both singer and songwriter, with internationally acclaimed artists such as k.d lang, Stephane Grappelli, Rush's Alex Lifeson, Blue Rodeo, Tom Cochrane and guitarist Craig Ross (Lenny Kravitz). From 1996-2000 (despite the fact she had not released new material) Johnson was selected Best Vocalist in the NOW Magazine annual Reader's Poll.

Molly has rocked standing-room only audiences in nightclubs and bars from coast-to-coast as a pop artist, seduced the patrons of salons and lounges with her luscious interpretations of jazz and blues standards and even regaled royalty during a private command performance aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia before the Prince and late Princess of Wales. She has been the subject of numerous feature stories in various media, such as Adrienne Clarkson Presents, Toronto Life, Chatelaine, Flare, June Callwood's National Treasures, CBC Television's Opening Night and Bravo's Live At The Rehearsal Hall and, at one time or another (for her charitable work if not her music), in virtually every daily and weekly newspaper in the country.

From Rolling Stone (France), to the Olympia in Paris, to the popular New Morning Show; the people of France have embraced Molly Johnson with growing affection since she released her latest disc Another Day there. The single 'Melody', with its charmingly animated video, is climbing the jazz and pop charts, securing a whole new audience for this celebrated Canadian songstress, as well as creating a demand for her to re-release her self titled debut.

Another Day is Molly's second solo album featuring some exceptional musicians Molly has recruited as her touring quartet (multi-instrumentalist and background vocals Colleen Allen; Andrew Craig, piano and vocals; Mike Downes, bass; Mark McLean, drums). Another Day came to life in just 8 short days at Reaction Studios in Toronto, helmed by veterans Craig Street (producer; Cassandra Wilson, Norah Jones) and Kevin Killen (engineer; U2, Elvis Costello). The first single is the album's title track - a tart, tongue-in-cheek meditation on "a day in my life" - with a video directed by LA-based director Margaret Malandruccolo.

Molly is currently working on releasing her third solo album entitled Messing Around, in October of 2006.

1 History
2 Sound samples
3 Discography
4 External link

[edit] History

Molly was also a vocalist for two funk-rock bands, Alta Moda in the 1980s and Infidels in the 1990s. Both bands had notable hits in Canada (Alta Moda's "Julian" and Infidels' "100 Watt Bulb" and "Celebrate"), but both bands broke up (for different reasons) after just one album each.

Johnson began as a child performer, receiving formal training from the National Ballet School and the Banff School of Fine Arts.

Although she has also performed as a jazz singer throughout her career, she did not release a jazz album until her self-titled solo debut in 2000. The jazz group she worked with between Alta Moda and the Infidels, Big Sugar, also became a prominent Canadian band in the 1990s.

In the mid-1990s, Johnson also organized an annual concert series, the Kumbaya Festival, as a benefit for Canadian charities working around HIV and AIDS, and succeeded in raising awareness and over one million dollars for those living with HIV / AIDS.

Johnson's brother Clark, an actor and director, and sister Taborah, an actor and singer, are also noted Canadian performers. She is not, however, related to Gordie Johnson, who became Big Sugar's lead vocalist when Molly Johnson left to form the Infidels.

Johnson defended Leonard Cohen's novel Beautiful Losers in Canada Reads 2005, where she replaced Rufus Wainwright as a panelist.

Molly Johnson is a fashon icon who celebrates Canadian designers from Hoax Couture to Ports 1961.