Michael Johnson (singer)
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Michael Johnson (born August 8, 1944) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.
Stylistically, singer-songwriter Johnson has been all over the map, ranging from folk to pop and soft rock to country. But no matter what kind of music he recorded, he maintained a mellow, pleasant tone that served as his hallmark. Johnson was born in Alamosa, Colorado, in 1944 and started playing the guitar as a teenager, studying both rock & roll and jazz. At 21, he traveled to Barcelona and studied classical guitar with Graciano Tarrago for a year, then returned to the U.S. and joined the later version of the folk group the Chad Mitchell Trio (when John Denver was a member). Initially signing to Atco, Johnson released his first album, There Is a Breeze, in 1973 and displayed a gentle, folk-influenced sound. He recorded two more albums for smaller labels in the mid-'70s, gradually transforming into more of a soft rock artist, and signed with EMI in 1978 in that capacity. He scored a number one hit on the adult contemporary charts that year with "Bluer Than Blue", which made #12 on the pop chart, and also made the adult contemporary Top Five with 1978's "Almost Like Being in Love" and 1979's "This Night Won't Last Forever." 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. He was surprisingly successful, scoring a total of five Top Ten country hits from 1986-1989, including the chart-toppers "Give Me Wings" and "The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder." After three country albums on RCA, Johnson moved over to Atlantic in 1991, which effectively halted his commercial momentum. He recorded sporadically in the '90s for smaller labels. He hosts an annual Christmas concert in Minneapolis.
[edit] Discography
- There Is A Breeze Atlantic Records, 1973, re-released on Sanskrit Records 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 1986) and "The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder" (#1 Country song, 1986)
- 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 anew version of "It Must be you" with 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
- Always - Roberto Bianco with Michael Johnson, 2005 (guitar only)
[edit] Trivia
- He recorded the lead vocal to the main theme song of the 1980 movie Serial called "It's A Changing World".
- He co-wrote the 1995 country hit "Cain's Blood" with Jack Sundred (ex-Great Plains member and current member of Poco), recorded by the vocal quartet 4 Runner. It was the main hit from their debut album and the group won an ACM nomination due to the breakout success of the hit song, which reached #5 on the country charts.
