Puff Johnson

Puff Johnson
Birth name Ewanya Johnson
Born (1972-12-10)December 10, 1972
Detroit, Michigan, United States
Died June 24, 2013(2013-06-24) (aged 40)
Genres Rhythm and Blues, Contemporary Christian music
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter

Ewanya "Puff" Johnson (December 10, 1972 — June 24, 2013) was an American R&B and Contemporary Christian singer-songwriter.

Life and career

Ewanya Johnson was born in Detroit, Michigan and raised in Los Angeles, California.[1]

She emerged on the music scene in 1996 with her first single "Forever More", produced by Narada Michael Walden and written by Walden, Puff Johnson and S.J. Dakota. It achieved its biggest success in New Zealand where it reached No. 5. Another single, "Over and Over", also from 1996, was a hit in Europe and Australia reaching the Top 30 in both continents. It appeared on the soundtrack of the film The First Wives Club. Both singles were released on the Work label.

She released her first and critically acclaimed album, Miracle, in 1996. The album was produced by Randy Jackson of American Idol fame, and was certified silver in the UK. Towards the end of the year Miracle reached the Top 40 in the Netherlands, and the single "Over and Over" hit the Top 20. She also collaborated with the Bay Area-based R&B group, Somethin' for the People, with Tupac Shakur on his song, "Me Against the World", which was featured on the Bad Boys movie soundtrack and appeared on his album Me Against The World.

In 1997, Johnson toured Europe as an opening act for Michael Jackson and 3T. She did not release any further material and slipped out of the limelight. However, Johnson was listed as a co-writer of three tracks of the 2005 album A Change Is Gonna Come by U.S. singer Leela James ("Good Time" along with Gordon Williams, James herself and Kenton Nix, "When You Love Somebody" with Gordon and James, and "Prayer" alongside Chucky Thompson and James). She was also credited as a co-writer of "Me" by Tamia, which appeared on her 2006 album, Between Friends. A demo version of "Me" recorded by Johnson was posted on her Myspace page, with minor lyrical differences.[2]

Johnson lived in South Africa since January 2009, following her concert in Johannesburg. She attributed her decision to relocate to South Africa to the friendly and warm people that she had met throughout her journey in the country.

Johnson died of cervical cancer on June 24, 2013 at age 40.[3]

Personal life

Johnson was married to producer Kip Collins, who died in 2007.[4]

She was later involved with singer Ishmael Morabe, who she met in a studio in South Africa. They dated for almost two years in South Africa before she had issues with her Visa due to staying in the country too long without the correct documentation, and she could no longer stay there. They continued a long-distance relationship until about six months before she passed away in June 2013.[5]

Discography

Albums

1996: Miracle

Singles

Year Title Album US Pop[1] US R&B[6] UK[7] AU[8] NL[9]
1996 "Forever More" Miracle 63 31 29 29 91
"All Over Your Face" - 57 - - -
"Over and Over" The First Wives Club: Music From The Motion Picture 118 114 20 29 20

Other recorded songs

Title Year Album Note(s)
"What Child Is This" 1994 Joyful Christmas
    "Someday We'll All Be Free" 1995 The Promised Land
      "Me Against The World" Me Against The World
      • 2Pac featuring Puff Johnson
      "I Like It" 1996 Forever More - Single
      • B-Side
      "Never Loved Nobody"
      • B-Side
      "That's When You'll Know" Miracle
      • Bonus Track exclusive to Japan
      "All That's On My Mind" Over & Over - Single
      • B-Side
      "Baby Can You Feel It"
      • B-Side
      • Also included in the Australian edition of "Miracle".
      "Feel So Good" 1997 This Time It's Personal
      "Your Love" 1998
      "U Can Call" 2002 Better Dayz
      • 2Pac featuring Puff Johnson. Released on 2Pac's posthumous release 'Better Dayz'.
      "Me"
      "All I Want Is You"

      References

      1. 1 2 Whitburn, Joel (2003). Top Pop Singles 1955-2002 (1st ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-155-1.
      2. ↑ "Puff Johnson | Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos". Myspace.com. Retrieved 2017-07-25.
      3. ↑ "Puff Johnson succumbs to a battle with cervical cancer". Sowetan LIVE. 1972-12-10. Retrieved 2013-06-25.
      4. ↑ "R&B singer Puff Johnson dies". DestinyMan.com. 2013-06-25. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
      5. ↑ "Catching Up With Ishmael ‘Ish’ Morabe". Bona. 2014-07-23. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
      6. ↑ "Puff Johnson - Chart history". Billboard. 1996-06-15. Retrieved 2017-07-25.
      7. ↑ Roberts, David (2003). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 287. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
      8. ↑ Steffen Hung (1996-08-18). "Puff Johnson". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2017-07-25.
      9. ↑ Steffen Hung. "Puff Johnson". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2017-07-25.
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