Jazz, R&B Vocals
Source: Alabama Music Hall of Fame
Biography by Ed Hogan
Hard-singing soul/blues singer Johnny Williams' biggest hit was "Slow Motion, Pt.1," a 1972 Top Ten R&B single for Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International Records. He also recorded sides for Epic and Chicago Soul producer Carl Davis' Dakar subsidiary, Bashie.
Born Johnny Lee Williams on January 15, 1942, in Tyler, AL, he moved to Chicago in 1956 and attended DuSable High School on the city's south side. He honed his vocal skills by singing in church and in the Royal Jubilees, a gospel quartet. Switching to secular music, Williams was managed by Pervis Spann ("The Blues Man") and E. Rodney Jones, announcers at legendary R&B radio station WVON 1450 AM. The singer began writing songs, with one, "My Baby's Good" b/w an ode to the dance craze "Philly Dog," being issued by local label Chess Records in 1966.
Three years later, Williams signed with Dakar Records owned by producer Carl Davis (Gene Chandler, Chi-Lites, Jackie Wilson). The first single, "I Made a Mistake," was co-written by Williams, Willie Henderson, and Lee Simmons; on the flip side was "Baby Be Mine." Other songs Williams co-wrote included "Teach Me How," "Being Wanted, Needed and Loved," "Let's All Participate," "Nona Baby," "I Need Your Love," "Singing to the Starlight," and "When the Pumpkin's Turning Yellow."
In the early '70s, Williams moved to Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International Records. The single, "Slow Motion, Pt.1," written by Gamble & Huff, b/w "Shall We Gather by the Water," written by Phil Hurtt and Bunny Sigler, hit number 12 R&B on Billboard's charts in fall 1972. Another Gamble & Huff song, "It's So Wonderful" b/w "Love Don't Rub Off," was a PIR single. Other singles by Williams include "I'd Like to Be With You" on Cub, "Women" on Twinight, and "Don't Call for Me," "He Will Break Your Heart," and "Sweet Memories" on Epic.
Source: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/johnny-williams-mn0002288296
Johnny Williams released some truly great soul songs but has not gotten the recognition he deserves. He passed away in 1986 and is often confused with Johnny Lee Williams of Mobile, AL who sang with the Drifters, as well as other musicians named Johnny Williams.
More info:
Video: BABY BE MINE-JOHNNY WILLIAMS (BASHIE) http://youtu.be/uakKv_00bKE
Video: Johnny Williams - Slow Motion, Part 1 (1972) http://youtu.be/BdG9IYJeUl0
Allmusic credits: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/johnny-williams-mn0002288296/credits
Listen/Purchase
Amazon: It's So Wonderful
and Slow Motion (Part 1) (Previously released material)
and Just A Little Misunderstanding
and Your Love Controls My World
iTunes: Slow Motion, Pt. 1 - The Philly Sound: Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff and the Story of Brotherly Love and It's So Wonderful - Conquer the World: The Lost Soul of Philadelphia International Records
In 1928, he made his first recordings with pianist James P. Johnson in New York, where he also worked briefly in the bands of Chick Webb and Fletcher Henderson.[2] He rose to prominence as a member of Duke Ellington's orchestra, with which he first performed from 1929 to 1940. He also recorded his own sessions during this time, both freelance and with other Ellington sidemen. Williams also sang occasionally, a notable vocal collaboration with Ellington was the piece, "Echoes of the Jungle".[2] Cootie Williams was renowned for his growling "jungle" style trumpet playing (in the manner of Ellington's earlier trumpeter Bubber Miley and trombonist Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton) and for his use of the plunger mute.
Record labels Reed, Fad, Heart, Colvin, Dial, Chant, Chantain, Century Limited, Argo, and even RCA Victor gave Jerry Woodard a chance at the big time. Jerry was a singer who could sing every kind of music - from rockabilly to sad ballads to novelty to sweet soul to country to blues to spiritual. Everyone who ever worked with Jerry was simply amazed at his ability to sing "Who’s Gonna Rock My Baby" and then immediately switch and sing "She’s a Housewife, That’s All". Jerry had hits with all of these labels, but just never got promoted to the top. He had been voted the #1 entertainment band in the nation, had had song #8 on American Bandstand, and saw many of his 45’s on the charts. Jerry was destined to make it, but did not live long enough to see it happen.
Travis and Bob were one-hit wonders from Jackson, Alabama, a small town in Clarke County, with a population of 5,419 at the 2000 census. They attended the local grammar school together and had a common interest in making music. A DJ at WPBB, Jackson's hometown radio station, suggested that they go to Mobile to make a demo. A guy called Henry Bailey had a little sound studio there and was so enthusiastic about their song "Tell Him No" that he introduced Travis and Bob to Johnny Lee Bozeman and Paul Dubois, who owned the Sandy label in Mobile. Dubois and his brother Johnny recorded the duo in a garage in their hometown, Gulfport, Mississippi. "Tell Him No" was the first song Travis Pritchett ever wrote. The record took off immediately and the Sandy label, which had never had a hit before, arranged a deal with Randy Wood's Dot label to ensure that the record would get national distribution. By April 1959 the disc had climbed to # 8 on the Billboard charts. A cover version by Dean and Marc (the Mathis brothers, who had worked with Dale Hawkins and would later form the nucleus of the Newbeats) also charted, on the Bullseye label, peaking at # 42. There were other covers : by the Jackson Brothers (Atco 6139, issued in the UK on London HLX 8845*) and in the UK by the Mudlarks and the Lana Sisters, a trio that included a youthful Dusty Springfield. The Travis and Bob version was released in the UK on Pye Inter- national N 25018, but did not chart there, though it was a hit in several other European countries, like my native Holland, where it went to # 2.
"I've Been Lonely For So Long" is a pop-soul song recorded by American southern soul singer Frederick Knight. The song, written by Posie Knight (the singer's wife) and Jerry Weaver, was released in 1972 by Stax Records.
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