Michael Johnson (singer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Johnson
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Johnson in 2002
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Michael Jay Johnson |
| Born | August 8, 1944 Alamosa, Colorado, U.S. |
| Died | July 25, 2017 (aged 72) Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Genres | Folk, folk rock, country, soft rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, record producer, actor, writer |
| Instruments | Vocals, classical guitar, acoustic guitar, piano |
| Years active | 1957–2017 |
| Labels | Atco, Sanskrit Records, EMI, RCA, Vanguard, Atlantic, Intersound, American Originals, Red House |
Michael Jay Johnson (born August 8, 1944 – died July 25, 2017) was a talented American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He sang pop, country, and folk music. Many people remember him for his big hit song "Bluer Than Blue" from 1978. Michael Johnson also had two number one country songs in 1986: "Give Me Wings" and "The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder". He even helped write "Cain's Blood" for the group 4 Runner.
Contents
Michael Johnson's Music Career
Michael Johnson was born in Alamosa, Colorado, a small town, and grew up in Denver. He started playing the guitar when he was 13 years old. In 1963, he began studying music at Colorado State College (now the University of Northern Colorado).
Early Music Journey
Two years later, Michael won an international talent contest. This big win meant he got a record deal with Epic Records. Because of this, he left college to follow his music dreams.
In 1966, he traveled to Barcelona, Spain, to improve his guitar skills. He studied classical guitar with famous teachers Graciano Tarragó and Renata Tarragó. When he returned to the United States, he joined a group called the New Society with Randy Sparks. They even toured in Asia.
Joining Music Groups
After the New Society band broke up in 1967, Michael joined the Chad Mitchell Trio. He spent a year with them, and during that time, he wrote songs with another member, John Denver. The group later changed its name to Denver, Boise & Johnson.
When this trio ended, Michael tried something very different. He took on a major role in an off-Broadway play called Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris.
First Albums and Big Hits
In 1971, Michael Johnson signed with Atco Records. His first album, There Is A Breeze, came out in 1973. He helped produce this album himself. Even though it was popular in Minneapolis-St. Paul, he felt it didn't truly show his music style.
So, in 1975, he produced his next album, For All You Mad Musicians, by himself. This album focused more on his voice and guitar, giving it a folk sound. He then added a rhythm section for his next album, Ain't Dis Da Life. With each new album and his constant touring, he became more and more popular.
"Bluer Than Blue" Success
Michael teamed up with Brent Maher and Steve Gibson in Nashville, Tennessee. They created two demo songs: "Bluer Than Blue" and "Almost Like Being in Love". EMI America loved what they heard and quickly signed him. They released The Michael Johnson Album in 1978.
"Bluer Than Blue" became Michael's first big hit, reaching number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1978. It was also a number one song on the Adult Contemporary chart. "Almost Like Being in Love" also did well, reaching the Top 5 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
Moving to Country Music
Michael Johnson recorded five albums for EMI. In 1985, he moved to RCA Records. Here, he started singing more country music, but still kept his soft, gentle style. From 1986 to 1989, he had five songs in the Top Ten country hits. This included two number one songs: "Give Me Wings" and "The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder."
After two country albums with RCA, Michael moved to Atlantic Records in 1991. In 1995, the country group 4 Runner had a small hit with "Cain's Blood." Michael Johnson had helped write an updated version of this song.
Later Life and Passing
Michael Johnson passed away at his home in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on July 25, 2017. He was almost 73 years old.
Albums and Singles
Albums
| Year | Album | Chart Positions | Label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country |
US |
CAN |
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| 1973 | There Is a Breeze | 213 | Atco | ||
| 1975 | For All You Mad Musicians | Sanskrit | |||
| 1977 | Ain't Dis Da Life | ||||
| 1978 | The Michael Johnson Album | 81 | 83 | EMI | |
| 1979 | Dialogue | 157 | |||
| 1980 | You Can Call Me Blue | 203 | |||
| 1981 | Home Free | ||||
| 1983 | Lifetime Guarantee | ||||
| 1986 | Wings | 26 | RCA | ||
| 1988 | That's That | ||||
| 1990 | The Best Of | ||||
| 1992 | Michael Johnson | Atlantic | |||
| 1995 | Departure | Vanguard | |||
| 1997 | Then and Now | Intersound | |||
| 1999 | The Very Best of Michael Johnson: Bluer Than Blue (1978–1995) | Razor & Tie | |||
| 2000 | LIVE at the Bluebird Cafe | American Originals | |||
| 2002 | Classic Masters | EMI | |||
| 2005 | Always – Roberto Bianco with Michael Johnson | Yellow Rose | |||
| 2012 | Moonlit Déjà Vu | Redhouse Records | |||
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country |
US |
US AC |
AUS |
CAN Country |
CAN |
CAN AC |
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| 1973 | "On the Road" | — | 118 | — | — | — | — | — | There Is a Breeze |
| 1978 | "Bluer Than Blue" | — | 12 | 1 | — | — | 6 | 1 | The Michael Johnson Album |
| "Almost Like Being in Love" | — | 32 | 4 | — | — | 40 | 10 | ||
| 1979 | "Sailing Without a Sail" | — | — | 44 | — | — | — | — | |
| "This Night Won't Last Forever" | — | 19 | 5 | 75 | — | 66 | 9 | Dialogue | |
| "I'll Always Love You" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Doors" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1980 | "The Very First Time" | — | 101 | 29 | — | — | — | — | |
| "You Can Call Me Blue" | — | 86 | 34 | — | — | — | 37 | You Can Call Me Blue | |
| 1981 | "You're Not Easy to Forget" | — | — | 32 | — | — | — | — | Home Free |
| 1986 | "Gotta Learn to Love Without You" | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Wings |
| "Give Me Wings" | 1 | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | ||
| 1987 | "The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder" | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | |
| "Ponies" | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Crying Shame" | 4 | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | That's That | |
| 1988 | "I Will Whisper Your Name" | 7 | — | — | — | 19 | — | — | |
| "That's That" | 9 | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | ||
| 1989 | "Roller Coaster Run (Up Too Slow, Down Too Fast)" | 52 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1991 | "It Must Be You" (with Juice Newton) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Michael Johnson |
| 1992 | "One Honest Tear" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1997 | "Whenever I Call You Friend" (with Alison Krauss) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Then and Now |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||||||
See also
In Spanish: Michael Johnson (cantante) para niños
