Greg Johnson (musician)

Greg Johnson (born 7 January 1968) is a New Zealand singer/songwriter of melodic, lyric-based pop. He has seen success both as a solo artist and writing for others. Since 2002 he has been a resident of the United States, living in California.

Music career

Johnson was born in Auckland, New Zealand. Starting out in school orchestras and choirs, Johnson quickly graduated to the early New Wave scene playing in bands from age 15 at many of the infamous live venues that scattered NZ early and post punk years, including Mainstreet Cabaret, the Reverb Room, The Windsor Castle and The Esplanade Hotel.

In 1987, he signed with Trevor Reekie, who owned indie label Pagan Records, releasing an EP under the name "This Boy Rob" before starting The Greg Johnson Set with Nigel Russell of The Spelling Mistakes, Danse Macabre and The Car Crash Set. (Reekie also played guitar in the GJ Set.) The band recorded an album "The Watertable" 1989 followed by "Everyday Distortions" 1991. The single, "Isabelle", produced by Mark Tierney hit the New Zealand charts and rose to #4.

In 1995, he signed with EMI Records for whom he released "Vine Street Stories" produced and recorded at his Auckland home by producer Nigel Stone. "Chinese Whispers" and "Seabreeze Motel" produced by Ian Morris, followed.

Johnson moved to Los Angeles in 2002 after signing a worldwide deal with Immergent Records, a label set up by Fleetwood Mac producers Richard Dashut, and Ken Caillat and the late John Trickett. Johnson released the albums "Here Comes The Caviar" (2004) and "Anyone Can Say Goodbye" (2006), both produced by Clark Stiles, followed by "Seven Day Cure" (2008), "Secret Weapon" (2010), "Exits" (2012), and "Swing The Lantern" (produced by Wayne Bell, 2015).

Several EMI and Universal Music Compilations have been released as well as "Me and Joanna" on British label Baria Records in 2007. In 2005, Johnson performed a collection of his songs with The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra at Auckland's Aotea Concert Hall. In 2008 he and Wayne Bell performed a set on an Air New Zealand 747 between Los Angeles and Auckland.

Johnson won New Zealand's "Top Male Vocalist" at New Zealand Music Awards in 1995 and in 2002 "Best Compilation" for his album "The Best Yet".

In 1997, Johnson won the APRA Silver Scroll, New Zealand's most prestigious Songwriting Award with his tune "Liberty" from the album "Chinese Whispers". Other Johnson finalists for the Silver Scroll have included "Isabelle", "Hold Tight" and "Boxers hands" (Strawpeople)

In 2002, he won NZ Tui Best Compilation Album 2003 for "The Best Yet". In 2005, his song "Save Yourself" from the album Here Comes The Caviar broke on over 50 US Adult Alternative Radio stations. Johnson and his band toured the US extensively, doing many radio concerts and arts festivals including a sell-out show at Boston's Paradise Lounge in August 2006.

Other songs that received airplay on college radio in the USA included "Horses" and "Now The Sun Is Out"; the latter was also the most played New Zealand song on NZ radio in 2006. Johnson wrote or co-wrote songs for Strawpeople, Mozella, Richard Rudolph and Gordon Pogoda.

Songs placed in TV shows include The Hills,[1] Party of Five, Beautiful People, High School Reunion, Road Rules, Castle, The Brokenwood Mysteries, and 800 Words. Film score and placements include Fifty Pills and Last Chance Harvey.

His music was used in an interview in Austin Mitchell's Pavlova Paradise Revisited (2002).[2] In 2007, his song "Hold Tight" was used in the New Zealand drama series Shortland Street during the wedding of characters Sarah Potts and TK Samuels.

His songs have featured on Air New Zealand inflight programs between 1996-2017. In 2016, his song "No Need For Invitations" from the album "Swing The Lantern" was featured on all flights around the world.

He continues to tour frequently in New Zealand, Australia, USA,and Europe. In 2016, he toured with "Here Comes The Caviar" album, selling out two nights at Auckland's "Tuning Fork". In 2018-19, he toured with his "Every Song has A Story" show which features visuals and stories behind the songs and albums.

Discography

Studio albums
Year Album Peak chart positions
NZ
As the Greg Johnson Set
1991 The Watertable -
1993 Everyday Distortions 25
1995 Vine Street Stories 8
As Greg Johnson
1997 Chinese Whispers 16
2000 Sea Breeze Motel 10
2003 The Lost EP -
2004 Here Comes The Caviar 20
2006 Anyone Can Say Goodbye 17
2008 Seven Day Cure 20
2010 Secret Weapon 15
2012 Exits 21
2015 Swing The Lantern

Compilation albums
Year Album Peak chart positions
NZ
2001 The Best Yet -
2006 Greatest Hits 24
2007 Me and Joanna
  • US-only release
 -
2007 Trouble-Shooters Manual
  • US-only iTunes release
 -

Live albums
Year Album Peak chart positions
NZ
2011 Small Towns Live -

Singles
Year Title Peak chart positions Album
NZ[3]
As the Greg Johnson Set
1991 "Two Feet off the Ground" 47 Everyday Distortions
1992 "Isabelle" 4
"Talk In This Town" 22
1993 "Baby" —
"Winter Song" 44 Non-album single
"Sun Beat Down" — Vine Street Stories
1994 "Come On" —
1995 "You Stay Out Of Your Life" —
"Don't Wait Another Day" 34
As Greg Johnson
1995 "If I Swagger" — Vine Street Stories
1996 "Softly On Me" — Non-album single
1997 "Liberty" — Chinese Whispers
"My Ship Is Sitting Low" —
1999 "Hibiscus Song" — Sea Breeze Motel
"Beautiful Storm" 26
2000 "Cut To The Chase" —
2003 "Save Yourself" 24 USA 44 Here Comes The Caviar
2004 "Kiss Me" —
2005 "It's Been So Long" —
"Don't Be The One" —
2006 "Now The Sun Is Out" 28 Anyone Can Say Goodbye
2009 "I Got Opinions" — Seven Day Cure

Bluespeak discography
  • Late Last Night (1992)
  • The Drinking Set
  • Dark Blue (1999)

Awards
  • NZ Tui Top Male Vocalist 1995
  • Winner APRA Silver Scroll for songwriting 1997 with the song "Liberty"
  • NZ Tui Best Compilation Album 2003 for "The Best Yet"
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References
  1. "The Hills " Season 2 " Songs From the Show " Ep. 208". MTV.com.
  2. Revisited in Episode 3 clip 3 (5.05mins) [NZ on Screen].
  3. "Greg Johnson: Chart positions". nzcharts.nz. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
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