Howard Johnson (soul singer)

Howard Williams Johnson (born November 28, 1956, in Miami,[1] Florida) is a former American soul/disco singer, and founder of the group Niteflyte. He charted two songs on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart during the 80s – "So Fine", which spent one week at No. 1 in 1982, and "Let This Dream Be Real," which reached No. 19 in 1983.

Howard Johnson
Born (1956-11-28) November 28, 1956
Miami, Florida, United States
GenresSoul, disco, urban, boogie
Years active1977–present
LabelsA&M Records
Associated actsNiteflyte, Kashif

Career

R&B vocalist Howard Johnson started out in Miami, holding fort in local bars and clubs until the appearance of a life-changing business contact. That was Sandy Torano, a guitarist and producer associated with performers such as the Commodores and Phyllis Hyman. Johnson was his choice for a new vocal group and thus began the singer's recording career. It was 1977, the group was called Niteflyte, and the label was Ariola. The project lasted for only two albums but created enough of a buzz for A&M to sign Johnson to a solo contract.[1]

A trio of close associates – Kashif, Paul Laurence Jones, and Morris Brown – produced Keepin' Love New (1982), Johnson's solo debut; both "So Fine" and the title track did very well in the British market. The singer recorded two more albums for the label: Doin' It My Way (1983), produced by The System, and The Vision (1985), some of which was handled by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. At the end of the decade, the singer returned to A&M as part of the duo Johnson & Branson with Regis Branson. In 1986 Johnson recorded the ballad "Perfect Timing" with singer Donna Allen which appeared on her debut album of the same name.[1]

The '90s, if not a completely fallow period, represented a stark respite from the action-packed '80s. Johnson was not really to be seen until he showed up again with old pal Branson in the new millennium, this time at the behest of a Japanese outfit, Soul Japan, that had gone mad for the sound of old-school '80s soul. Packed and Waitin' was released in 2002. Roughly a decade later, Johnson's A&M albums were reissued by the Netherlands' PTG label.[1]

Discography

Studio albums
  • Keepin' Love New (1982)
  • Doin' It My Way (1983)[2]
  • The Vision (1985)[2]
  • Howard Johnson (2010)

Compilations
  • Howard Johnson – Doin' It My Way / The Vision (2007)

Singles
Year Song U.S. Dance U.S. R&B[3] UK[4]
1982 "So Fine" 1 6 45
"Say You Wanna" — — —
"Keepin' Love New" — 47 —
1983 "Let This Dream Be Real" 19 58 —
"Let's Take Time Out" — 30 —
1985 "Knees" — — —
"Stand Up" — — —
"Older Girl" — 29 91

[5]

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References
  1. Chadbourne, Eugene. "Biography: Howard Johnson". AMG. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
  2. "Howard Johnson – Doin It My Way CD". Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  3. "Chart History - MusicVF.com". Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  4. "UK Singles Chart - OfficialCharts.com". Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  5. Howard Johnson Discography. Discogs.com. Retrieved October 9, 2017
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