Ralph Johnson (musician)

Last updated

Ralph Johnson
Ralph Johnson by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Johnson in 2023
Background information
Born (1951-07-04) July 4, 1951 (age 72)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres R&B, funk, soul, jazz
OccupationsMusician, producer, singer, songwriter, author
InstrumentsVocals, drums, percussions, keyboards, drum machine
Years active1972–present
Website https://www.earthwindandfire.com/
External videos
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Oral History, Ralph Johnson shares how he met Maurice White and joined Earth, Wind and Fire. Interview date September 2, 2014, NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Oral History Library

Ralph Randolph Johnson (born July 4, 1951) is an American singer, songwriter, musician and producer. Johnson is a member and percussionist of the funk/soul/disco band Earth, Wind & Fire. [1] [2]

Contents

Early life

Johnson was born and raised in Los Angeles. His father was a lyricist and his mother was a vocalist, and they had music always playing in their home. At the age of eight years old Johnson received his first snare drum and drum lesson. Johnson developed a love of R&B music, listening mainly to Motown and Stax and Sly and the Family Stone. He played in elementary, junior high and high school bands. At age 13, he attended a James Brown concert, which was his first live concert and was amazed by the three drum sets on the stage. In 1965, Johnson's brother introduced him to the world of Jazz. He joined local bands "The Teen Turbans" and "The Masters Children". [1] [2]

Earth, Wind and Fire

Johnson, left, performing with Earth Wind and Fire in 2007 Ralph Johnson (musician).jpg
Johnson, left, performing with Earth Wind and Fire in 2007

In 1971, musician Maurice White the founder and bandleader of Earth, Wind & Fire, dismantled his band after recording two albums for Warner Bros. Records, leaving just him and his brother, bassist Verdine White. In December 1971, after White saw Johnson playing at a club in Los Angeles, he called and asked Johnson to audition for a new line up of Earth, Wind & Fire. White added Johnson, vocalist Helena Davis, vocalist Phillip Bailey, flutist Ronnie Laws, keyboardist Larry Dunn, and rhythm guitarist Roland Bautista to his new line up. Vocalist Jessica Cleave a former member of Friends of Distinction soon replaced Davis. The new members along with the White brothers, became the new version of Earth, Wind & Fire. In 1972, they left Warner Bros. and recorded their album, "The Last Days and Times" for CBS. [1] [2] [3]

As an Earth, Wind & Fire percussionist, Johnson was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, received 6 Grammy wins and 2 honorary Grammys, received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, [4] earned 50 platinum and gold RIAA awards, [5] 4 American Music Awards, and have sold over 90 million in record sales making them one of the world's best-selling bands of all time.

Solo projects

In 2000, Johnson traveled to Copenhagen, Denmark with Morris Pleasure to start a new conceptual jazz project. The members of jazz ensemble known as, "Audio Caviar", were Johnson, Pleasure and Steen Kyed. The band release an album entitled, "Transoceanic", that featured guest artists including, Howard Hewett, Janet Jackson, Johnson's bandmate, Phillip Bailey, Jonathan Butler, George Duke and others. [6] [7] [8]

In 2014, Johnson teamed up with singer and writer, Siedah Garrett and released a Christmas song entitled, "Have a Very Merry Christmas" written by Johnson, Garrett, Erik Nuri and Raymond Crossley. [9] The song was featured in the 2019 film, "Holiday Rush" starring singer Darlene Love. [10]

In 2019, Johnson released a solo project entitled, "Co-Swagit (Everything's Cool)". [11]

In March 2020, Johnson and jazz pianist Gerald Clayton released a single entitled, "Smooth and You" written by Johnson, Raymond Crossley, Gerald Clayton, and D. Stone. The song was produced by Johnson and Crossley. [12]

Johnson has worked with a wide range of artists in different capacities. As a percussionist on Blue Magic's 1978 album Message From The Magic [13] and Stanley Turrentine's 1981 album Tender Togetherness. [14] He worked as a producer on The Temptations 1984 album Truly For You and Howard Hewett's 2008 album Howard Hewett Christmas. [15] Johnson also worked with Drake, Nathan East, and Meghan Trainor [16] and others. [17]

Personal life

When Johnson is not on the road, he is an assistant karate instructor at his teacher, Mark Zacharatos', school. Johnson holds two Blackbelt Degrees. A 1st Degree Tang Soo Do and a 3rd Degree in Kung Fu Sansoo. He is a certified scuba diver with an advanced open water certification and a student pilot. Johnson is a tremendous lover of jazz and an art collector. [18] [19] [20]

Discography

With Earth, Wind and Fire

Other projects

Awards

RIAA Awards

Multi-platinum albums [5]

Platinum albums

Gold albums

Gold singles

Inductions

Grammy Awards

American Music Awards

Other awards

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earth, Wind & Fire</span> American musical group

Earth, Wind & Fire is an American band whose music spans the genres of jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, Latin, and Afro-pop. They are among the best-selling bands of all time, with sales of over 90 million records worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis</span> American R&B songwriting production team

James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III and Terry Steven Lewis are an American R&B/pop songwriting and record production team. Their productions have received commercial success since the 1980s with various artists, most extensively Janet Jackson. They have written 31 top ten hits in the UK and 41 in the US. In 2022, the duo were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the Musical Excellence category.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maurice White</span> American musician (1941–2016)

Maurice White was an American musician, best known as the founder, leader, main songwriter and chief producer of the band Earth, Wind & Fire, also serving as the band's co-lead singer with Philip Bailey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Verdine White</span> American musician (born 1951)

Verdine Adams White is an American musician, best known as a founding member and bassist for the band Earth, Wind & Fire. White was placed at No. 19 on Rolling Stone's list of The 50 Greatest Bassists of All Time.

<i>Thats the Way of the World</i> 1975 soundtrack album / Studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire

That's the Way of the World is the sixth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released on March 3, 1975, by Columbia Records. It was also the soundtrack for a 1975 motion picture of the same name. The album rose to No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and Top Soul Albums charts. That's the Way of the World has also been certified Triple Platinum in the U.S. by the RIAA. In 2002, the band released live version of the album, recorded in 1975 – That's the Way of the World: Alive in '75.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philip Bailey</span> American musician (born 1951)

Philip James Bailey is an American singer, songwriter and percussionist, best known as an early member and one of the two lead singers of the band Earth, Wind & Fire. Noted for his four-octave vocal range and distinctive falsetto register, Bailey was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame as a member of Earth, Wind & Fire. Bailey was also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame for his work with the band.

<i>Gratitude</i> (Earth, Wind & Fire album) 1975 live album by Earth, Wind & Fire

Gratitude is a double live album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, issued in November 1975 by Columbia Records. The album spent six weeks atop the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and three weeks atop the Billboard 200 chart. Gratitude has also been certified Triple Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

Ronald Wayne Laws is an American jazz and smooth jazz saxophonist, and singer. He is the younger brother of jazz flutist Hubert Laws, jazz vocalist Eloise Laws and the older brother of Debra Laws.

Howard Hewett Jr. is an American singer–songwriter. Hewett rose to fame as the lead vocalist of the group Shalamar. In 1985, he left the group to pursue his solo career, but he later returned to the group in 2001. He signed with Elektra Records. In 1986, he released his debut solo album I Commit to Love. Hewett and his group Shalamar contributed material to the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack. The soundtrack won a Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media in 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shining Star (Earth, Wind & Fire song)</span> 1975 single by Earth, Wind & Fire

"Shining Star" is a song by Earth, Wind & Fire's album That's the Way of the World, issued as a single in January 1975 on Columbia Records. The song rose to No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart, becoming their first single to top both charts. It has also been certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

Larry Dunn is an American keyboardist, producer and musical director. He was one of the early members of the music group Earth, Wind & Fire. Dunn was later inducted, as a former band member, into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Colorado Music Hall of Fame. Within which he's also been bestowed with ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award, 7 Grammy Awards, 4 American Music Awards and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Dunn is a co-composer of EWF's "Shining Star", a song that's been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

<i>Spirit</i> (Earth, Wind & Fire album) 1976 studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire

Spirit is the seventh studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released on September 28, 1976, by Columbia Records. The album rose to No. 2 on both the Billboard 200 and Top Soul Albums charts. Spirit has also been certified Double Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

<i>Illumination</i> (Earth, Wind & Fire album) 2005 studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire

Illumination is the nineteenth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in September 2005 on Sanctuary Records. The album rose to No. 8 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 32 on the Billboard 200 chart. Illumination was also Grammy nominated within the category of Best R&B Album. It is the last Earth, Wind & Fire album to feature their founder and co-lead vocalist Maurice White.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">September (Earth, Wind & Fire song)</span> 1978 song by Earth, Wind & Fire

"September" is a song by the American band Earth, Wind & Fire released as a single in 1978 on ARC/Columbia Records. Initially included as a track for The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1, "September" was very successful commercially and reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart, No. 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart. The song remains a staple of the band's body of work and has been sampled, covered, remixed, and re-recorded numerous times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let's Groove</span> 1981 single by Earth, Wind & Fire

"Let's Groove" is a song by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released as the first single from their eleventh studio album, Raise! (1981). It is written by Maurice White and Wayne Vaughn, and produced by White. The song was a commercial success, and was the band's highest-charting single in various territories. It peaked inside the top 20 in countries including the United States, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Canada and other component charts in America. In 1979 and the early 1980s, there was a severe backlash against disco music. In spite of this, the band decided to revive the disco sound that was included on their previous works and later records. Musically, "Let's Groove" is post-disco, pop and funk which includes instrumentation of synthesizers and keyboards along with live electric guitars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earth, Wind & Fire discography</span>

Earth, Wind & Fire is an American musical group. Their style and sound span over various music genres such as jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, Latin, and Afro-pop. They are among the best-selling music artists of all time, with sales of over 90 million records worldwide.

<i>The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1</i> 1978 greatest hits album by Earth, Wind & Fire

The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 is the first greatest hits album by the American band Earth, Wind & Fire issued in 1978 by Columbia Records. The album reached Nos. 3 and 6 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums and Top LPs charts, respectively. The album has been certified Quintuple Platinum in the US by the RIAA, as well as Platinum in the UK and Canada, by the BPI and Music Canada, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let Me Talk</span> 1980 single by Earth, Wind & Fire

"Let Me Talk" is a song by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in August 1980 by ARC/Columbia Records as the first single from their tenth album, Faces (1980). It reached No. 8 on the US Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart and No. 29 on the UK Pop Singles chart.

<i>Holiday</i> (Earth, Wind & Fire album) 2014 studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire

Holiday is the twenty-first studio and the first Christmas album by the American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in October 2014 by Sony/Legacy. The album reached No. 26 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums and No. 8 on the Billboard Holiday Albums charts.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Schultz, Drew. "Earth, Wind & Fire's Ralph Johnson". moderndrummer.com. Modern Drummer.
  2. 1 2 3 "Ralph Johnson". NAMM.org.
  3. "Earth, Wind & Fire | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  4. 1 2 "Earth, Wind & Fire". Hollywood Walk of Fame. October 25, 2019. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  5. 1 2 "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  6. "Media Awards". www.hmmawards.com. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  7. 1 2 "Audio Caviar – Transoceanic". Discogs. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  8. "Transoceanic (2007)". SoulTracks – Soul Music Biographies, News and Reviews. October 14, 2007. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  9. "TRV Countdown Video of the Day – Ralph Johnson Featuring Siedah Garrett "Have A Very Merry Christmas"". TRV Countdown. December 10, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  10. "Holiday Rush (2019) – IMDb". IMDb . Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  11. "Co-Swagit (Everything's Cool) – Ralph Johnson | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  12. "Shazam". Shazam. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  13. 1 2 "Blue Magic – Message From The Magic". Discogs. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  14. 1 2 "Tender Togetherness – Stanley Turrentine | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  15. 1 2 "Howard Hewett Christmas – Howard Hewett | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  16. 1 2 "A Very Trainor Christmas – Meghan Trainor | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  17. "Ralph Johnson | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  18. "Ralph Johnson". IMDb. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  19. "Music Media Awards". www.hmmawards.com. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  20. 1 2 "Meet Legacy Ralph Johnson of Earth, Wind, and Fire". Raine Magazine. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  21. "The Temptations – Treat Her Like A Lady". Discogs. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  22. "Audio Caviar – Transoceanic". Discogs. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  23. "Serpentine Fire – Nathan East | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  24. "Reverence – Nathan East | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  25. "Co-Swagit (Everything's Cool) – Ralph Johnson | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  26. "Dark Lane Demo Tapes – Drake | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  27. "Earth, Wind and Fire | Rock & Roll Hall of Fame". www.rockhall.com. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  28. "The Vocal Group Hall Of Fame | Earth, Wind and Fire" . Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  29. "Don Newcombe to receive Major League Baseball's Beacon of Hope Award". MLB.com. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  30. December 9, CBS News. "Kennedy Center honorees Earth Wind & Fire on their "message of hope and love and respect"". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved December 15, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  31. "Earth, Wind & Fire Makes History By Becoming The First Black Group Inducted Into Kennedy Honors". NewsOne. December 15, 2019. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  32. "Earth, Wind & Fire's Shining Star". GRAMMY.com. February 13, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  33. "Ralph Johnson". GRAMMY.com. November 23, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  34. 1 2 "The Official Earth, Wind & Fire Website". February 20, 2012. Archived from the original on February 20, 2012. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  35. Sauro, Tony. "Shining stars: Earth, Wind and Fire". recordnet.com. Retrieved December 15, 2020.