Bio Full Biography »

The career of soul singer Howard Johnson has involved at least one extended period of taking a break to catch a breath, so to speak. It is one of many differences he has with the famous tuba player and multi-instrumentalist of the same name, whose lungs have yet to falter through what seems like an endless series of recording sessions. The vocalist started out in Miami, holding forth 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 Nite Flyte, and the label was Ariola. The project lasted for two albums, nonetheless creating enough of a buzz for A&M to go forward on signing Johnson to a solo contract in the early '80s. A trio of producers featuring Kashif, Paul Laurence Jones, and Morris Brown worked hard at Keepin...