Joe Johnson

Born circa 1952 in Memphis, Tennessee, Johnson first sang in a church choir during childhood and took up the saxophone while still in high school. He later pursued formal studies at Tennessee State University. His foundational tastes in gospel and contemporary R&B drew him toward a range of jazz figures, among them Charlie ‘Bird’ Parker, Kirk Whalum, David Sanborn and Grover Washington Jnr. Session work in Nashville followed, encompassing innumerable jingle dates that helped him gain recognition as a smooth jazz stylist; he also served as opening act for prominent artists across country, soul, R&B, gospel and jazz.

As his standing in smooth jazz grew, Johnson fused those earlier influences with hip hop into a polished, contemporary sound. Among the pieces in his repertoire are ‘Juke Joints And Jams’, ‘You Know What’s Up’, ‘A Dream’, ‘Life Of The Party’, ‘My Life’, ‘Say Yes’ and ‘Come Close’.