The Brothers Johnson: Biography

• Overview
• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

• Videos
• Photos
• Groups/Boards
• Fan Sites

• The Pointer Sisters
• The Persuasions
• Billy Preston
• Quincy Jones
• Bobby Womack
• Chic
• Maze

• The Four Tops
• Stevie Wonder
• Smokey Robinson
• Marvin Gaye
• Quincy Jones
• James Brown/The JB's
• The Meters

• Bobby Brown
• Prince
• John Mellencamp
• LL Cool J

• Valerie Johnson
• Jerry Hey
• Louis Johnson
• George "Happy" Johnson
• Shuggie Otis
• Tom Bahler
• Rod Temperton

Formed:

Jan 1, 1975 in Los Angeles, CA

Genres:

R&B and Soul Music, Funk Music, Rock Music

Decades Active:

1970's|1980's|1990's|2000's

Artistic Quality

Medium

Cultural Impact

Medium

Popularity

Medium

Ratings Guide

Guitarist/vocalist George Johnson and bassist/vocalist Louis Johnson formed the band Johnson Three Plus One with older brother Tommy and their cousin Alex Weir while attending school in Los Angeles. When they became professionals, the band backed such touring RB acts as Bobby Womack and the Supremes. George and Louis Johnson later joined Billy Preston's band, and wrote "Music in My Life" and "The Kids and Me" for him before leaving his group in 1973.

Quincy Jones hired them to play on his LP Mellow Madness, and recorded four of their songs, including "Is It Love That We're Missing?" and "Just a Taste of Me." Jones took them on a Japanese tour, then produced their debut LP, Look Out for Number 1, after they signed with AM, which was also his label at the time (1976). They scored a number-one RB and number-three pop hit with "I'll Be Good to You," and enjoyed RB chart toppers in 1977 and 1980 respectively with "Strawberry Letter 23" and "Stomp," while sustaining a consistent hit presence via such songs as "Get the Funk Out Ma Face" and "Runnin' for Your Lovin." Jones remade "I'll Be Good to You" in 1989 with Ray Charles and Chaka Khan on his Back on the Block release.

The Brothers earned platinum records for Look Out for Number 1 and Right on Time. Jones produced both of these, along with their third and fourth LPs, Blam and Light Up the Night. The group produced its single "The Real Thing" in 1981. It reached number 11 on the RB charts, and The Brothers had another hit with "Welcome to the Club" in 1982. They started doing separate ventures; Louis Johnson played bass on Michael Jackson's Thriller LP and recorded a gospel album, while George Johnson worked with Steve Arrington. Leon Sylvers produced their mid-'80s return LP Out of Control; it didn't equal their past success, but got them another RB hit with "You Keep Coming Back" in 1984. They recorded Kickin' in 1988, and co-wrote "Tomorrow" with Siedah Garrett for Jones' Back on the Block in 1989.

- Ron Wynn, All Music Guide