Johnny Gill
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This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2009) |
| Johnny Gill | |
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 Johnny Gill performing with New Edition in Charlotte, NC 8/26/06 |
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| Background information | |
| Born | May 22, 1966 |
| Origin | Washington, D.C., USA |
| Genres | R&B, pop, new jack swing, quiet storm, soul |
| Occupations | Singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, actor |
| Instruments | Vocal, keyboards, guitar, percussion |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Labels | Cotillion / Atlantic (1982-1985) Motown (1989-1999) MCA(1986-1997) Notifi (2010-present) |
| Associated acts | New Edition, LSG, Stacy Lattisaw, Heads of State |
Johnny Gill (born May 22, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter and actor. He is the sixth and final member of the R&B group New Edition, and was also a member of the supergroup called LSG; with Gerald Levert and Keith Sweat. His signature song "My, My, My" has been included on numerous romantic compilations.
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Early life [edit]
Gill was born on May 22, 1966 in Washington, D.C, the son of a minister. He started singing at the age of five in a family gospel group called "Wings Faith" which included his brothers Bobby, Jeff, and Randy Gill (himself a solo recording artist and member of the group II D Extreme).
Gill attended Kimball Elementary, Sousa Junior High, and Duke Ellington School of the Arts. His career dictated that he complete his high-school education through the services of a tutor. Gill had planned to attend college and pursue a degree in electrical engineering, but decided instead to focus on his singing career.
Music career [edit]
Early recordings [edit]
Gill's recording career began in 1983, at the age of 17, when his childhood friend, singer Stacy Lattisaw, convinced him to record a demo. This demo fell into the hands of the president of Atlantic Records, and his self-titled debut album was released shortly thereafter, featuring the minor hit, "Super Love". On this album, Gill played guitar, bass, bongos, and drums in addition to performing lead and background vocals. Gill then teamed up with Stacy for a duet album, which featured their first hit together, the title track, "Perfect Combination". A second album on Atlantic Records yielded the song "Half Crazy", which is still a fan favorite.
New Edition [edit]
Gill began a new chapter in his career in 1987, when he was recruited by Michael Bivins to join New Edition to replace lead singer Ralph Tresvant, who was rumored at the time to be leaving to pursue a solo career. Gill became the only member of New Edition who was not from Boston.
With Gill, the oldest member, as one of the lead singers (along with Tresvant, who ended up staying with New Edition and delaying the launch of his solo career) on the album Heart Break, the group developed a more mature, adult sound, hitting the charts with songs such as "Can You Stand The Rain", "N.E. Heartbreak", "If It Isn't Love", and the Gill-led "Boys To Men".
Solo career [edit]
Continuing his role as a romantic balladeer while emerging as a new jack swing star, he released a second self-titled album in 1990, which included the hits "My, My, My", "Rub You the Right Way", "Fairweather Friend", and "Wrap My Body Tight". In 1991, he was featured in Perri "Pebbles" Reid's hit single "Always" from the album of the same name, along with Pebbles' cousin, R&B singer, Cherrelle. The single made the R&B Top 20 shortly after its release.[citation needed]
In 1993, Gill released another solo project, Provocative, which included the songs "Quiet Time to Play", "A Cute, Sweet, Love Addiction", and the gospel song, "I Know Where I Stand".
In 1996, Gill was reunited with New Edition, including Bobby Brown, as they recorded Home Again, an album noted for the singles "Hit Me Off" and "Still In Love".
In 1996, Gill also released Let's Get the Mood Right, which included the title song, "Love In an Elevator", and "Maybe" - which is considered by many to be one of his greatest vocal performances ever.[citation needed]
LSG [edit]
In 1997, he collaborated with Gerald Levert and Keith Sweat to form the supergroup LSG (Levert/Sweat/Gill), which yielded the multi- platinum debut album, Levert.Sweat.Gill, and a follow-up album in 2003 titled LSG2.
Later career [edit]
On September 27, 2008, he began touring with New Edition bandmates Ralph Tresvant and Bobby Brown in a new group named Heads of State.
In July 2010, Notifi Records, based out of St. Louis, MO, signed Gill to a recording contract. On October 11, 2011, Gill released his sixth studio album, Still Winning, which was his first album in 15 years. The first single off the album is titled "In the Mood".
Acting career [edit]
Gill has had over 80 television and film appearances as a singer and actor. He had a cameo role on the TV show Family Matters (TV series), and sang "You For Me" in the 2006 movie Madea's Family Reunion.
Gill starred in the 2009 stage play A Mother's Prayer, which also starred Robin Givens, Shirley Murdock, and Jermaine Crawford.
Awards and accolades [edit]
In 2008, Gill, as a member of New Edition, received the Golden Note Award at the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards.
Personal life [edit]
Although he has never been married, Gill is the father of a son, Isiah Gill, born in 2006, to a Washington DC journalist.[citation needed]
Discography [edit]
Studio albums [edit]
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions[1][2][3] | Certifications[4] (sales threshold) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | UK | NZ | AUS | |||||
| 1983 | Johnny Gill | — | 64 | — | — | — | |||
| 1985 | Chemistry
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— | 51 | — | — | — | |||
| 1990 | Johnny Gill
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8 | 1 | — | 47 | — | |||
| 1993 | Provocative
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14 | 4 | 42 | — | 31 |
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| 1996 | Let's Get the Mood Right
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32 | 7 | — | — | — |
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| 2011 | Still Winning
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17 | 4 | — | — | — |
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| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||||||
Collaboration albums [edit]
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions |
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|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | ||
| 1984 | Perfect Combination
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139 | 27 |
Compilation albums [edit]
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 1997 | Favorites
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| 2002 | Ultimate Collection
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| 2003 | The Best of Johnny Gill
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| 2005 | Love Songs
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Singles [edit]
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions[1][2][3] | Album | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | US Dance | UK | NZ | AUS | ||||
| 1983 | "Super Love" | — | 29 | — | — | — | — | Johnny Gill (1983 album) | |
| "When Something Is Wrong with My Baby" | — | 57 | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1984 | "Perfect Combination" (with Stacy Lattisaw) | 75 | 10 | — | — | — | — | Perfect Combination | |
| "Baby It's You" (with Stacy Lattisaw) | 102 | 37 | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Block Party" (with Stacy Lattisaw) | — | 63 | 48 | — | — | — | |||
| 1985 | "Half Crazy" | — | 26 | — | — | — | — | Chemistry | |
| "Can't Wait Til Tomorrow" | — | 49 | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1989 | "Where Do We Go from Here" (with Stacy Lattisaw) | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | What You Need | |
| 1990 | "Rub You the Right Way" | 3 | 1 | 16 | 77 | 41 | 59 | Johnny Gill (1990 album) | |
| "My, My, My" | 10 | 1 | — | 89 | 31 | — | |||
| "Fairweather Friend" | 28 | 2 | 19 | — | — | — | |||
| 1991 | "Wrap My Body Tight" | 84 | 1 | 48 | 57 | — | — | ||
| "I'm Still Waiting" | — | 27 | — | — | — | — | New Jack City | ||
| 1992 | "Silent Prayer" (with Shanice) | 31 | 4 | — | — | — | — | Inner Child | |
| "Let's Just Run Away | — | 56 | — | — | — | — | Mo' Money | ||
| "There U Go" | — | 21 | — | — | — | — | Boomerang | ||
| "Slow and Sexy" (with Shabba Ranks) | 33 | 4 | — | 17 | — | — | X-tra Naked | ||
| 1993 | "The Floor" | 56 | 11 | 49 | 53 | 29 | 6 | Provocative | |
| "I Got You" (with Boyz II Men and Mr. Lee) | — | 35 | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Long Way from Home" | — | 42 | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1994 | "Quiet Time to Play" | 111 | 25 | — | — | — | — | ||
| "A Cute, Sweet Love Addiction" | — | — | — | 46 | — | 89 | |||
| 1996 | "Let's Get the Mood Right" | 53 | 17 | — | — | — | — | Let's Get the Mood Right | |
| 1997 | "It's Your Body" (with Roger Troutman) | 43 | 19 | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Love in an Elevator" | 104 | 59 | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1998 | "Give Love on Christmas Day" | — | 71 | — | — | — | — | Favorites | |
| 2011 | "In The Mood" | — | 33 | — | — | — | — | Still Winning | |
| "It Would Be You" | — | 60 | — | — | — | — | |||
| 2012 | "Just The Way You Are" (with Wiz Khalifa) | — | 78 | — | — | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||||||
References [edit]
- ^ a b "Johnny Gill U.S. chart history". billboard.com. Retrieved 2009-08-30.
- ^ a b "Johnny Gill U.S. chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2009-08-30.
- ^ a b "Johnny Gill UK chart history". chartstats.com. Retrieved 2009-08-30.
- ^ "Johnny Gill U.S. certification history". riaa.com. Retrieved 2009-08-30.
- ^ "Johnny Gill Says He's Still Winning, Talks NE Reunion". bet.com. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
External links [edit]
- Johnny Gill at Allmusic
- Johnny Gill at VH1
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