        |
Alabama Music Hall of Fame Achiever
DAVID JOHNSON
Date of Birth:
May 28, 1950
Place of Birth:
Sheffield, Alabama
2001 Induction Alabama Tourism Hall of Fame
2007
W.C. Handy "Masters&Legends Award"
David Johnson started his music career at the age of 16 as a Disc Jockey at W.L.A.Y. Radio Station in Muscle Shoals, AL.
During this time, he hung around a small recording studio on 2nd street in Sheffield, owned be fellow disc jockey and friend Quin Ivy.
In 1968 Quin Ivy built a new studio on Broadway Street in Sheffield and ask Johnson to come to work with him as studio manager and recording engineer.
During this time Johnson worked with many new R & B artist for Quin Ivy's record label such as Tony Borders, and Bill Brandon as well as Z. Z. Hill.
The first gold record Johnson engineered was "Friend Don't Take Her She's All I've Got" by Freddie North.
In 1972, Johnson purchased the studio from Ivy and changed the name to Broadway Sound Studio (because it was on Broadway Street ). Then formed production and publishing companies.
The first few years of Johnson's recording career, like all of the Muscle Shoals, Alabama recording scene, was mostly music in the R&B field of music. Working with artists like Percy Sledge, Joe Simon, The Commodores, Clarence Carter, Z.Z. Hill, Denise Laselle, Ruth Brown, Arthur Conley, Oscar Tony, Jr., Swamp Dogg, Tony Borders, Dave “Baby” Cortez, Bill Brandon, Bill Coday, Pep Brown, and the Supremes.
Pop artist Johnson worked with included J.J. Cale, Buddy Causey, Ruben Howell, Jinx, Lenny LeBlanc, and Leslie Uggams.
Johnson was the first in the Muscle Shoals area to work with Southern Rock groups. Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Outlaws, Mama’s Pride, Orgon Zable(with lead singer Micky Thomas later of the Elvin Bishop Band and Jefferson Starship) and Birnum Wood.
Johnson also worked with country artists George Jones, Rosie Carter, Kenny Price, Ed Bruce, and the duo of George Soule/Ava Aldridge.
The first artist he produced was Kip Anderson for Abbot Records, them an R&B album on Sandra Wright, for Stax Records, with the singles “Wounded Woman” “Lovin’ You, Loving Me”. Next an album on Percy Sledge for Monument Records with singles, “She’s Too Pretty To Cry” and “You Had To Be There”.
One of the last projects David worked on before taking the position as Executive Director of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame was the biggest selling album in Clarence Carters Career "Dr. CC" which contained the smash hit “Strokin'”.
A FEW OF THE ARTISTS DAVID JOHNSON WORKED WITH AS ENGINEER AND OR PRODUCER.
Kip Anderson - R & B
Tony Borders - R & B
Bill Brandon - R & B
Ruth Brown - R & B
Pep Brown - R & B
J.J. Cale - Pop
Rosie Carter - Country/Pop
The Commodores - R & B
Arthur Conley - R & B
Clarence Carter - R & B
Doris Duke- R & B
James Govan - R & B
Z.Z. Hill - R & B
George Jones - Country
“Jinx” - Pop
Denise Lasalle - R & B
Lenny LeBlanc - Pop
Mama’s Pride- Southern Rock
Jerry "Boggie" McCain - Harmonica Blues
Freddie North - Pop/R & B
Kenny Price - Country/Gospel
Joe Simon - R & B
Percy Sledge - Country Soul
Lightin' Slim – Blues
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Southern Rock
Swamp Dogg - Blues
The Outlaws - Southern Rock
The Supremes - Pop/R & B
The Tams - Pop/Soul
Oscar Toney, Jr. - R & B
Irma Thomas – R & B
Leslie Uggams - Pop
Sandra Wright - R&B