DAVID JOHNSON

  Date of Birth: May 28, 1950
Place of Birth: Sheffield, Alabama

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 2^nd street in Sheffield, owned be fellow disc jockey and friend Quin Ivy, where he started meeting people like Dan Penn, Spooner Oldham, Jimmy Johnson, Roger Hawkins, Marlin and Jeannie Greene, Bill Jenkins, and of course Percy Sledge. 

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 the “Quinvy” label (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 a production company and two 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