Hillery Johnson

Last updated
Hillery Johnsomn
Genres Jazz, Soul music
Occupation(s) Record producer, Record executive
Years active1960s - 2000s
LabelsBrainstorm Records
Twin Stacks Records
Hilltak Records
Valley Vue Records

Hillery Johnson was a record label owner, record producer, manager and songwriter and vice-president of a major record American record label.

Contents

Background

In 1966, Hillery Johnson along with Leo Austell and Archie Russell founded Brainstorm Records and Productions. Later he worked for United Artists and then Capitol Records. By 1973 he was working for MCA Records where he held the position of promotional manager for special marketing. By the mid-1970s he was with Playboy Records as their national r&b promotion director. [1] By 1977 he was vice-president of Atlantic Records. [2]

As a composer, along with Michael Wycoff he co-composed "Try Love Again" for The Manhattans. [3]

In 1993, Johnson was involved in legal action against Joseph Jack Productions. He was suing the production company and its owner Joseph Jackson over money he alleged was owed to him for negotiating a recording agreement. He claimed he was owed $15,000 for representing Jackson in an attempt to work out an A&M recording deal for Janet Jackson. [4]

Labels founded

In 1966, as a young man, Johnson and Archie Russell along with Leo Austell, a veteran in the record scene co-founded Brainstorm Records. This came about as a result of the label Austell was with, Vee Jay records collapsing. Another label creation that Johnson responsible for was Twin Stacks. It was the subsidiary of Brainstorm. Both labels lasted for four years and were successful mainly in their geographical region. They did however have some real solid success. As a production company they did extremely well with Betty Everett scoring several national hits including "There'll Come A Time". [5]

He founded the Palm Springs based label Valley Vue Records [6] [7] Another label he started was one he co-founded along with Tom Takayoshi, was Hilltak Records. Takayoshi was the former president of Playboy Records. [8] The Hilltak label was a subsidiary of Atlantic Records. [9] [10]

Johnson and Willie Henderson put together the disco group, Broadway. [11] The group had four female singers, with the lead singer was Patti Williams. They were signed to the Hilltak label. [12] [13]

Acts

Johnson introduced the Temptations to a party crowd of 500 that included Bette Midler and Teddy Pendergrass at Studio 54 in Manhattan in May 1977. The party was to announce the Temptations leaving Motown for Atlantic. [14] Some of the acts Johnson has managed include Rene & Angela and Lalah Hathaway. [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disco</span> Music genre

Disco is a genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the late 1960s from the United States' urban nightlife scene. Its sound is typified by four-on-the-floor beats, syncopated basslines, string sections, brass and horns, electric piano, synthesizers, and electric rhythm guitars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Temptations</span> American rhythm and blues group

The Temptations is an American vocal group formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1960 as The Elgins, known for their string of successful singles and albums with Motown from the 1960s to the mid-1970s. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield, beginning with the Top 10 hit single "Cloud Nine" in October 1968, pioneered psychedelic soul, and was significant in the evolution of R&B and soul music. The group members were known for their choreography, distinct harmonies, and dress style. Having sold tens of millions of albums, the Temptations are among the most successful groups in popular music.

Motown is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. Founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on January 12, 1959, it was incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of motor and town, has become a nickname for Detroit, where the label was originally headquartered.

Norman Jesse Whitfield was an American songwriter, composer, and producer, who worked with Berry Gordy's Motown labels during the 1960s. He has been credited as one of the creators of the Motown Sound and of the late-1960s subgenre of psychedelic soul.

Frederick James Perren was an American songwriter, record producer, arranger, and orchestra conductor. He co-wrote and co-produced songs including "Boogie Fever" by the Sylvers, "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor, and "Shake Your Groove Thing" by Peaches & Herb.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All I Do Is Think of You</span> 1975 single by the Jackson 5

"All I Do Is Think of You" is a song released by the Jackson 5 on the Motown label in 1975. It was initially released as the B-side to the group's single "Forever Came Today" before being released as an A-side single months later. The song is the final charted single by the group before they left Motown for Epic Records in 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leon Ware</span> American singer and songwriter (1940-2017)

Leon Ware was an American songwriter, producer, composer, and singer. Besides a solo career as a performer, Ware was best known for producing hits for other artists including Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Maxwell, Minnie Riperton and Marvin Gaye, co-producing the latter's album I Want You.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddie Brown (musician)</span> American musician (1932–1984)

Edward James "Bongo" Brown was an American percussionist known for his work with The Funk Brothers, Detroit-based session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown recordings from 1959 to 1972.

David T. Walker is an American soul/R&B, and jazz guitarist. In addition to numerous session musician duties since the early 1970s, Walker has issued fifteen albums in his own name.

Willie Henderson is an American R&B and soul musician and producer.

This article lists the complete discography of Steve Lukather.

Donald Charles Baldwin is an American musician, arranger, and composer. He achieved significant commercial success with recordings he wrote, arranged, and performed for Motown Records and Invictus/Hot Wax Records from 1970 to 1980. His Notable works include his recordings with many widely known musical acts, including The Temptations, Commodores, and Bonnie Pointer, as well as record producers Holland-Dozier-Holland and Jeffrey Bowen.

Bobby Eli was an American musician, arranger, composer and record producer from Philadelphia. He was a founding member and lead guitarist of Philadelphia studio band MFSB.

Dalton & Dubarri was an American rock band active in the 1970s, led by Gary Dalton and Kent Dubarri. They mainly played as support acts for artists such as The Beach Boys, Elvin Bishop, The Doobie Brothers, Loggins and Messina, Dave Mason, Boz Scaggs, and Rod Stewart. The group incorporated various aspects of pop, rock, and soul into their music. Recording for Columbia, ABC, and Hilltak, they released four original albums during their career. In 1979, they had a hit with the disco single "I Can Dance All By Myself", which made the Billboard, Cash Box, and Record World charts.

Michael Dion is a record producer in jazz music and the owner of the California-based record label, ITI Records. He also was the owner of Startup Marketing and has had directorial and managerial positions with record labels such as ABC Records, Mobile Fidelity and Valley Vue Records. He is also an author of several books.

Valley Vue Records was a record label in California founded by Hillery Johnson in 1983. Arirts on the label included Jerry Butler, Craig T. Cooper, Klymaxx, The Manhattans, Johnny "Guitar" Watson and Michael Wycoff.

Tom Takayoshi was a record label founder as well as a president of a major United States record label. His involvement in the music industry goes back to the early 1960s.

Hilltak records was a Californian Independent record label that was formed in the late 1970s. Artists that produced hits for the label include 9th Creation, Patti Hendrix, Broadway, Dalton & Dubarri, and The Guess Who. The label started out as a subsidiary of Atlantic Records but terminated the relationship some time later.

Broadway was an American disco band that had three chart hits. Produced by Willie Henderson they had a national hit in 1978 with their version of the "Exile hit, "Kiss You All Over". They had another chart hit with "This Funk Is Made For Dancing"

Patti Hendrix is a soul singer who recorded for the 20th Century Fox Records and Hilltak Records labels. She had a hit in 1978 with "Lighting A Fire ". It made it into the Billboard, Cash Box and Record World charts.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.