JS (band)

Last updated
JS
Also known asJohnson Sisters
Origin Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres
Years active
  • 1996 (1996)–1998 (1998)
  • 2001 (2001)–2004 (2004)
Labels DreamWorks
Members Kim Johnson
Kandy Johnson
Past membersKrystal Johnson

JS was an American female R&B duo. The duo consisted of members and sisters Kim Johnson and Kandy Johnson-Isley. After releasing their debut album, Ice Cream, in 2003 to subpar commercial performance, they disbanded a year later.

Contents

History

Born in Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California, the Johnson sister, Kim, Kandy and Krystal co-formed JS as a gospel trio, singing first in church and then with touring gospel artists such as Andrae Crouch and Shirley Caesar. [1] Krystal soon left after engaging in a relationship with Earth, Wind & Fire member Philip Bailey.

Now a duo, the group later appeared on television; appearances included Ally McBeal and The Oprah Winfrey Show . [1] In 2001, the group signed to DreamWorks Records, a former DreamWorks Pictures division and later a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. They later came under the management of The Isley Brothers lead singer Ronald Isley, having appeared on the band's albums, Eternal (2001) and Body Kiss (2003). Only one-half of JS, Kim, was featured on the Isley Brothers' single "Busted" (US #113) from the latter album. [2] It was nominated for a 2004 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

On July 29, 2003, they released their debut and only album to date, Ice Cream, which spawned the singles, "Ice Cream" (US #124) and "Love Angel". It debuted at number thirty-three on the Billboard 200. [3] Following the album's imminent performance on Billboard, JS blamed the label, DreamWorks, for its moderate commercial performance, claiming the label failed to properly promote the album and support the group. [4] At the time, DreamWorks Records was at the verge of merging with its Universal Music counterpart, Geffen Records, which the process was completed in December 2003. [5]

After DreamWorks' absorption into Geffen, JS was soon dropped from the label.[ citation needed ]

Following the 46th Annual Grammy Awards, JS quietly disbanded to focus on personal and solo careers. Kim Johnson performed background vocals for artists like Nelly, Rod Stewart, Jamie Foxx and others. Kandy Johnson later married her mentor, Ronald Isley, in 2005 after supporting him physically throughout their partnership; [6] she performed background vocals on the Isley Brothers' Baby Makin' Music , their only album released on Def Jam Recordings' Def Soul division, and Isley's solo debut, Mr. I, released in late 2010. [7] She was fully supportive of her husband following his conviction of tax evasion charges and three-year prison sentence in 2006. [8] Johnson also gave birth to her and Isley's son, Ronald Isley, Jr., alone due to the situation. [9] [10]

Both sisters reside in Los Angeles, California with Isley and their children. [9] In 2020, the two former JS members, Kim Johnson and Kandy Johnson-Isley, reunited to formed their own duo, Kim & Kandy, after being inspired by the success of fellow sibling girl group, duo Chloe x Halle. [11] Later that year, under the Kim & Kandy duo alias, they released a single called "Free" [12] and later, a holiday music extended play, titled Christmas with Kim & Kandy. [13]

Discography

Related Research Articles

Geffen Records is an American record label, founded in 1980 by David Geffen. Originally a music subsidiary of the now-defunct Geffen Pictures, it is owned by the Interscope Geffen A&M faction of Universal Music Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Isley Brothers</span> American musical group

The Isley Brothers are an American musical group originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, that began as a vocal trio consisting of the brothers O'Kelly Isley Jr., Rudolph Isley and Ronald Isley in the 1950s. With a career spanning over seven decades, the group has enjoyed one of the "longest, most influential, and most diverse careers in the pantheon of popular music".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DGC Records</span> American record label

DGC Records was an American record label that operated as a division of Interscope Geffen A&M Records, which is owned by Universal Music Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DreamWorks Records</span> American record label

DreamWorks Records was an American record label founded in 1996 by David Geffen, Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg as a subsidiary of DreamWorks Pictures. The label operated until 2003 when it was sold to Universal Music Group. The label itself also featured a Nashville, Tennessee-based subsidiary, DreamWorks Nashville, which specialized in country music and was shut down in 2006 then moved to MCA Nashville. The company's logo was designed by Roy Lichtenstein and was his last commission before his death in 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angela Winbush</span> American singer

Angela Lisa Winbush is an American R&B/soul singer-songwriter, musician and record producer who rose to fame first in the 1980s R&B duo René & Angela, also scoring hits as a solo artist. To date, Winbush has sold over 10 million albums and singles worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronald Isley</span> American singer and songwriter (born 1941)

Ronald Isley is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Isley is the lead singer and founding member of the family music group The Isley Brothers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)</span> 1966 single by the Isley Brothers

"This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)" is a Holland–Dozier–Holland song that was a hit for American musical group the Isley Brothers in January 1966 during their brief tenure on Motown's Tamla label. Featuring Ronald Isley on lead vocal, "This Old Heart of Mine" peaked at number twelve on the Billboard Hot 100, and at number six on the Billboard R&B Singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's Your Thing</span> 1969 single by The Isley Brothers

"It's Your Thing" is a funk single by The Isley Brothers. Released in 1969, the anthem was an artistic response to Motown chief Berry Gordy's demanding hold on his artists after the Isleys left the label in late 1968.

René & Angela were an American R&B duo consisting of musical artists and producers René Moore and Angela Winbush. They formed in 1977 and disbanded in 1986. They are most remembered for their 1985 song "I'll Be Good".

<i>Go for Your Guns</i> 1977 studio album by the Isley Brothers

Go for Your Guns is the fifteenth album by the Isley Brothers. Released on April 16, 1977, on their T-Neck label, it was also the band's fifth album to be distributed by their deal with Epic. Released in mid-April 1977, the album peaked a month later at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Soul chart, and at No. 6 on the Billboard 200.

<i>The Real Deal</i> (Isley Brothers album) 1982 studio album by The Isley Brothers

The Real Deal is an album by the Isley Brothers, released on August 7, 1982. The album is notable for the group's decision to alter their trademark funk rock sound in the 1970s with the then-current early 1980s electro funk scene dominated by Rick James, Prince, Zapp and the Gap Band.

<i>Smooth Sailin</i> (Isley Brothers album) 1987 studio album by the Isley Brothers

Smooth Sailin' is an album by the American musical group the Isley Brothers, released in 1987 on Warner Bros. Records. It was the first album that the group released as a duo of Rudolph and Ronald after the untimely death of eldest brother O'Kelly, who died in 1986 due to occlusive coronary artery disease. Hooking up with R&B singer-songwriter Angela Winbush, the Isleys scored with the top 10 R&B title track and "I Wish", also an R&B top 40 hit.

<i>Tracks of Life</i> 1992 studio album by The Isley Brothers

Tracks of Life is an album by the American musical group the Isley Brothers, released in 1992. The group was made up of Ernie Isley and Marvin Isley backing up brother Ronald. The album peaked at No. 140 on the Billboard 200 and No. 19 on the Top R&B Albums chart. "Sensitive Lover" was released as a single.

<i>Eternal</i> (Isley Brothers album) 2001 studio album by the Isley Brothers

Eternal is a studio album released by The Isley Brothers on DreamWorks Records on August 7, 2001. Now popular again with audiences, almost single-handledly for Ronald Isley's "Mr. Biggs" persona, Eternal included production from not only R. Kelly who gave the Isleys their biggest hit as leading artists in over two decades with "Contagious" but also from Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Raphael Saadiq and Ronald's wife at the time, Angela Winbush. Based on the mega-success of "Contagious", Eternal peaked at #3 on the Billboard Billboard Top 200 album charts and #1 on the R&B album chart selling over two million copies having it certified double-platinum. The first album the Isleys released as a duo in over a decade, Marvin Isley left the group after suffering a bout with diabetes, which later caused both of his legs to be amputated), Ernie Isley also showcase his talents as a guitarist in songs like "Move Your Body" and the aptly titled "Ernie's Jam" while Ronald was still as vocally strong on this album as he had been throughout the Isley Brothers' legendary catalogue.

<i>Body Kiss</i> 2003 studio album by the Isley Brothers

Body Kiss is a studio album by the Isley Brothers, released on May 6, 2003. It is the final Isley Brothers album to be released under the DreamWorks imprint as the label itself would be absorbed into Geffen Records in October of the same year.

<i>Baby Makin Music</i> 2006 studio album by The Isley Brothers

Baby Makin' Music is the thirtieth studio album by the American Ohio musical soul group, the Isley Brothers. It was released under the short-lived Def Soul Classics imprint on May 9, 2006.

Interscope Geffen A&M Records (IGA) is an American umbrella label owned by Universal Music Group. It currently consists record labels Interscope Records and Geffen Records.

Kim Johnson is an American back-up vocalist for headlining artists such as Robin Thicke, Rod Stewart and The Isley Brothers. She has also sung with the funk group Earth, Wind & Fire.

Busted is a song by American duo The Isley Brothers. It was released as a single from their 2003 album Body Kiss. The song was written and produced by R. Kelly. The song, features one member of R&B group JS, Kim Johnson singing background vocals.

<i>Mr. I</i> 2010 studio album by Ronald Isley

Mr. I is the debut solo studio album by American R&B lead singer of The Isley Brothers, Ronald Isley. It was released on November 30, 2010.

References

  1. 1 2 Biography, Allmusic
  2. ↑ Joel Whitburn, Top Pop Singles. 12th edition, p. 516.
  3. ↑ Cabison, Rosalie (2013-01-02). "Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  4. ↑ "Ice Cream by JS (Johnson Sisters)". Genius. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  5. ↑ "UMG buys DreamWorks Records". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  6. ↑ "Meet Ronald Isley's Wife, Kandy Johnson Isley, Who is Thirty-Five Years Younger Than Him". 100.3. 2021-04-08. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  7. ↑ "Out of jail, Ron Isley picks up where he left off". Deseret News. 2010-12-18. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  8. ↑ Billboard Staff (2006-09-05). "Isley Sentenced To Prison For Tax Evasion". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  9. 1 2 "Ron Isley with his wife and 3 yr old son Ron Jr". Lipstick Alley. 2010-11-12. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  10. ↑ "Ron Isley, 80, And Young Wife Have 14-Year-Old Son...He's Cool Like Ron Too". I Love Old School Music. 2021-09-07. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  11. ↑ Crews (2021-04-10). "Kim Johnson & Kandy Isley (Formerly JS) Tease New Music Video as Kim & Kandy". JoJoCrews.com. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  12. ↑ Johnson, Kevin C. (2020-06-10). "Kandy Isley, Kim Johnson spread peace and healing on new single 'Free'". STLtoday.com. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  13. ↑ Johnson, Kevin C. (2020-12-17). "Kandy Isley, Kim Johnson dive into Christmas with new EP". STLtoday.com. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  14. ↑ Joel Whitburn, The Billboard Albums. 6th edition.
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.