Johnny Gill, Jr
(born May 22nd, 1966) is an Grammy Award-nominated American R&B singer-songwriter best known for his romantic ballads and as a member of New Edition. His signature song "My, My, My" has been included on numerous romantic compilations.
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JOHNNY GILL TICKETS
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Life and work
Gill was born in
Washington, D.C. He is the son of a minister, Johnny Gill, Sr and brother to Shaneka Gill. He started singing at age five in a family gospel group called "Wings of Faith," which included his brothers Bobby, Jeff, and
Randy Gill (himself a solo recording artist and member of the group
II D Extreme). His recording career began in 1983 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". Gill then teamed up with Stacy for a duet album, which featured their first hit together, "Perfect Combination." A second album on Atlantic Records, yielded the song "Half Crazy," which is still a fan favorite.
Gill began a new chapter in his career in 1987, when he was recruited by
Michael Bivins to be the new fifth member of
New Edition, a 1980s
R&B group. The previous fifth member,
Bobby Brown had been voted out of the group and enjoyed a successful solo career before reuniting with the group as a sixth member.
With Gill as one of the lead singers, the group developed a more mature, adult sound, hitting the charts with songs such as "Can You Stand The Rain," "N.E. Heartbreak," and the Gill-led "Boys To Men." He is the oldest member of New Edition.
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". On this album, Gill played guitar, bass, bongos, and drums in addition to performing lead and background vocals. 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.
In 1993, Gill released another solo project,
Provocative,
which included the songs "Quiet Time to Play," "A Cute, Sweet, Love Addiction," and a moving gospel, "I Know Where I Stand." In 1996, Gill was reunited with New Edition, including Brown, as they recorded
Home Again,
an album noted for the singles "Hit Me Off" and "Still In Love". The title song, "Home Again," although not released as a single is one of the most impressive vocal performances recorded by the group to date.
In 1996, Gill also released
Let's Get the Mood Right,
which included the title song, "Love In an Elevator," and "Maybe" which, although not released as a single, is considered by many to be one of his greatest vocal performances ever. The following year, he collaborated with
Gerald Levert and
Keith Sweat to form the
supergroup LSG
(Levert/Sweat/Gill) which resulted in the multi platinum debut album,
Levert-Sweat-Gill,
and a follow-up album in 2003 entitled
LSG2.
Gill, the only member of New Edition who is not from
Boston, was raised in Washington DC where he 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 his career came first.
His latest recording, "You For Me (The Wedding Song)" from the
Madea's Family Reunion
soundtrack received strong reviews from music critics as well as the general public. In 2008, Gill, as a member of New Edition, was the recipient of the Golden Note Award at ASCAP's 21st Annual Rhythm & Soul Music Awards.
In addition to finishing work on his upcoming solo CD, as of September 27, 2008, he began touring with
Ralph Tresvant and
Bobby Brown in a new group named
Heads of State. Gill is celebrating the 25th Anniversary of his first recording as a solo artist.
With over 80 television and film appearances as a singer and actor, Gill earned much acclaim for his cameo role on the hit TV show,
Family Matters (TV series) and recently thrilled audiences singing "You For Me" in the movie "
Madea's Family Reunion."
In October 2004
Rub You The Right Way
appeared in popular
videogame Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, playing on
R&B,
Soul radio station
CSR 103.9.
Discography
Studio albums
Year
| Album
| Chart positions [1] [2] [3]
| U.S. certifications [4]
| Record label
|
US
| US R&B
| UK
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1983
| Johnny Gill
| —
| 64
| —
| —
| Cotillion
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1984
| Perfect Combination
(with Stacy Lattisaw)
| 139
| 27
| —
| —
|
1985
| Chemistry
| —
| 51
| —
| —
|
1990
| Johnny Gill
| 8
| 1
| —
| 2× Platinum
| Motown
|
1993
| Provocative
| 14
| 4
| 42
| Gold
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1996
| Let's Get the Mood Right
| 32
| 7
| —
| Gold
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"—" denotes the album failed to chart or was not certified
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Compilation albums
Year
| Album
| Chart positions
| Record label
|
US
| US R&B
|
1997
| Favorites
| —
| —
| Motown
|
2002
| Ultimate Collection
| —
| —
| Hip-O
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2003
| The Millennium Collection: The Best of Johnny Gill
| —
| —
| Motown
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2005
| Love Songs
| —
| —
|
"—" denotes the album failed
|
Singles
Year
| Single
| Chart positions [1] [2] [3]
| Album
|
US
| US R&B
| UK
|
1983
| "Super Love"
| —
| 29
| —
| Johnny Gill [1983
|
"When Something Is Wrong with My Baby"
| —
| 57
| —
|
1984
| "Perfect Combination" (duet with Stacy Lattisaw)
| 75
| 10
| —
| Perfect Combination
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"Baby It's You" (duet with Stacy Lattisaw)
| —
| 37
| —
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1985
| "Half Crazy"
| —
| 26
| —
| Chemistry
|
"Can't Wait Til Tomorrow"
| —
| 49
| —
|
1990
| "Rub You the Right Way"
| 3
| 1
| 77
| Johnny Gill [1990
|
"My, My, My"
| 10
| 1
| 89
|
"Fairweather Friend"
| 28
| 2
| —
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1991
| "Wrap My Body Tight"
| 84
| 1
| 57
|
"I'm Still Waiting"
| —
| 27
| —
| New Jack City OST
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1992
| "There U Go" A
| —
| 21
| —
| Boomerang OST
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1993
| "The Floor"
| 56
| 11
| 53
| Provocative
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"I Got You"
| —
| 35
| —
|
"Long Way from Home"
| —
| 42
| —
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1994
| "Quiet Time to Play"
| —
| 25
| —
|
"A Cute, Sweet Love Addiction"
| —
| —
| 46
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1996
| "Let's Get the Mood Right"
| 53
| 17
| —
| Let's Get the Mood Right
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1997
| "It's Your Body" (featuring Roger Troutman)
| 43
| 19
| —
|
"Love in an Elevator"
| —
| 59
| —
|
"—" denotes the single failed to chart or was not released
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- A "There U Go" did not chart on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop charts (Billboard
rules at the time prevented album cuts from charting). Chart peak listed here represents Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay charts data.
As featured performer
Year
| Single
| Chart positions [1] [3]
| Album
|
US
| US R&B
| UK
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1988
| "One Love" (George Howard featuring Johnny Gill)
| —
| 77
| —
| Reflections
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1989
| "Where Do We Go from Here?" (duet with Stacy Lattisaw)
| —
| 1
| —
| What You Need
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1991
| "Always" (Pebbles featuring Cherrelle and Johnny Gill)
| —
| 13
| —
| Always
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1992
| "Silent Prayer" (Shanice featuring Johnny Gill)
| 31
| 4
| —
| Inner Child
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"Slow and Sexy" (Shabba Ranks featuring Johnny Gill)
| 33
| 4
| 17
| X-tra Naked
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"—" denotes the single failed to chart or was not released
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References
- Johnny Gill US chart history
- Johnny Gill US chart history
- Johnny Gill UK chart history
- Johnny Gill US certification history
- Johnny Gill US chart history
- Johnny Gill US chart history
- Johnny Gill UK chart history
- Johnny Gill US chart history
- Johnny Gill UK chart history