Johnnie Gee & Michael Jackson, what do they both have in common? They both are legends of the Northern Soul era. R.I.P to (The King Of Pop).
At this stage of his career Johnnie Gee does not need to prove himself, but his voice is so powerful that with each recording he, once again, reminds you: "Roses" , is the flower to give a lady forever.
He shifts through styles, offering fans from all musical camps a gift of their own. His classic style shows off a studied vocalization where liquid phrasing is key. The popular song Cash Money tells the story of these hard times . He has fun with the memorable song "So Very Near You," a song straight out of the '70s Kid Soul-group heaven. There is even a "I'm Glad" medley mixing the old and the new--the traditional classic soul .
And, as usual, his soul and funk-voiced background singers in the Step By Step band shows the tightness of this classic bands music.
There are two ways to enjoy this album. One is to sit back and revel in Johnnie Gee's vocal fireworks, and the other is to pour yourself a glass of wine, or your favorite drink and get cozy by the fire and have yourself a Step By Step good time.
Mesmerized is "Dedicated to The King Of Pop", who has recently left us, Michael Jackson was born August 29th 1958, Johnnie Gee was born September 29th 1959, Michael & Johnnie Gee received major label contracts at the tender age of 9 and 10, Michael went to Motown Records, and Johnnie Gee went to the famous Brunswick Records.
Get your copy of this release by clicking the banners below, to remember this connection between these two legends.
Johnnie Gee and The Step By Step Band.
A U.S veteran and a music legend who paid his dues at a young age before getting his shot at solo stardom, Johnnie Gee was persevered talent at the young age 0f 9, to emerge as one of soul music's Midwest great survivors of "Northern Kid Soul".
As frontman for Milwaukee soul band Step By Step, Johnnie Gee recorded for Brunswick Records back in the '70s - the same label that brought soul fans the Chi-Lites, Jackie Wilson, Buddy Holly, Louis Armstrong, Young Holt Unlimited, The Artistics and many more.
Johnnie Gee remains active in the business today and has a new hot single release titled "Mesmerized".
This artist has set out to do something no other Artist in 3 decades has ever done, along with his original band "Step By Step" who recorded with Brunswick Records and released the 1976 LP "I Always Wanted To Be In The Band", Johnnie Gee and the Step By Step Band's music also appears on Brunswick many compliations, "Free Soul", "Vector Traveling" D.J's", Brunswick Catalog and other new releases today,
All of Johnnie Gee's powerful collection can be still found online, as well as his current releases, God Blessed us with such an Artist filled with so much history.
His records were quintessential soul, with a bag of tricks learned from the likes of Jackie Wilson, Wilson Pickett, and The Chil-ites, all of whom Gee worked closely with at one time. Yet often, they also bore the stamp of Gee's own idiosyncratic personality, whether through a lengthy spoken philosophical monologue or a radical reinterpretation of a pop and soul standard.
An underrated vocalist, Gee helped pioneer a lean, minimalist approach similar to that of Jackie Wilson, and was under the early influence of the likes of The Chi-Lites.
Find out more about Johnnie Gee and whats new on his music agenda by visiting his Myspace page at: www.myspace.com/johnniegee
