The Brothers Johnson
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1975 in Los Angeles, United States |
| Founder | George Johnson, Louis E. Johnson |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | Funk and R&B music, albums, singles |
The Brothers Johnson was a prominent American ensemble specializing in funk and R&B, founded by siblings George ("Lightnin' Licks") and Louis E. Johnson ("Thunder Thumbs"). Their peak commercial period spanned the mid-1970s through the early 1980s, during which they secured three number-one hits on the R&B charts: "I'll Be Good to You", "Strawberry Letter 23", and "Stomp!".
Origins
The band initially came together in Los Angeles under the name Johnson Three Plus One, comprising George (guitar/vocals), Louis (bass/vocals), their elder brother Tommy, and cousin Alex Weir. Early on, they supported touring R&B acts such as Bobby Womack and the Supremes, later joining Billy Preston's ensemble and contributing to his albums Music Is My Life and The Kids & Me before departing in 1973. In 1976, they recorded a rendition of the Beatles' "Hey Jude" for the documentary All This and World War II.
Renowned producer Quincy Jones enlisted them for his album Mellow Madness, where they recorded four tracks including "Is It Love That We're Missin'?" and "Just a Taste of Me". Following tours with Bobby Womack and Billy Preston, they accompanied Quincy Jones on a Japanese tour. Their debut album Look Out for #1, launched in March 1976, climbed to number 9 on the U.S. Billboard chart. Subsequent releases Right on Time (May 1977) and Blam!! (August 1978) attained peak positions of #13 and #7 on the Billboard 200, respectively.
Two of their songs featured on the soundtrack for the 1976 film Mother, Jugs & Speed, with another included in the 1997 movie Jackie Brown. The instrumental "Thunder Thumbs and Lightnin' Licks" nods to their nicknames. The track "Get the Funk Out Ma Face" was co-created alongside Quincy Jones.
Their commercially acclaimed album Light Up the Night released in March 1980 reached #5 on the Billboard 200 chart and was ranked #46 on Rolling Stone's Top 100 LPs of that year. The self-produced Winners (July 1981) peaked at #48.
Notable singles include "I'll Be Good to You" (#3 Hot 100, 1976) featuring Syreeta Wright, "Strawberry Letter 23" (#5 Hot 100, 1977), originally by Shuggie Otis, "Ain't We Funkin' Now" (1978), and "Stomp!" (#7 Hot 100, #1 Dance, 1980). Their sound integrates funk rhythms with R&B ballads, complemented by instrumental pieces spanning light jazz to funk across their albums.
Separation in 1982
The brothers parted ways in 1982 to focus on separate ventures.
Louis Johnson's solo career
In 1981, Louis Johnson produced a gospel album with his group Passage, which included his then-wife Valerie Johnson and former Brothers Johnson percussionist/singer Richard Heath. He contributed bass guitar to Michael Jackson's landmark album Thriller. In 1985, he released the single "Kinky" under Capitol Records as part of his Europe-only album Evolution. Beginning that same year, Louis created three instructional bass video tutorials and later established a bass academy during the 1990s offering workshops via his website. He passed away on May 21, 2015, aged 60; his final public performance occurred in 2013.
Tommy Johnson transitioned from music to serve nearly three decades with the Los Angeles Fire Department.
George Johnson's solo endeavors
George Johnson issued the single "Back Against the Wall" in 1985 through Quincy Jones' Qwest label; sessions from this period yielded an unreleased full-length album. He also played guitar on Steve Arrington's Dancing in the Key of Life (1985) and provided vocals for Jeff Lorber Fusion's Galaxian (1981).
Reunions and projects during the 1980s
The brothers reunited in 1984 to produce Out of Control, overseen by Leon Sylvers III. Although it did not replicate their earlier acclaim, it produced an R&B charting single titled "You Keep Me Coming Back". They collaborated once more in 1988 on Kickin', which featured the minor hit "Kick It to the Curb" with Irene Cara.
Between these releases, both pursued solo projects and contributed to David Diggs' Street Shadows, highlighting their instrumental expertise. Their song "Tomorrow" was re-recorded alongside Tevin Campbell for Quincy Jones' 1989 album Back on the Block, which also included a new version of "I'll Be Good to You" featuring Ray Charles and Chaka Khan.
Following brief appearances in Japan during the mid-1990s and George’s guest performance at a Graham Central Station show, they embarked on an expanded U.S. tour in 2002 that drew both fans and industry professionals. This era saw them establish an official website and forum dedicated to their legacy. A live CD/DVD package titled Strawberry Letter 23: Live was subsequently released.
In 2006, Louis performed a duo set at Maryland’s Poetry in Motion 1 Festival. By 2007, George continued touring with his own band, collaborating with Michael Henderson's project that featured artists such as Adina Howard and Ray Parker Jr.
Louis Johnson died due to esophageal gastrointestinal bleeding in Las Vegas on May 21, 2015.
In 2022, Harry Styles sampled their track "Ain't We Funkin' Now" for his song "Daydreaming" from the album Harry's House.
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Record label | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 |
US R&B |
US Jazz |
AUS | CAN | NL | NZ | UK | ||||
| 1976 | Look Out for #1 | 9 | 1 | 3 | — | 25 | — | — | — | * RIAA: Platinum | A&M |
| 1977 | Right on Time | 13 | 2 | 4 | 43 | 36 | — | 34 | — | * RIAA: Platinum | A&M |
| 1978 | Blam! | 7 | 1 | — | — | 51 | — | — | 48 | * RIAA: Platinum | A&M |
| 1980 | Light Up the Night | 5 | 1 | — | 57 | 58 | 43 | 4 | 22 | * RIAA: Platinum * RMNZ: Gold |
A&M |
| 1981 | Winners | 48 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | 42 | A&M | |
| 1984 | Out of Control | 91 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
A&M | |
Live albums
- Strawberry Letter 23: Live (2004, Goldenlane)
Compilation albums
| Year | Album | US Billboard | US R&B | NZ | Record label |
|---|
Singles
Videography
- 1977 – Right on Time
- 1980 – Stomp
- 1981 – The Real Thing
- 1988 – Kick It to the Curb
See also
External links
- American dance music groups
- American funk musical groups
- African-American musical groups
- American disco groups
- Family musical groups
- Grammy Award winners
- Musical groups from Los Angeles
- Brother duos
- American soul musical groups
- Musical groups established in 1975
- Musical groups disbanded in 1982
- A&M Records artists
- Capitol Records artists
- Musical groups disestablished in 1982