“Keith ‘Wonderboy’ Johnson Presents…The Rising Stars if Quartet” Volume I is the first installment featuring 14 brand new songs, three songs performed by Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson himself along with selections from the hottest and most talented up and coming rising stars working on the Quartet scene today. Those talented stars include Tim Rogers & The Fellas, Jewel & Converted, Brothers In Christ and Marble Twins & Company.
Wonderboy has an illustrious career with classic hits such as “Hide Behind The Mountain,” “I Just Want To Be Right” and his latest 2007 Stellar Award winning song, “I Made It,” making him the undisputed “Prince of Quartet Gospel” music.
Keith has been singing professionally since the age of five as member of the group founded by his father, The Spiritual Voices. Still a young man himself, a master student of the Quartet genre, he felt that his success wasn’t just only for him to be the beneficiary, but that he must use his influence to reach back and help present the works of the next generation of rising Quartet stars. Stars that can perpetuate the genre as so many of our legends are becoming fewer.
For more information on Wonderboy visit www.malaco.com.
Keith Wonderboy Johnson Presents...The Rising Stars of Quartet Vol. 1
To every (thing there is) a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV). And for Keith Wonderboy Johnson, this is his time and his season. Johnson’s ‘new season’ will actually begin on April 20th with the release of his first Verity Records solo album aptly titled “NEW SEASON.
From “Send A Revival” to “I Just Want To Be Right” Keith Wonderboy Johnson has undoubtedly made his mark on the Quartet music scene and today he seeks to further his music ministry with an unprecedented deal with Verity Records and World Wide Music, Inc.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Keith Wonderboy Johnson began singing at the age of 5 as a member of the Spiritual Voices, a group that was founded by his father. As fate would have it, he would soon become a member of the famed Harlem Boys Choir. It was here where Johnson’s vocal abilities were fine tuned and valuable lessons in the areas of showmanship and professionalism were acquired and honed.
In 1998, Johnson signed with independent label, World Wide Gospel Records and released his first project, “Through the Storm.” It featured the instant hit single, “Hide Behind the Mountain,” and changed the face of Gospel Quartet Music forever. Johnson was a young man with an old fashioned style that appealed to audiences of all ages and brought an entire new generation of listeners to his brand of Gospel music. The success of this project was only exceeded by his electrifying live performances.
Johnson garnered media attention and success once again, in 1999 with the release of his sophomore project, “Live and Alive” that turned out the smash, “I Just Wanna Be Right,” which quickly became a Gospel anthem. Later that same year, Johnson released his first Christmas project, “Our Gift to You” that included the upbeat, foot-stomping, “12 Days of Christmas” that is still one of the most requested and frequently played Gospel holiday songs.
He would go on to release three more albums with World Wide Gospel; “Tribute to Quartet Legends,” “Send A Revival” and a greatest hits compilation project. Among the memorable moments from these albums project include, “Stretchin’ Out,” “Peace in the Midst of the Storm,” “Angels,” and the ubiquitous smash hit “Send a Revival.”
“NEW SEASON” is everything the title suggests … it marks a new dawn for Johnson. Fans will be blessed by this new project that reveals a maturity that has never before been revealed by Johnson. New experiences in his life, in his career, in his spirituality and with his relationship with Jesus Christ have all been brought together on this project.
“I am very excited about this project. It is more from the heart and comes directly from personal experiences in my life,” explained Johnson. “We’ve also experimented with new sounds and flavors that today’s technology allows us, but it’s still the same Gospel music my friends and fans have come to expect from my ministry.”
With songs appealing to the entire family; both young and old, the first single is classic Keith Wonderboy Johnson. “Let Go, Let God,” is the upbeat, church filled track that is filled with all the great things Johnson is well known and loved for.
Other key selections include “Forgive Me Lord,” a moving and reflective ballad that reminds us of the Lord’s unending grace and mercy. “I Need Your Help,” another lively and entirely churchy track and a remake of his signature song “Somehow He Takes Us Through It All,” round out the project. The latter was previously released on Johnson’s hallmark album “Send A Revival.”
“NEW SEASON” introduces an array of unsung producers, musicians and songwriters. Johnson made a concerted effort to sow into the untapped market of talented people that haven’t had a chance to break into the industry.
“I wanted to give some of the people I know, who do not have as long or as an impressive resumes as some established writers and producers,” he stated. “A chance … that’s all they need.”
Definitely a product of ‘old school’ Gospel music … the invoking sounds of hands clapping and foot-stomping on a wood floor are trademark Keith Wonderboy Johnson. He draws his influences from great Gospel legends like Shirley Caesar, the Mighty Clouds of Joy, the Hawkins Family, The Canton Spirituals, Dixie Hummingbirds and the Caravans. “These are artists whose ministries and careers have longevity … they are the real thing,” Johnson said.
As a credit to his tireless work and commitment to his ministry of serving God’s people through music, Johnson has earned many awards, recognition and prestigious nominations including GMWA Excellence Award, Stellar Awards, American Gospel Quartet Convention Awards, and Gospel Truth Magazine Awards. In addition to being honored in various cities with “Key’s To the City,” Johnson has appeared on Billboard’s Top Gospel Album Charts for multiple weeks throughout his career.
The horizon looks bright for Johnson with the collaborative effort that includes both Verity Records and World Wide Gospel. Going into its sixth year, World Wide Gospel quickly rose to the top of the industry practically overnight, ranking World Wide among the top 10 selling record labels in the world during the years of 2001 and 2002. This was greatly due to the unique marketing savvy and vision of World Wide’s dynamic duo of Kerry and Fatiyah Douglas. World Wide would not only see huge success with Johnson, but scored big with Evelyn Turrentine-Agee’s “God Did It;” and played host to several artists, Nu Beginning featuring Damon Little, Greg O’Quinn, Darrell McFadden and the Disciples, Jimmy Hicks and VOI, and Bo Peep. World Wide Gospel has also launched a successful publication, The Gospel Truth Magazine that has been instrumental in the label’s success.
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