Gail Jhonson
Smooth jazz with a feminine touch!
Born and raised in the city of Philadelphia, Gail Denise Jhonson began piano lessons in elementary school at age 10. Proving to be a gifted student she advanced quickly and at age 14, played her 1st gigs on the organ with numerous local Funk and R&B bands. By the time she was 18, her musical pursuit led her to enroll into Berklee College of Music where she received a B.A. in Composition. Returning home, as a jazz pianist, Gail performed with several jazz bands, and other popular Philadelphia artists. She left Germantown in 1985, with her keyboard strapped on and landed an audition with Morris Day (of The TIME). She eventually moved to Los Angeles to make her dream career come true!
By 2004, Keep The Music Playing, Gail Jhonson's highly acclaimed debut contemporary jazz CD on her own (Philly The Kid Records), brought her into the international recording spotlight. Led by the hit singles "Heaven" and "Just For Kicks" the CD received strong support from the music industry.
Gail stays quite busy as the music director, keyboardist and vocalist for smooth jazz super star guitarist and vocalist Norman Brown. In 2005, the nations highly successful and much anticipated Norman Brown's Summer Storm Tour was launched with special guest Peabo Bryson, Everett Harp & Brenda Russell. Major success followed with the 2006 Summer Storm 2 Tour with special guest Patti Austin, Alex Bugnon and Paul Taylor!! In addition to putting the finishing touches on her follow-up CD, Gail is currently working on the music for 2010 Summer Storm Tour.
In past years, she has performed with Morris Day, Bobby Womack, Pink, Norman Brown, Vanessa Williams, Bobby Lyle/featuring Mindi Abair, Dave Koz, Jermaine Jackson and Sheila E. With early influences of Duke Ellington and Herbie Hancock and later Stevie Wonder and Joe Sample, Gail has shared the stage with Ray Parker Jr. Vesta, Howard Hewitt, Brian Culbertson, OC Smith, Paul Jackson Jr. Pamela Williams, Phil Perry and yes, Milli Vanilli. Her various television performances include: BET on Jazz, MTV, Lou Rawls/Parade of Stars, Soul Train, The Tonight Show and numerous video performances. Gail also has a love for theatre, particularly Gospel Musicals.
Her first professional experience was offered as a piano substitute for the stage play EUBIE, at the Ivar Theatre, in Hollywood. She soon began playing for a Langston Hughes play, TAMBORINES TO GLORY, directed by the late Lincoln Kilpatrick, at The Bradley Theatre also in Los Angeles. Thereafter, she was scoring and was the music director for gospel performances SAVING GRACE and REASON FOR THE SEASON, written by Dennis Rowe. In 2003, Gail produced the SAVING GRACE CD, with performances by a multi-talented cast including her son Vein a rap artist and co-writer daughter Tamina, a wonderful soprano and budding musician. Presently, Gail finds time to for songwriting, producing, and piano instruction.
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