Stacy Johnson (April 13, 1945 – May 11, 2017) was an American R&B singer and songwriter best known as a vocalist in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. Johnson also released solo records and sang in the St. Louis based group

the Sharpees The Sharpees were an American R&B group based in St. Louis. The group originated from a band led by guitarist and bandleader Benny Sharp. History The Sharpees were named after guitarist Benny Sharp. Sharp (1930 – 2019) was from Tupelo, Mis ...

led by Benny Sharp.

Life and career

Johnson was born in

St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an Independent city (United States), independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi and the Miss ...

on April 13, 1945. Johnson, the oldest of six, began singing in locals groups around

Soldan High School Soldan International Studies High School (also known as Soldan High School) is a public magnet high school in the Academy neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri, United States, that is part of St. Louis Public Schools. Soldan was known for its wea ...

. Johnson admired

Frankie Lymon Franklin Joseph Lymon (September 30, 1942 – February 27, 1968) was an American rock and roll/rhythm and blues singer and songwriter, best known as the boy soprano lead singer of the New York City-based early rock and roll doo-wop group the Te ...

and

the Teenagers The Teenagers were an American music group, most noted for being one of rock music's earliest successes, presented to international audiences by DJ Alan Freed. The group, which made its most popular recordings with young Frankie Lymon as lead ...

the Spaniels The Spaniels were an American R&B and doo-wop group, best known for the hit " Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite". They have been called the first successful Midwestern R&B group. Some historians of vocal groups consider Pookie Hudson to be the fir ...

, and

Little Anthony and the Imperials Little Anthony and the Imperials is an American rhythm and blues/soul vocal group from New York City founded by Clarence Collins in the 1950s and named in part for its lead singer, Jerome Anthony "Little Anthony" Gourdine, who was noted for his h ...

. In 1958, he joined the

doo-wop Doo-wop (also spelled doowop and doo wop) is a subgenre of rhythm and blues music that originated in African-American communities during the 1940s, mainly in the large cities of the United States, including New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, ...

group the Superiors. They began appearing in local talent shows. The Superiors competed against other groups with

Oliver Sain Oliver Sain Jr. (March 1, 1932 – October 28, 2003) was an American saxophone, saxophonist, songwriter, bandleader, drummer and record producer, who was an important figure in the development of rhythm and blues music, notably in St Louis, Mi ...

's band backing them. Dave Dixon, a popular disc jockey at KATZ, hosted "Shower of Stars," a competition for aspiring singers and musicians. At one of those shows, Johnson befriended another singer named Vernon Guy from The Cool Sounds. Although underage, the group was permitted to perform at clubs like the Whirlaway, the Red Top, and the Manhattan Club, backed by the

house band A house band is a group of musicians, often centrally organized by a band leader, who regularly play at an establishment. It is widely used to refer both to the bands who work on entertainment programs on television or radio, and to bands which ...

which was often Oliver Sain,

Little Milton James Milton Campbell Jr. (September 7, 1934 – August 4, 2005), better known as Little Milton, was an American blues singer and guitarist, best known for his List of number-one R&B singles of 1965 (U.S.), number-one R&B single "We're Gonna Ma ...

or James DeShay. Eventually, Johnson left the group to join the Arabians. The Arabians joined the Jules Carlos Revue which featured a bevy of talent plying behind Benny Sharp and the Zorros of Rhythm. In 1961, R&B guitarist and bandleader Benny Sharp heard Johnson sing

Joe Tex Yusuf Hazziez (born Joseph Arrington Jr.; August 8, 1935 – August 13, 1982), known professionally as Joe Tex, was an American singer and musician who gained success in the 1960s and 1970s with his brand of Southern soul, which mixed the style ...

's "All I Could Do Was Cry." Impressed, Sharp hired Johnson as his roadie and gave him an opportunity to sing in his band. Johnson introduced Sharp to his friend Vernon Guy and along with singer Horise O'Toole they became called New Breed. During this period, Johnson also sang with blues guitarist

Albert King Albert King ( Nelson; April 25, 1923 – December 21, 1992), was an American guitarist and singer who is often regarded as one of the greatest and most influential blues guitarists of all time. He is perhaps best known for his popular and ...

and harmonica player Big George Brock. In 1962, while performing with King at Club Caravan (formerly Early Bird Lounge), Jimmy Thomas introduced Johnson and Guy to bandleader

Ike Turner Izear Luster "Ike" Turner Jr. (November 5, 1931 – December 12, 2007) was an American musician, bandleader, songwriter, record producer, and talent scout. An early pioneer of 1950s rock and roll, he is best known for his work in the 1960s and ...

who asked Johnson and Guy to join the

Ike & Tina Turner Ike & Tina Turner was an American musical duo consisting of husband-and-wife Ike Turner and Tina Turner. From 1960 to 1976, they performed live as the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, supported by the Kings of Rhythm and backing vocalists, the Ikettes. ...

Revue. Johnson later learned that Ikette Robbie Montgomery had recommended him to Turner. Johnson accepted Turner's offer, but he learned that he was being tested for a few weeks, and Turner only intended on keeping only one of them. Turner chose Guy, but one night when the revue was performing at the Manhattan Club, the crowd chanted for Johnson so he was rehired. Johnson eventually moved to Los Angeles. As a member of the revue, Stacy served as master of ceremonies, back up singer and occasionally he sang lead. He appeared with

Freddie King Freddie King (born Fred Christian; September 3, 1934December 28, 1976), also billed as Freddy King, was an American blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. He is considered one of the "Three Kings of the Blues Guitar" (along with Albert King a ...

Johnnie Taylor Johnnie Harrison Taylor (May 5, 1934 – May 31, 2000) was an American recording artist and songwriter who performed a wide variety of genres, from blues, rhythm and blues, soul, and gospel to pop, doo-wop, and disco. He was initially suc ...

and one of his idols

Jackie Wilson Jack Leroy "Jackie" Wilson Jr. (June 9, 1934 – January 21, 1984) was an American singer who was a prominent figure in the transition of rhythm and blues into soul. Nicknamed "Mr. Excitement", he was considered a master showman and one of th ...

. The revue toured throughout the country eleven months out of the year and performed four to seven days of the week. In between touring, Turner recorded the vocalist in the revue. In 1963, Johnson released his first record on Turner's label

Sony Records Sony Records was a record label founded by R&B duo Ike & Tina Turner in 1963. It was not affiliated with Sony Group Corporation. Ike Turner produced singles by members of the Kings of Rhythm and the Ikettes on Sony Records. Records on the la ...

. Johnson and Guy teamed up as Vernon & Stacy for the single "The Hunter And The Rabbit" / "My Life Time Love," released on Turner's label Sonja Records. Johnson also released a solo record on the newly revived

Modern Records Modern Records (Modern Music Records before 1947) was an American record company and label formed in 1945 in Los Angeles by the Bihari brothers. Modern's artists included Hadda Brooks, Etta James, Joe Houston, Little Richard, Ike & Tina Turn ...

in 1964. Johnson stated in a 2000 interview that he contributed to the dynamic of Ike & Tina Turner's act: "There was a minimum amount of dancing being done with the Ike and Tina show, and upon Vernon uyand I going, the whole show changed, because we interjected 90 percent – and I stand convinced of this – 90 percent of the dance routines that they did as a whole group." Johnson got married in 1964. By this time, he was feeling overworked and underpaid. Due to the urging of his wife, he quit the revue while they were in

Dallas, Texas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...

. He moved back to St. Louis and rejoined Sharp's group which was now called the Sharpees. The Sharpees consisted of Herbert Reeves, Horise O'Toole, Vernon Guy and Benny Sharp. Johnson replaced O'Toole who died shortly after contracting

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is a contagious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can al ...

. Johnson had previously sang with O'Toole and Reeves in the Arabians. They released "Tired of Being Lonely" on Chicago's One-derful label in 1965, featuring Johnson on lead vocal. Throughout the 1960s and the 1970s, Johnson performed with various bands around St. Louis. He retired from singing after his second wife died in the early 1980s. In 1985, Johnson and Vernon Guy formed a newly reformed Sharpies. In 1986, former Ikette Robbie Montgomery reached out to him to tour Europe with several

Kings of Rhythm Kings of Rhythm are an American music group formed in the late 1940s in Clarksdale, Mississippi and led by Ike Turner through to his death in 2007. Turner would retain the name of the band throughout his career, although the group has undergone c ...

alumni, including Clayton Love, Billy Gayles, Erskine Oglesby, and

as the St. Louis Kings of Rhythm. They toured into 1987 and the band was officially appointed as ambassadors for the City of St. Louis by Mayor Vincent Schoemehl. After the tour, Johnson formed the group Broadway Rhythm. Johnson contributed vocals to musician's Johnnie Johnson's first solo album ''Blue Hand Johnnie'' (1987). Johnson continued to perform around St. Louis with the likes of Bennie Smith, Soul Reunion, and Broadway Rhythm until his health declined. In the last 10 years of his life, Johnson suffered from three strokes. One of his last appearances was a fundraiser for him at BB's Jazz, Blues and Soups in 2012. Johnson died in St. Louis at the age of 72 from cancer on May 11, 2017.

Discography

Singles

* 1963: "Don't Believe 'Em" / "Remove My Doubts" (

Sony is a Japanese multinational conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at Sony City in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The Sony Group encompasses various businesses, including Sony Corporation (electronics), Sony Semiconductor Solutions (i ...

113) * 1963: "The Hunter And The Rabbit" / "My Life Time Love" ( Sonja 2002) – Vernon & Stacy * 1964: "Don't Believe Him" / "Consider Yourself" ( Modern 1001) * 1966: "I Stand Alone" / "Don't try To Fool Me" (M-Pac! 7230)

Albums

Ike and Tina Turner

* 1964: '' Ike & Tina Turner Revue Live'' (

Kent Records Kent Records was a Los Angeles–based record label, launched in 1958 by the Bihari brothers. It was a subsidiary of Crown Records Corporation. Kent was a follow-up to Modern Records, which ceased operations in 1958. The label reissued Modern's sin ...

) * 1965: '' Live! The Ike & Tina Turner Show'' (

Warner Bros. Records Warner Records Inc. (known as Warner Bros. Records Inc. until 2019) is an American record label. A subsidiary of Warner Music Group, it is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It was founded on March 19, 1958, as the recorded music division ...

) * 1993: ''The Ike & Tina Turner Revue Live!!!'' (Kent Records) * 1994: ''I Like Ike! The Best Of Ike Turner'' (

Rhino Records A rhinoceros ( ; ; ; : rhinoceros or rhinoceroses), commonly abbreviated to rhino, is a member of any of the five extant taxon, extant species (or numerous extinct species) of odd-toed ungulates (perissodactyls) in the family (biology), famil ...

) * 2012: ''Ike Turner Studio Productions: New Orleans and Los Angeles 1963–1965'' ( Ace Records)

Other appearances

* 1986: ''Rhythm And Blues Showtime With St. Louis Kings Of Rhythm'' (

Timeless Records Timeless Records is a jazz record label based in the Netherlands. Timeless was founded in Wageningen in 1975 by Wim Wigt. It has specialized in bebop, though it also did a sub-series of releases of Dixieland and swing recordings. As of 2000, th ...

) * 1987: ''Blue Hand Johnnie'' (Pulsar Records) – Johnnie Johnson * 1999: ''West Coast Modern Blues 1960s ( P-Vine Records) * 2012: ''Move with the Groove (Hardcore Chicago Soul 1962–1970)'' (

Charly Records Charly Records is a British record label that specialises in reissued material. Among the labels whose original releases are reissued by Charly are Vee-Jay, Sun, Immediate, BYG, Tomato, and Fania. History Charly Records was founded in Fran ...

) * 2019: ''Los Angeles Soul Volume 2 (Kent-Modern's Black Music Legacy 1963–1972)'' (Kent Soul)

References

External links

Stacy Johnson Interview
on St. Louis BluesNet {{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Stacy 1945 births 2017 deaths African-American male singers American soul singers Singers from St. Louis St. Louis blues musicians Sonja Records artists Modern Records artists Kings of Rhythm members Ike & Tina Turner members