The Brothers Johnson have been an American funk and R&B band consisting of American musicians and brothers George (“Lightnin’ Licks”) and Louis E. Johnson (“Thunder Thumbs”). They achieved their biggest success from the mid-Seventies to early ’80s, with three singles topping the R&B charts (“I’ll Be Good to You”, “Strawberry Letter 23”, and “Stomp!”).
Guitarist/vocalist George and bassist/vocalist Louis fashioned the band Johnson Three Plus One with older brother Tommy and their cousin Alex Weir whereas attending faculty in Los Angeles, California.[1][2] Once they grew to become professionals, the band backed such touring R&B acts as Bobby Womack and the Supremes. George and Louis Johnson later joined Billy Preston’s band and wrote Music in My Life and The Children and Me for him earlier than leaving his group in 1973. In 1976, The Brothers lined the Beatles’ music, Hey Jude, for the ephemeral musical documentary All This and World Conflict II.
Quincy Jones employed them to play on his LP Mellow Insanity, and recorded 4 of their songs, together with Is It Love That We’re Lacking? and Only a Style of Me.
After touring with varied artists together with Bobby Womack and Billy Preston, they have been employed by Quincy Jones for a tour in Japan and produced their debut album Look Out For #1, launched in March 1976 (#9 US) Their Proper on Time album was launched in Could 1977 and reached quantity 13 on the Billboard Scorching 200. Blam!! got here out in August 1978 and reached quantity 7 on the Billboard 200.
Two of the duo’s songs have been featured on the soundtrack of the 1976 movie Mom, Jugs & Velocity. The instrumental observe Thunder Thumbs and Lightnin’ Licks refers back to the brothers’ nicknames. Get the Funk Out Ma Face was cowritten with Quincy Jones.
Their fashionable album Mild Up The Night time was launched in March 1980 and rose to #5 on the Billboard 200. It was quantity 46 on the “Prime 100 LPs of 1980” record in Rolling Stone Journal. The brothers self-produced the following album, Winners; launched in July 1981, it solely reached #48 on the Billboard 200.
Amongst their hottest songs are I’ll Be Good to You (Billboard Scorching 100 #3 in 1976), Strawberry Letter 23 (Scorching 100 #5 in 1977, initially recorded by Shuggie Otis), Ain’t We Funkin’ Now (1978), and Stomp! (Scorching 100 #7 and Scorching Dance Music/Membership Play #1 in 1980). Their types embody funk, and R&B ballads. Every album additionally included at the very least one instrumental minimize that may both be thought of lite jazz (Tomorrow 1976, Q 1977, Smilin’ On Ya 1980, Tokyo 1984) or Funk (Thunder Thumbs &Lightning Licks 1976, Brother Man 1976, Mista Cool 1978, Celebrations 1980). Wiki
strawberry-letter-23-the-brothers-johnson-12quot-extended-.mp3
