by Dwight L. Quinn
09/29/2013
Two time Sodexho Award-winning blues/soul/jazz trumpeter Oliver Johnson is one of the most proliferated trumpet greats of all time....Oliver, known as the guy who brought the trumpet to Soul." On November 5, 2013 Quinn Records TM will release The Best of Oliver Johnson, a rocking collection of Oliver's top tunes celebrating Oliver's six years as an international blues/soul/jazz recording artist and a professional musical experience that started at age seven. Recorded in Centreville, Illinois and produced by Quinn Records TM producer/ songwriter/ label owner,Dwight L. Quinn the album is a mix of blues and soul sounds that allowed Oliver to stretch his thundering-trumpet solo's to all time highs.
Oliver wrote,You Make Me Sing The Blues track, Quinn wrote five additional tracks and the album was topped with four covers. The songs were collected from Oliver's best-sellers. The Best of Oliver Johnson will bring Oliver's discography to nine albums,since signing with Quinn Records TM in 2004.
Making up the core of Oliver's Nite Train band on the CD are Benton (drums), Henry Taylor
(guitar), Oliver (keyboards), Nephew Davis (bass), Oliver (Trumpet). Oswald Peters and Julio each add guitar to three tracks. Oliver, who vocal duties are to wam-bam the audience, was inspired by the sessions to monorate in the songs, something that ole band musician use to do, talk to the audience and/or the band members while the song is in play, singing If You Repay Evil For Good,Oliver would break out and direct his Nite Train Band and shout out to whoever is listening that it's hot up in here, making The Best of Oliver Johnson the most personal, free-jamming and just plain fun recording of his nearly four-decade career.
According to Oliver, "I have a personal attachment to the music in this album. Mr. Harry Turner my music teacher while in high school would always reminded me that music is about feeling -- And I don't ever forget that".
My hope is that everyone who listens to,The Best of Oliver Johnson feels it. I know that I sure did!" Oliver is signed with the prestigious LA De Da Entertainment and Events in St. Louis and he will be touring nationally in support of the album.
Oliver's history is proof that dreams do come true. Oliver at age six, began his study as a vocalist with his mother,Roberta Johnson of Uttica Mississippi. Roberta, who was a gospel church singer, also introduced Oliver to the music of performers like Louis Armstrong and Nancy Wilson. When Oliver was eight years old, a famous jazz organist Tabb Smith and his groups use to rehearse in Oliver's home. At ten years old, Oliver started the study of the trumpet with Mr. Harry Turner of the Count Basie Band.
Oliver's first professional performances at thirteen, started at the Cosmo Hall in East St. Louis that featured regular acts like Ike Turner, Johnny Johnson, Chuck Berry, Little Milton and Albert King.
After high school Oliver started touring with Waestmoreland, Inc. The Band that eventually became Albert King's Band included Motown-Recording regulars like, Tyrone Perry and Paul Jackson. For twelve years (12) Oliver toured throughout UK and Japan playing trumpet and singing with Mel and Tim (Backfield In Motion), Joe Tex (Skinny Leg's and All), Shirley Brown (Woman to Woman), Albert King (Born Under A Bad Sign), Gladys Knight & The Pips, Rufus Thomas (Walking The Dog), and Carla Thomas (B-A-B-Y Baby).
Aside from Oliver's regular performances he has recently played the Black Rep's Production "One More Time". Oliver is mostly known for his versatility in many different music formats, from Be-bop trumpet to Falsetto R&B singing.
He first recorded under his own name with his Cheese and Butter album a self-produced, project with the help of Roberta his mother. Hard Times! was his second project, Hard Times was later picked up and re-issued on Quinn Records TM label.
He made his first solo albums two in the late 1990's, with bands featuring outstanding musicians, including famed guitarist Oswald Peters. With his be-bop sound and rockin blues band (later featuring side man Henry Taylor), it wasn't long before he was adopted by the southern soul audience as one of their own. .
Oliver signed with Quinn Records TM in 2004, releasing Hard Times: On The Other Side of Midnight!
(which earned him his two Sodexho Lifetime Achievement Awards). In 2007 he joined the late Earl Wilson Jr. Gateway Classics annual events!. He won a Sedexho Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006 for his dedication to the arts.
During the mid-2000s Oliver has continued recording and touring relentlessly, playing clubs, concert halls and festivals all over, electrifying audiences wherever he performs. Oliver's 2012 Argosy Casino Show featuring the legendary Richard Brooks original founding member of infamous,Impressions was hailed as an over-whelming success.
Oliver and his Nite Train Band continues to tour and work nitely in clues and venues all around the St. Louis City and Metropolitan area and shortly Oliver will be touring internationally with his own band.
The Best of Oliver Johnson proves Oliver Johnson's be-bop rocking trumpeting is a true force of nature, while his songs and lyrics are a living history of the blues n soul earning him the reprutation as the guy who bought the trumpet to soul.
His thundering trumpet like Gabriel's is blowing the walls of blues and soul away. His improvisations on the blues and soul are full of fun and good humor. The blues and soul don't get much better."
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