Johnny Gill Jr. (born May 22, 1966) is an American singer and actor. He is the sixth and final member of the R&B/ pop group

New Edition New Edition is an American R&B/Pop group from the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1978 by Bobby Brown. Their name is taken to mean a 'new edition' of the Jackson 5. The group reached its height of popularity in the 198 ...

and was also a member of the supergroup called LSG, with

Gerald Levert Gerald Edward Levert (July 13, 1966 – November 10, 2006) was an Americans, American singer-songwriter and producer. Levert was best known for singing with his brother, Sean Levert, and friend Marc Gordon of the vocal group LeVert. Levert ...

and

Keith Sweat Keith Sweat (born July 22, 1961) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and an early figure in the new jack swing musical movement. He is known for his collection of hits including "I Want Her", " Make It Last Forever", "I'll Give A ...

. Gill has released eight solo albums, three albums with New Edition, two albums with LSG, and one collaborative album with

Stacy Lattisaw Stacy Lattisaw Jackson (née Lattisaw; born November 25, 1966) is an American R&B singer from Washington, D.C., United States. Career The 1979 song "Ring My Bell" was originally written for then twelve-year-old Lattisaw, as a teenybopper song ...

. Gill has sold over 15 million copies worldwide as a solo artist.

Early life

Gill was born on May 22, 1966, in

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

, the son of Johnny Gill Sr., a Baptist minister, and his wife, Annie Mae Gill, who had four boys. He started singing at the age of five, performing in church in a family gospel group called Little Johnny and "Wings of Faith", which included his brothers Bobby, Jeff, and Randy Gill, a solo recording artist and member of the group

II D Extreme II D Extreme was an American new jack swing R&B group from the early 1990s that included D'Extra Wiley, Randy Gill (Johnny Gill's brother) and Jermaine Mickey. They are known for the songs "Cry No More", "Up on the Roof" and their cover of the ...

. Gill attended Kimball Elementary, Sousa Junior High, and

Duke Ellington School of the Arts The Duke Ellington School of the Arts (established 1974) is a high school located at 35th Street and R Street, Northwest, Washington, D.C., and dedicated to arts education. One of the high schools of the District of Columbia Public School syste ...

. His career dictated that he complete his high-school education through the services of a tutor. Gill planned to attend college to pursue a degree in electrical engineering, but decided instead to focus on his singing career.

Music career

Early career

Gill's recording career began in 1982, at the age of 16, when his childhood friend

convinced him to record a demo. This demo fell into the hands of the president of

Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most i ...

, and his first self-titled debut album was released shortly thereafter on Atlantic subsidiary

Cotillion Records Cotillion Records was a subsidiary of Atlantic Records (from 1971 part of WEA) and was active from 1968 through 1985. The label was formed as an outlet for pop, R&B, and jazz. Its first single, Otis Clay's version of "She's About a Mover", rea ...

. Gill then teamed up with Stacy for the duet album '' Perfect Combination''. A second solo album on Cotillion Records, ''

Chemistry Chemistry is the science, scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the Chemical element, elements that make up matter to the chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions ...

'', was released in 1985.

New Edition

Gill began a new chapter in his career in 1987, when he was recruited by

Michael Bivins New Edition is an American R&B/Pop group from the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1978 by Bobby Brown. Their name is taken to mean a 'new edition' of the Jackson 5. The group reached its height of popularity in the 1980 ...

to join

. Bobby Brown had been voted out of the group and Gill was brought in to replace lead singer

Ralph Tresvant Ralph Edward Tresvant (born May 16, 1968) is an American singer, songwriter, actor and record producer, best known as the lead singer of R&B group New Edition. As a solo artist, Tresvant released the album '' Ralph Tresvant'' (1990). In 2008, he ...

, who was rumored at the time to be leaving to pursue a solo career. Gill became the only member of New Edition who was not from

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

. With Gill, the oldest member, as one of the lead singers (along with Tresvant, who ended up staying with New Edition and delaying the launch of his solo career) on the album ''

Heart Break ''Heart Break'' is the fifth studio album by American contemporary R&B, R&B quintet New Edition, released June 20, 1988 by MCA Records. It is the first album to return the Boston-reared band as a quintet after the public exit of original member B ...

'', the group developed a more mature, adult sound, hitting the charts with songs such as "Can You Stand The Rain", "N.E. Heartbreak", "If It Isn't Love", and the Gill-led "Boys To Men".

Solo career

Continuing his role as a romantic balladeer while emerging as a

new jack swing New jack swing, new jack, or swingbeat is a fusion genre of the rhythms and production techniques of hip hop and dance-pop, and the urban contemporary sound of R&B. Spearheaded by producers Teddy Riley and Bernard Belle, new jack swing was mos ...

star, he released a self-titled third album in 1990, which included the hits "

My, My, My "My, My, My" is a number-one R&B single by American singer-songwriter Johnny Gill. As the second single from Gill's second self-titled album, the hit song, with backing vocals performed by After 7, as well as a jazz solo performed by saxophoni ...

", " Rub You the Right Way", "Fairweather Friend", and "

Wrap My Body Tight "Wrap My Body Tight" is the title of a number-one R&B single by Johnny Gill from his self-titled album, ''Johnny Gill''. The song spent one week at number-one on the US R&B chart. A remix to the song features added vocals from singer Karyn White ...

". In 1993, Gill released another solo project, '' Provocative'', which included the songs "Quiet Time to Play", "A Cute, Sweet, Love Addiction", and the gospel song, "I Know Where I Stand". In 1996, Gill released ''

Let's Get the Mood Right ''Let's Get the Mood Right'' is the fifth album by the American singer Johnny Gill, released in 1996. Certified gold in January 1997, it was his third and final album for Motown Records. Track listing Personnel *Nathan East - bass on "Let's Ge ...

'', which included the song, "Love In an Elevator", and the single "Maybe". In 1996, Johnny reunited with New Edition and recorded the album '' Home Again''.

LSG

In 1997, he collaborated with

and

to form the

supergroup Supergroup or super group may refer to: * Supergroup (music), a music group formed by artists who are already notable or respected in their fields * Supergroup (physics), a generalization of groups, used in the study of supersymmetry * Supergroup ...

'' LSG'' (Levert/Sweat/Gill), which yielded the multi- platinum debut album, '' Levert.Sweat.Gill'', and their final album ''LSG2'' in 2003. In 2004, he reunited with New Edition; they signed with Bad Boy Records and released the album ''

One Love One Love may refer to: Music * One Love (record producer), Timothy Sommers, American record producer, half of the duo Kinetics & One Love * ''One Love: The Bob Marley Musical'', a 2015 stage musical Albums * One Love (Blue album), ''One Love'' (B ...

'', which included the single "Hot 2Nite".

Return to solo career

In 2011, 15 years after recording his last solo album, Gill returned with '' Still Winning'', which included "In The Mood", "Just The Way You Are", "It Would Be You", and "2nd Place". In 2014, Gill left Fontana Records and started his own label, J Skillz Records, on which he released a new album called '' Game Changer''. The album produced several adult R&B radio hits, including the singles "Behind Closed Doors" and the title track, "Game Changer". His New Edition bandmates appear on "This One's For Me And You". Gill joined Fantasia as an opener for Charlie Wilson's In It To Win It tour, which kicked off in February 2017. On September 6, 2019, Gill released his album ''

Game Changer II ''Game Changer II'' is the eighth studio album by American singer Johnny Gill. It was released by J Skillz Entertainment in conjunction with Kavalry Records. A sequel to his 2014 album '' Game Changer'', it peaked at number 15 on the US Independe ...

''.

Acting career

Gill has had over 80 television and film appearances as a singer and actor. He had a cameo role on the TV show ''

Family Matters ''Family Matters'' is an American television sitcom that debuted on ABC on September 22, 1989, and ended on May 9, 1997. However it moved to CBS, where it was shown from September 19, 1997, to July 17, 1998. A spin-off of '' Perfect Strangers ...

'', and sang "You For Me" in the 2006 movie ''

Madea's Family Reunion ''Madea's Family Reunion'' is a 2006 American comedy-drama film and an adaptation of the stage production of the same name written by Tyler Perry. The film is a sequel to ''Diary of a Mad Black Woman''. It was written, directed by, and starring ...

''. Gill starred in the 2009 stage play ''A Mother's Prayer'', alongside

Robin Givens Robin may refer to: Animals * Australasian robins, red-breasted songbirds of the family Petroicidae * Many members of the subfamily Saxicolinae (Old World chats), including: **European robin (''Erithacus rubecula'') ** Bush-robin **Forest ro ...

Shirley Murdock Shirley Murdock (born May 22, 1957) is an American R&B singer-songwriter, who is best known for her 1986 R&B hit single "As We Lay" and for her vocals on Zapp and Roger's hit single " Computer Love". Her lead vocal special guest appearance w ...

, and Jermaine Crawford.

Awards and accolades

Grammy Awards Gill has received two

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...

nominations: one with New Edition and one as a solo artist. In 1991, Gill won two

Soul Train Award The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual music awards show which previously aired in national broadcast syndication, and honors the best in African-American culture, music and entertainment. It is produced by the makers of '' Soul Train'', the ...

s: for Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Album of the Year – Male (for ''

Johnny Gill Johnny Gill Jr. (born May 22, 1966) is an American singer and actor. He is the sixth and final member of the R&B/pop group New Edition and was also a member of the supergroup called LSG, with Gerald Levert and Keith Sweat. Gill has released e ...

'') and for Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Single (for " My My My"). In 2019, Gill won the SoulTracks Readers' Choice Award for Album of the Year (for ''Game Changer II'').

Discography

Studio albums

*''

'' (1983) *''

'' (1985) *''

'' (1990) *'' Provocative'' (1993) *''

'' (1996) *'' Still Winning'' (2011) *'' Game Changer'' (2014) *''

'' (2019)

Collaboration albums

*'' Perfect Combination'' with Stacy Lattisaw (1984) *''

'' with New Edition (1988) *'' Home Again'' with New Edition (1996) *'' Levert.Sweat.Gill'' with LSG (1997) *''

LSG2 ''LSG2'' is the second and final studio album by R&B group LSG. It was released on July 28, 2003 by Elektra Records. Critical reception David Jeffries from Allmusic found that "the sexier than expected ''LSG2'' presents the singers as swashbuc ...

'' with LSG (2003) *''

'' with New Edition (2004)

Tour

*''Johnny Gill Tour 1990–1991'' *'' Provocative Tour 1993'' (1993) *''Let's Get The Mood Right Tour'' (1996–97) *''21 Nights In Japan: Still Winning'' (2011) *''Game Changer Tokyo Live'' (2015) *''Charlie Wilson's In It to Win It Tour'' (2016) *Culture Tour New Edition(2022)

References

External links

* *
Johnny Gill
at VH1 {{DEFAULTSORT:Gill, Johnny 1966 births 20th-century African-American male singers American contemporary R&B singers Songwriters from Washington, D.C. African-American songwriters American soul musicians New jack swing musicians Living people Atlantic Records artists Interscope Records artists MCA Records artists Motown artists Singers from Washington, D.C. New Edition members LSG (band) members 21st-century African-American people