Walter Johnson Genre: Rock Active: '70s, '80s, '90s Instrument: Drums Biography Walter Johnson musical career spans more than 30 years, and is still in progress. He's spent most of the time assisting H. B. Barnum on a diversity of projects. They did a series of jingles for Annie Green Springs and T. J. Swan Wine, wrote "Your Love" for Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, and produced the Nights album on ABC Records. Barnum and Johnson composed theme songs and underscored producer Alan Blye's Summer Replacement Shows for Lola Falana, Billy Davis & Marilyn McCoo, Ben Vereen, Dianne Carroll, Redd Foxx, and Richard Pryor. Foxx's program advanced to the Fall season but got axed after eight weeks. Pryor's show got held over too, but the comedian quit over creative differences. Born 4/29/49 in Cleveland, Ohio, Johnson is one of seven siblings (six brothers, one sister). One brother, David is a Psychiatrist. Three siblings have passed: Ronald, died from internal injuries suffered from amateur boxing, Arthur (the oldest) and Jo Ann, the only sister. He grew up in the Outwaithe Projects, near Charles Hatcher (Edwin Starr). Johnson credits Starr's mom with teaching him and his cronies harmony. According to Johnson, the late Mrs. Hatcher groomed her son to be an entertainer. Often, Johnson had to wait until the future Edwin Starr finished his daily rehearsal under Mom's watch before he could participate. Walter started the Donations while attending East Technical High School. The members were Johnson, Dewayne Gardner, Eddie Brown, and Sherman Satchell, cousin of the late Clarence Satchell (Ohio Players). They cut two singles for Dee-O's Records "I'm Going to Treat You Good, " and as World War III "The Bomb." When both bombed Johnson and Satchell concentrated on songwriting, composing "Hey Lady" for the Elements, and many unreleased sides for Saru Records. The label where the O'Jays recorded and produced a variety of artists before signing with Philadelphia International Records (PIR). Eddie Levert (O'Jays) recommended them to Kenny Gamble. At the time the O'Jays were in disarray. Bobby Massey had left the group, and Walter Williams nearly took a job with Ford Motors. They sought a replacement, they had always been a five or a four-man group and didn't want to continue as a trio. Their first choice Tracy Bell was William Powell's cousin, he coached their steps and traveled with them doing valet duties, but he irked Gamble and Leon Huff (G&H) and they nixed him. Next came Bobby Dukes who played keyboards and sang in their band. Levert, Williams, and Powell argued vehemently for Dukes but Gamble turned a deaf ear to the drama. Finally, original member Bill Isles' flew in from California to audition but was rejected too. So despite strong objections the O'Jays recorded the Backstabbers album as a trio. An album they disliked because Gamble and Huff (G&H) changed their sound and the way they recorded. G&H cut them like songwriters' John McFadden and Gene Whitehead sung the demo records, McFadden & Whitehead alternated leads, and G&H believed the style would work even better with Levert and Williams doing the alternating, and they were right. Johnson and Satchell spent nearly three months at Philadelphia International Records cutting demos. According to Johnson "Bunny Sigler tried to sabotage our projects, and we were uncomfortable around him." They never signed a contract because G&H wanted to pay them a salary of $125 a week for two years - no royalties. Satchell wanted to sign but Johnson balked at the terms. The dispute destroyed their partnership, and severed their ties with PIR. In 1972 Johnson moved to California to work with H. B. Barnum and stayed 20 years. He sponsored Cleveland native Cynthia Woodard's gig with Tom Jones' backing group, the Blossoms where she remained for almost two decades. Johnson paid for her flight to California to audition for the job, if she failed he would have had to pay her flight home. She previously recorded with a female trio, BaRoz and had cut some duets with Bobby Dukes. Barnum and Johnson did a whole LP on Dukes that remains vaulted. ickey Grant, Barnum and Johnson did the music for the play Alice, a Black Alice in Wonderland that starred Debbie Allen, Paula Kelly and Alice Ghostly. The two did the soundtrack for the movie Black Girl Revenge originally called Emma Mae. Little Star recording artist Keisha Brown sings the theme song "Long to be Back Home." They scored the first Penitentiary movie, and had nearly completed Penitentiary II but quit over money. They scored a hit by producing "Rappin Duke" a novelty that almost went gold. And have done albums on many including John Rowles, David Winters, and the Pump Girls, while readying a gospel CD for Life Choir. He stays busy assisting Barnum who arranges and conducts Aretha Franklin's concerts, something they also have done for Diana Ross, Johnny Mathis, BB King, Ray Charles, Tom Jones, and others. His most memorable assignment was working at Nelson Mandela's Birthday Party at Wimbledon Stadium, HBO broadcasted the event worldwide. Johnson also performs with Barnum, Ty Terrell, and Dee Clark as the Robins on doo-wop shows. ~ Andrew Hamilton, All Music Guide