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Listen to Al Johnson, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!

Al Johnson

R&B/Soul

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Top Songs By Al Johnson

Listen to I'm Back for More by Al Johnson, see lyrics, music video & more!
I'm Back for MoreAl Johnson
Listen to Carnival Time by Al Johnson, see lyrics, music video & more!
Carnival TimeAl Johnson
Listen to I've Got My Second Wind by Al Johnson, see lyrics, music video & more!
I've Got My Second WindAl Johnson
Listen to Peaceful by Al Johnson, see lyrics, music video & more!
PeacefulAl Johnson
Listen to Tonight's the Night for Love by Al Johnson, see lyrics, music video & more!
Tonight's the Night for LoveAl Johnson
Listen to You Are My Personal Angel by Al Johnson, see lyrics, music video & more!
You Are My Personal AngelAl Johnson
Listen to You're a Different Lady by Al Johnson, see lyrics, music video & more!
You're a Different LadyAl Johnson
Listen to Saved By the Bell by Al Johnson, see lyrics, music video & more!
Saved By the BellAl Johnson
Listen to I'm Back for More by Al Johnson, see lyrics, music video & more!
I'm Back for MoreAl Johnson
Listen to I Shall Be Released by OK Go, Al Johnson & Bonerama, see lyrics, music video & more!
I Shall Be ReleasedOK Go, Al Johnson & Bonerama

Latest Release

Listen to You Know I Love You Girl (New Release) - Single by Brian Jerome Project, Al Johnson & SoFoReal Beats
ALBUMYou Know I Love You Girl (New Release) - SingleBrian Jerome Project, Al Johnson & SoFoReal Beats

More albums from Al Johnson

Listen to Him or Me by Al Johnson
ALBUMHim or MeAl Johnson
Listen to Back for More by Al Johnson
ALBUMBack for MoreAl Johnson
Listen to Peaceful (Remastered) by Al Johnson
ALBUMPeaceful (Remastered)Al Johnson

Al Johnson's Popular Music Videos

Watch Please Don't Cry (feat. Al Johnson) music video by Derrick Doc Pearson & New Covenant
Please Don't Cry (feat. Al Johnson)
Derrick Doc Pearson & New Covenant

About Al Johnson

Listen to Al Johnson, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!
Hometown
Newport News, VA, United States
Born
February 11, 1948
Genre
R&B/Soul
Al Johnson's "Carnival Time" is as much a part of the Mardi Gras tradition in New Orleans as parades, floats, and masked revelers. The song has reigned supreme during the city's celebratory season for four decades with only a handful of rivals, such as "Go to the Mardi Gras" from Professor Longhair. Johnson's composition and recording of the tune brought him fame, but not the hoped-for monetary rewards. Over the course of 40 years, the song didn't bring him a dime, although it did bring a good measure of heartache. At the time he recorded it, he had no knowledge of copyright laws and retained no rights to his music. "Carnival Time" was a smash, making a reappearance every Mardi Gras season since its release in 1960, but Johnson still struggled to support himself by working as a cab driver. Only much later did a federal court rule in Johnson's favor, and the rights to "Carnival Time" reverted to him. In an effort to regain some of that lost revenue, Johnson re-released "Carnival Time" as a single in CD form. He put the older song together with his newer "Mardi Gras Strut." The New Orleans native was born Alvin Johnson and moved to Houston, TX, with his parents very early in his childhood. He was approximately seven years old when he took up the trumpet at the urging of his father, who loved music. Later he dabbled on the piano, sometimes attempting a Smiley Lewis song. Johnson and his family went home to Louisiana on January 1, 1949. As he grew up, he found work as a musician at various New Orleans nightspots. Local bandleader Edgar Blanchard told Johnson in the late '50s that producer Joe Ruffino had expressed a desire to record him. In 1958, Johnson went to Ruffino with a stack of songs that he'd penned, including "Carnival Time," "Lena," "Good Looking," and about five others. "Lena" was released in 1958, and two years later "Carnival Time" made an appearance. After the initial success of "Lena," Johnson approached Ruffino to inquire about getting some money from the proceeds of the release, only to learn that the producer believed that Johnson was in the hole to him for 11 dollars. ~ Linda Seida

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Al Johnson has also released music as a member of The Unifics U.S. Maple.