Johnny Gill

This article is about the singer. For the singer's eponymous albums, see Johnny Gill (1983 album) and Johnny Gill (1990 album). For the baseball player, see Johnny Gill (baseball).

Johnny Gill
Johnny Gill performing with New Edition in Charlotte, NC 8/26/06
Background information
Birth name	Johnny Gill
Also known as	J.G., Skillz
Born	(1966-05-22) May 22, 1966
Origin	Washington, D.C., USA
Genres	R&B, soul, pop, new jack swing
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, actor
Instruments	Vocal, keyboards, guitar, percussion
Years active	1982–present
Labels	Cotillion/Atlantic (1982-1985) Motown (1989-1999) MCA (1986-1997) Notifi (2010-2013) Caroline (2013-present)
Associated acts	New Edition, LSG, Stacy Lattisaw, Heads of State

Johnny Gill (born May 22, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter 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. He is currently in the new group Heads of State with New Edition members Bobby Brown and Ralph Tresvant touring.

Early life

Gill was born on May 22, 1966 in Washington, D.C, his mother had four boys and his father was a minister. He started singing at the age of five singing along in church in a family gospel group called Little Johnny and "Wings Faith" which included his brothers Bobby, Jeff, and Randy Gill (himself a solo recording artist and member of the group II D Extreme). Gill attended Kimball Elementary, Sousa Junior High, and Duke Ellington School of the Arts. 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 1983, at the age of 17, when his childhood friend Stacy Lattisaw convinced him to record a demo. This demo fell into the hands of the president of Atlantic Records, and his first self-titled debut album was released shortly thereafter on Atlantic subsidiary Cotillion Records. Gill then teamed up with Stacy for the duet album Perfect Combination. A second solo album on Cotillion Records, Chemistry, was released in 1985.

New Edition

Gill began a new chapter in his career in 1987, when he was recruited by Michael Bivins to join New Edition. Bobby Brown had been voted out the group and Gill was brought in to replace lead singer Ralph Tresvant, 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.

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, 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 star, he released a second self-titled album in 1990, which included the hits "My, My, My", "Rub You the Right Way", "Fairweather Friend", and "Wrap My Body Tight". In 1991, he was featured in Perri "Pebbles" Reid's hit single "Always" from the album of the same name, along with Pebbles' cousin, R&B singer Cherrelle. The single made the R&B Top 20 shortly after its release.

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 also released Let's Get the Mood Right, which included the title song, "Love In an Elevator", and "Maybe" - which is considered by many to be one of his greatest vocal performances. In 1996, Johnny reunited with New Edition reunion and recorded Home Again.

LSG

In 1997, he collaborated with Gerald Levert and Keith Sweat to form the supergroup LSG (Levert/Sweat/Gill), which yielded the multi- platinum debut album, Levert.Sweat.Gill.

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 (TV series), and sang "You For Me" in the 2006 movie Madea's Family Reunion.

Gill starred in the 2009 stage play A Mother's Prayer, which also starred Robin Givens, Shirley Murdock, and Jermaine Crawford

Awards and accolades

In 2008, Gill, as a member of New Edition, received the Golden Note Award at the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards.

He has received four Grammy Awards nominations- one with New Edition and the other one with LSG.

Grammy Awards

Year	Nominated work	Award	Result
1989	"If It Isn't Love"	Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus	Nominated
1991	"My, My, My"	Best R&B Song	Nominated
	Johnny Gill	Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male	Nominated
1998	Levert.Sweat.Gill	Best R&B Album by a Duo or Group	Nominated

Discography

Main article: Johnny Gill discography

External links

• Johnny Gill at AllMusic
• Johnny Gill at VH1