Terry Johnson’s Biography
That’s Terry Johnson in the middle
In 1954, Terry (at age 16) recorded with a Baltimore group called THE WHISPERS, (not The Whispers of the 1960′s), on Gotham Records in Philadelphia. He wrote, arranged and sang lead on “Fool Heart” and wrote, arranged and sang lead on “Are You Sorry”, released in 1955.
He brought that sound and talent to The Flamingos in 1956 with his first arrangement of music and vocals on “The Ladder of Love” and continued with writing and arranging, “Lovers Never Say Goodbye”, “Mio Amore”, “At The Prom”, “Heavenly Angel”, “You, Me and the Sea” and others, and also with his unforgettably beautiful production and arrangement of “I Only Have Eyes For You”. Terry arranged the music, vocals and sang tenor on all of the songs on the albums “Flamingo Serenade”, “Requestfully Yours” and “Flamingo Favorites”. Terry sang on the duets such as “Lovers Never Say Goodbye”, “Love Walked In”, “Time Was” and “But Not For Me”. He also sang the lead on some of their album cuts such as “I’m In The Mood For Love”, “When I Fall In Love” and “Beside You”.
During his visit to Detroit in 2003, he had some nostalgic moments in front of the Motown recording studio, “Hitsville USA”.
After The Flamingos, Terry formed his own group called Terry Johnson & The Modern Flamingos. When Nate Nelson left The Flamingos, he joined forces with Terry. They recorded under the name THE STARGLOWS. They co-wrote and sang “Let’s Be Lovers” on the Atco Label, a subsidiary of Atlantic Records. Terry arranged the background vocals using his group.
Still working with his group, Terry went to Motown Records as an artist and producing partners with Smokey Robinson. As an artist, he recorded several records on the Gordy Label. He wrote, arranged, and produced songs for Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Supremes, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Edwin Starr, The Spinners, Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers, Jimmy Ruffin, Mickey Denton, Blinky and other Motown artists.
Terry is extremely grateful for the opportunities that he has had in recording with the other members of The Whispers, (Billy Thompson, James Johnson, Bill Mills) and The Flamingos, Jake & Zeke Carey (Founders), Paul Wilson, Tommy Hunt and Nate Nelson) and the above named artists at Motown. Working with such great artists is a major part of his success.
From The Whispers, to The Flamingos, to The Starglows, to Motown Records and up to today, his legacy, sound and the success of his music continues with his own group TERRY JOHNSON’S FLAMINGOS. Many of you have already seen him around the country on the PBS special called “Rock and Roll At 50”, and you will also see him on the latest PBS special called “Doo-Wop Lost And Found”, filmed in Atlantic City, due to air in November of 2005.
He is currently celebrating the Diamond Anniversary of The Flamingos as well as his own with a new CD entitled “The Flamingos’ Diamond Anniversary Tour 2013.” During May through December of 2015 he will be in the process of recording and releasing new originals. True to his reputation of being ahead of his time, he is enjoying producing and co-producing with some of today’s hottest young producers and musicians throughout the country, creating a combination of styles from the past and present. His most recent project was producing a song for Boyz II Men for their upcoming album, possibly releasing at the end of 2015. The Diamond Anniversary CD is available on this website, ITunes and Amazon. Thanks to all the Fans, the DJ’s, the Promoters, the Agents and fellow Artists. We’ll see you soon in your city. Terry was inducted in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.
