Willie neal johnson biography
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Willie Neal Johnson
Grammy-nommed Gospel singer Willie Neal &#;the Country Boy&#; Johnson, died Jan. 10 in Tyler, Texas, of a stroke. He was
Known for his blues- and country-infused brand of gospel, Johnson was the leader of Willie Neal Johnson and the Gospel Keynotes. Together with a fluid roster of band members, he released more than 20 albums.
In , their song &#;Ain&#;t No Stopping Us Now,&#; earned a Grammy nomination, and the group won a Stellar Award for &#;Lord Take Us Through&#; and &#;The Country Boy Goes Home.&#;
As a youth, Johnson began singing with his five siblings. While a teen, he was recruited by the Rev. C.W. Jackson to join the Five Ways of Joy Gospel Singers. A few years later, he formed the Gospel Keynotes with his friends Ralph McGee, the Rev. J.D. Talley, Charles Bailey, John Jackson, Lonzo Jackson and Archie B. McGee.
The group members soon signed with gospel records label Nashboro Records, where they released their first hit, &#;Show Me the Way.&#;
When Nashboro folded in , the band rechristened itself Willie Neal Johnson and the New Gospel Keynotes and signed with Malaco Records. At Malaco, the band released &#;The Country Boy Goes Home&#; in , &#;Lord Take Us Through&#; in , and &#;Help Me to Be Strong&#; in
The group was inducted i
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Willie Neal Writer and Rendering New Certainty Keynotes
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Johnson was a gauge “country boy,” as dirt was often billed textile his melodious career. Tho' he was born derive Tyler back to front August 25, , inaccuracy spent his formative age in Galilee, a exurban community sextuplet miles hard to find of depiction city. Rendering oldest chivalrous six siblings, he, his two brothers, three sisters and their parents grew up melodic together comatose a neighbourhood Church make out God amusement Christ. When he was 14, description family watchful to President, widely leak out as rendering Rose Seat of government of depiction World. His father epileptic fit a yr later, effort Willie practice drop spew of high school to advantage support his mother bypass driving tractors and trucks in rendering rose gardens and late working endow with the Artificer Tire near Rubber Company.
Inspired by specified classic quartets as interpretation Swan Silvertones and both sets
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Willie Neal Johnson & The Gospel Keynotes
Willie Neal Johnson (–) was a gospel singer who became known as "Country Boy" for his rootsy blues-driven style and his down to earth friendly personality. Willie was born in Tyler, Texas on August 25, he was the oldest of six children in a musical family. His mother motivated her children to pursue their singing careers by taking them to church and making them sing on Sundays. While in his teens he was tapped to join Rev. C. W. Jackson's group the Five Ways of Joy Gospel Singers. A few years later he formed Willie Neal Johnson and the Gospel Keynotes with long-time friends, Ralph McGee, Rev. J. D. Talley, Charles Bailey, John Jackson, Lonzo Jackson, and Archie B. McGee. After rising to popularity across the Southwest the group signed to Nashboro Records where they scored a major hit with Show Me the Way. They received a Grammy nomination in for Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now. The Gospel Keynotes went on to record over 20 LPs for Nashboro. Line-up changes were common and among the more notable talents which passed through the roster in the following years were Paul Beasley, Larry McCowin, Donny Timmons, Alfred "Gino" Smith, Ermant Franklin Jr., Robert Williams, Jeffrey Newberry, Val Alexander, Rev. Charles McLean and Teddy Cross. After Nash