General Johnson -

General Johnson (May 23, 1943 — Oct. 13, 2010) was an American soul singer from Huntersville, Va., primarily known as the featured vocalist in Chairmen of the Board. In 1972, he released the punningly titled Generally Speaking on Invictus Records, followed by a 1976 self-titled album on Arista.

Background

General Johnson was born Norman Earl Johnson on May 23, 1943, in Norfolk, Virginia. His father worked at the Norfolk naval shipyards and sang gospel with the Israelites. Johnson joined the Israelites at age six or seven and sang with the group for roughly six years. He then formed the Humdingers with neighborhood friends Gene and Dorsey Knight, baritone Leslie Felton, and bass singer Milton Wells.

The Humdingers performed around Norfolk, including an opening appearance for Ruth Brown, and secured an Atlantic Records contract in the mid-1950s. The group recorded demos under Jesse Stone, but Atlantic never issued the recordings. Manager Noah Biggs took the quintet to New Orleans, where Minit Records renamed them the Showmen and placed them with producer Allen Toussaint. Minit issued the Johnson-written “It Will Stand” in September 1961 (b/w “Country Fool”), the first released recording by Johnson and the group.

The Showmen continued with Minit and moved to Swan Records in Philadelphia in 1965 after Johnson brought the label his song “In Paradise.” Johnson split time between Norfolk and Philadelphia after the Swan deal. In Philadelphia, he wrote and produced for the Three Degrees and worked with Leon Huff. Johnson left the Showmen in 1968 and accepted an invitation from Invictus talent scout Jeffrey Bowen to join Holland–Dozier–Holland in Detroit.

Holland–Dozier–Holland placed Johnson with Danny Woods, Harrison Kennedy, and Eddie Custis in Chairmen of the Board, a quartet built around four lead singers. Invictus issued “Give Me Just a Little More Time” as debut single by the group at the end of 1969 and followed with a sequence of Johnson-led recordings. Johnson made his first solo Invictus single, “I’m in Love Darling” (b/w “Savannah Lady”), by June 1971 while he remained with Chairmen of the Board. Invictus followed with “All We Need Is Understanding” (b/w “Savannah Lady”) in advance of his first solo album.

Discography: