b. April 4th, 1948 in Winnsboro (Louisiana)
JUST IN TIME
Ronn
1980's
D'origine Apache par son père, cousin de Luther "Guitar Jr" Johnson, Ernie fait ses premiers pas à la fin des années 60 sur le label Ride ("Loving you", "You've got to be faithful and true") de Fats Washington puis sur ses propres marques Aries et Steph & Lee. Habitué du Chitlin' Circuit, il enregistre "Dreams to remember" en 1977 pour Biscuit (un label qui appartient à Malaco) que le producteur Stan Lewis rééditera sur Ronn. C'est, d'ailleurs, Lewis qui donnera l'opportunité à Ernie de graver son premier album complet au début des années 80 (il sera édité en 1986) entre Blues et Soul avec de belles réussites comme "You're gonna miss me", "Cold woman", "Party all night" et "Give me a little bit of your loving".
Of Apache origin through his father, cousin of Luther "Guitar Jr" Johnson, Ernie took his first steps at the end of the 60's on Fats Washington's Ride label ("Loving you", "You've got to be faithful and true") then on his own imprints Aries and Steph & Lee. A regular on the Chitlin' Circuit, he recorded "Dreams to remember" in 1977 for Biscuit (a label which belongs to Malaco) which producer Stan Lewis will reissue on Ronn. It was, moreover, Lewis who gave Ernie the opportunity to record his first complete album at the start of the 80's (it will be issued in 1986) between Blues and Soul with great moments like "You're gonna miss me", "Cold woman", "Party all night" and "Give me a little bit of your loving".
IT'S PARTY TIME
Paula
1993
Pour ce second album pour le producteur Stan Lewis (sur son label Paula cette fois), Ernie poursuit dans ce son Soul-Blues influencé par Bobby "Blue" Bland. Il a composé presque tous les morceaux de la tracklist. On apprécie notamment "It's party time", "That thang", "Dreams to remember", "Hard times", "Crying out the blues".
For this second album for producer Stan Lewis (on his Paula label this time), Ernie continues in this Soul-Blues sound influenced by Bobby "Blue" Bland. He composed almost every song on the tracklist. We particularly like "It's party time", "That thang", "Dreams to remember", "Hard times", "Crying out the blues".
IN THE MOOD
Waldoxy
1995
Après le succès de "It's party time", Ernie Johnson, excellent chanteur de Soul Sudiste, enregistre pour Waldoxy (un label appartenant à Malaco) avec les producteurs Paul "Heavy" Lee et Tommy Couch Jr. Il chante parfaitement dans le style de Bobby "Blue" Bland sur des d'excellents titres comme "I'm in the mood for the blues", "Love's on the other line", "Cold this winter", "Don't waste my time", "It's all over". Il s'agit probablement de son meilleur album.
After the success of "It's Party Time", Ernie Johnson, excellent Southern Soul singer, recorded for Waldoxy (a label owned by Malaco) with the producers Paul "Heavy" Lee and Tommy Couch Jr. He sings perfectly in the Bobby "Blue" Bland style on excellent songs like "I'm in the mood for the blues", "Love's on the other line", "Cold this winter", "Don't waste my time", "It's all over". This is probably his best album.
HOT & STEAMY
Waldoxy
1998
Second album pour Waldoxy produit cette fois par Mel Waiters. Ernie fut déçu du résultat du son de l'enregistrement qu'il jugeait trop synthétique. Pourtant, l'album reste quand même consistant et mérite l'écoute. On peut ressortir en particulier "I'll be gone for good", "Honey love", "I'll choose", "E.J. stomp".
Second album for Waldoxy produced this time by Mel Waiters. Ernie was disappointed with the sound of the recording, which he considered too synthetic. However, the album remains nonetheless consistent and worth listening to. We can particularly point out "I'll be gone for good", "Honey love", "I'll choose", "E.J. stomp".
SQUEEZE IT
Phat Sounds
2001
JESUS IS A WAYMAKER
Stairway
2005
I'M THE ONE YOU NEED
Stairway
2009
THIS IS MY PRAYER
Stairway
2013
Second album au contenu Gospel après "Jesus is a waymaker". Ernie se montre toujours un bon chanteur dans cette sympathique quoique inégale tracklist : "Somebody's gone", "Search me Lord", "There's a God somewhere".
Second album with Gospel content after "Jesus is a waymaker". Ernie still shows himself to be a good singer in this nice though uneven tracklist : "Somebody's gone", "Search me Lord", “There’s a God somewhere.”