Keep The Music Playing by Gail Jhonson

“Take What You Need” invites you in and leads you to a “Tropical Island” where Gail Keeps The Music Playing for you!

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Born and raised in the city of Philadelphia, Gail Denise Jhonson began piano lessons in elementary school at age 10. Proving to be a gifted student she advanced quickly and played her 1st gig’s at age 14 playing organ with numerous local Funk and R&B bands. On her musical pursuit, by 18 she enrolled into Berklee College of Music and later received a B.A. in composition. Returning home, as a “jazz pianist”, Gail performed with several jazz bands, and other popular Philadelphia artists. She left Germantown in 1985, with her keyboard strapped on and landed an audition with Morris Day (of the “TIME”). She eventually moved to Los Angeles to make her dream career come true!

By 2004, Keep The Music Playing, Gail Jhonson’s highly acclaimed debut contemporary jazz CD on her own (Philly The Kid Records), brought her into the international recording spotlight. Led by the hit singles Heaven and Just For Kicks the CD received strong support from the music industry ((“I have shared the stage with Gail many times, and have always found it to be musically inspiring. She has years of experience supporting countless artists—but it’s so good to hear her step up, front and center and embrace the spotlight as a solo artist. She does so with grace, elegance, musical integrity and a whole lot of style!” Dave Koz).) and heavy spins on many of the nations smooth jazz stations; Gail’s solo career is now cemented in success!

Gail additionally works as the music director, keyboardist and vocalist for smooth jazz super star guitarist and vocalist Norman Brown where Gail is quite busy. In 2005 the nations highly successful and much anticipated Norman Brown’s Summer Storm Tour was launched with special guest Peabo Bryson, Everett Harp & Brenda Russell followed by the major success of the 2006 Summer Storm 2 Tour with special guest Patti Austin, Alex Bugon and Paul Taylor!!

In addition to putting the finishing touch’s on her follow up to the Keep The Music Playing CD, which is slated for a September 2007 release, Gail is currently working on the music for Summer Storm 3 with this year’s special guest Jeff Lorber and Marion Meadows!!

Gail recently competed in the Capitol Jazz Challenge, Washington DC and last year performed for four weeks in Austrailia with Rain Pryor’s Fried Chicken & Latkas. While there Gail had the extreme pleasure of performing with Abarigal jazz musicans, an experience Gail calls “exhilirating” and looks forward to recording!!

In past years, she has performed with Pink, Minako Honda, Norman Brown, Vanessa Williams, Bobby Lyle/featuring Mindi Abair, Jermaine Jackson, and Morris Day.

With early influiences of Duke Ellington and Herbie Hancock and later Stevie Wonder and Joe Sample Gail has recorded with Bobby Womack, Ray Parker Jr. Vesta, Howard Hewitt, Brian Culbertson, OC Smith, Paul Jackson Jr. Pamela Williams, Phil Perry and yes Milli Vanilli. Her various television performances include: BET on Jazz, MTV, Lou Rawls/Parade of Stars, Soul Train, The Tonight Show and numerous video performances.

Gail also has a love for theatre, particularly Gospel Musicals. Her first professional experience was offered as a piano substitute for the stage play EUBIE, at the Ivar Theatre, in Hollywood. She soon began playing for a Langston Hughes play, TAMBORINES TO GLORY, directed by the late Lincoln Kilpatrick, at The Bradley Theatre also in Los Angeles.

Thereafter, she was scoring and was the music director for gospel performances SAVING GRACE and REASON FOR THE SEASON, written by Dennis Rowe. In 2003, Gail produced the SAVING GRACE CD, with performances by a muti-talented cast including her son, rap artist/producer VEIN and her daughter Tamina, a wonderful vocalist and budding musician.

Presently, Gail finds time to for songwriting, producing, and piano instruction. She has written, Funk Keyboards, a contemporary guide to chords, rhythms and licks and Dictionary of Keyboard Grooves published by Hal Leonard as part of Los Angeles Musician's Institute Master Class Series. Gail is a member of Musicians Union (local 47), BMI, NARAS and has a Certificate of Service, Music Education-Post-secondary/State of California. Stay in touch with the exciting career of Gail Jhonson at gailjhonson.com.

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