Johnny Bristol
Johnny Bristol | |
---|---|
Birth name | John William Bristol |
Born | February 3, 1939 |
John William Bristol (February 3, 1939 – March 21, 2004)[1] was an American musician, most famous as a songwriter and record producer for the Motown label in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was a native of Morganton, North Carolina, about which he wrote an eponymous song. His composition "Love Me for a Reason" saw global success when covered by The Osmonds including a number 1 in the UK charts in 1974.[1] His most famous solo recording was "Hang On in There Baby" recorded in 1974, which reached the Top Ten in the United States and number 3 in the United Kingdom.[2][3] Both singles were in the UK top 5 simultaneously.
Motown producer
Bristol first came to local attention in the
In the mid 1960s, Motown had absorbed Tri-Phi and Bristol began working with Fuqua as a songwriter and producer.
Bristol flourished at Motown working with some of the label's best-selling acts. His producer and/or writer credits included:
Notably, Bristol was the producer and co-writer of the final singles for both Diana Ross & the Supremes and Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, before each group lost its namesake lead singer.[4] While the Miracles' "We've Come Too Far to End It Now" (1972) was an original, the Supremes' "Someday We'll Be Together" (1969) was a remake of a Johnny & Jackey single from 1961.[5] Bristol is the male voice on the Supremes' version of "Someday We'll Be Together", singing response to Diana Ross' lead vocal.[5] (Ross actually recorded the song as her initial solo release with session singers The Waters Sisters.)
Producer and solo performer
Bristol left Motown in 1973 to join
Now in his early 30s, he was anxious to resume his own recording career, and when CBS/Columbia showed little enthusiasm he signed a
Bristol then recorded two albums for Atlantic, Bristol's Creme (1976) and Strangers (1978). One track from the Atlantic period, "Strangers In The Dark Corners", has become popular on the European rare-soul scene. He maintained a parallel role as a producer during this period, working mainly for artists signed to
Bristol's main market was in
Bristol's last releases were a
Bristol died in his
A comprehensive article on his career is contained in issue 51 of the music magazine, In the Basement.[7]
Bristol was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2009.[8]
Personal life
Bristol was married twice. His first marriage was to Maude Perry. They had two children. His second marriage was to Iris Gordy. They had one child, Karla Gordy Bristol, who is a City of Beverly Hills Commissioner.[9]
Discography
Albums
Year | Title | Chart positions | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [3][10] |
AUS [11] |
US [2] |
US R&B [2] | |||
1974 | Hang On in There Baby | 12 | 74 | 82 | 7 | |
1975 | Feeling the Magic | — | — | — | 29 | |
1976 | Bristol's Creme | — | — | 154 | 43 | |
1978 | Strangers | — | — | — | — | |
1981 | Free to Be Me | — | — | — | — | |
1993 | Life & Love (retitled Come to Me for 1995 US release) | — | — | — | — | |
"—" denotes the album failed to chart |
Compilation albums
- Best of Johnny Bristol (Polydor, 1978)
- The MGM Years (Hip-O Select, 2004)
Singles
Year | Title / Songwriter(s) | Chart positions | Certifications
| ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AUS [11] |
US Hot 100 [2] |
US R&B [2] |
US Dance [2] | ||||
1974 | "Hang On in There Baby" (Bristol) | 3 | 37 | 8 | 2 | — | |
"Memories Don't Leave Like People Do" (Bristol) | 52[A] | — | — | — | — | ||
"You and I" (Bristol) | — | — | 48 | 20 | — | ||
1975 | "Leave My World" (Bristol) | — | — | — | 23 | — | |
"Love Takes Tears" (Bristol) | — | — | — | 72 | — | ||
1976 | "Do It to My Mind" (Bristol) | — | — | 43 | 5 | — | |
"I Sho' Like Groovin' with Ya" (Bristol) | — | — | — | 47 | — | ||
"You Turned Me on to Love" (Bristol) | — | — | — | 36 | — | ||
1978 | "Waiting on Love" (Bristol) | — | — | — | 27 | — | |
"When He Comes (You Will Know)" (Bristol) | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Strangers in the Dark Corners" (Bristol) | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1979 | "Hang On in There Baby" (duet with Alton McClain) (Bristol) | — | — | — | — | — | |
1980 | "My Guy - My Girl" (Robinson/White) (duet with Amii Stewart) |
39 | — | 63 | 76 | — | |
"Love No Longer Has a Hold on Me" (Bristol/Powell) | — | — | — | 75 | 17 | ||
1981 | "Take Me Down" (Pennington/Gray) | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Sweet and Deep" w/Linda Evans | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Share with Me My Dream" w/Linda Evans | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1989 | "Man Up in the Sky" | — | — | — | — | — | |
"I'm Just a Musician" (Powell/Glasco/Colby) | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1991 | "Come to Me" (Thomas/Taylor) | — | — | — | — | — | |
"—" denotes the single failed to chart |
See also
- List of 1970s one-hit wonders in the United States
- List of disco artists (F-K)
- List of performers on Top of the Pops
References
- ^ Chart position is from the official UK "Breakers List".
- ^ a b c d e Wynn, Ron. "Johnny Bristol | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Wynn, Ron. "Johnny Bristol | Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 19, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
- ^ ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ ISBN 0-85112-733-9.
- ^ a b c "Johnny Bristol". The Independent. March 25, 2004. Archived from the original on April 7, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
- ISBN 0-87349-286-2.
- ^ "In the Basement Magazine". June 21, 2007. Archived from the original on June 21, 2007. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
- ^ "2009 Inductees". North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
- ^ "Arts and Culture Commission". Beverlyhills.org. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
- ^ a b "JOHNNY BRISTOL - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
- ^ ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Johnny Bristol - Hang On in There Baby". bpi.co.uk. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
External links
- Johnny Bristol at AllMusic
- Johnny Bristol at IMDb
- Johnny Bristol discography at Discogs
- "An Interview with Motown Great Johnny Bristol"