Puff Johnson
Puff Johnson | |
---|---|
Birth name | Ewanya Johnson |
Born | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | December 10, 1972
Died | June 24, 2013 | (aged 40)
Genres | R&B, CCM |
Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
Ewanya "Puff" Johnson (December 10, 1972 – June 24, 2013) was an American R&B singer-songwriter. Born in Detroit, she emerged on the music scene with her singles "Forever More" and "Over and Over", which experienced commercial success in Europe and Australia. These songs were included on her only album Miracle (1996). In the early- to mid-2000s, she was listed as a co-writer on several projects and relocated to South Africa where she began working on an unreleased second album. However, in March 2008 Johnson was diagnosed with cervical cancer and subsequently, five years later on June 24, 2013, died of the disease.[1]
Early life
Johnson, the daughter of Mack Johnson, Jr. and wife Marie,
Career
In 1994, Johnson performed the song "What Child Is This" on the Christmas compilation Joyful Christmas,
In 1997, Johnson toured Europe as an opening act for Michael Jackson and 3T.[5] She did not release any further material and slipped out of the limelight.[5] However, in the early- to mid-200s, she was listed as a co-writer on several projects, including Pam & Dodi's self-titled Geffen Records debut, rapper I-20's debut studio album Self Explanatory (2004) and three tracks on singer Leela James's debut album A Change Is Gonna Come.[9] Following a concert in Johannesburg, Johnson lived in South Africa beginning in January 2009.[5] There, she began work on her second album with local label Ghetto Ruff Records owner Lance Stehr, with whom she finished several songs before moving to Limpopo to work with a controversial former attorney Tumi Mokwena, who worked with Johnson at his stable TMP Records.[5]
Personal life
Johnson was engaged to music producer Alarza Lee "Kip" Collins Jr., who died in a motorcycle crash in 2006.[1] She was later involved with singer Ishmael Morabe, who she met in a studio in South Africa. They dated for almost two years in South Africa, before she had to leave South Africa due to her visa not having proper documentation. They continued a long-distance relationship following her departure.[10]
Johnson was diagnosed with cervical cancer in March 2008.[11] She died of the disease on June 24, 2013, aged 40 years old.[12][1]
Discography
Studio albums
Title | Album details | Peak positions | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
US R&B [3] |
AUS [13] |
NL [8] |
NO [7] | ||
Miracle |
|
61 | 51 | 28 | 7 |
Singles
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [3] |
US R&B
[14] |
UK [6] |
AU [13] |
NL
[15] |
NO [7] | |||
"Forever More" | 1996 | 63 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 91 | — | Miracle |
"All Over Your Face" | — | 57 | — | — | — | |||
"Over and Over" | 118 | 114 | 20 | 29 | 20 | 10 | The First Wives Club soundtrack |
Other recorded songs
Title | Year | Album | Note(s) |
---|---|---|---|
"What Child Is This" | 1994 | Joyful Christmas | |
"Someday We'll All Be Free" | 1995 | The Promised Land | |
"Me Against the World" | Me Against the World |
2Pac featuring Puff Johnson
| |
"I Like It" | 1996 | Forever More – Single |
B-side |
"Never Loved Nobody" |
B-side | ||
"That's When You'll Know" | Miracle |
Bonus track exclusive to Japan | |
"All That's On My Mind" | "Over & Over" – single |
B-side | |
"Baby Can You Feel It" |
B-side. Also included on the Australian edition of Miracle. | ||
"Feel So Good" | 1997 | This Time It's Personal |
Somethin' for the People featuring Puff Johnson |
"Your Love" | 1998 | — |
Featuring Rampage. Unreleased song. |
"U Can Call" | 2002 | Better Dayz |
2Pac featuring Puff Johnson. Released on 2Pac's posthumous release Better Dayz .
|
"All I Want Is You" | — | ||
"Love You With A Real Love" | — |
References
- ^ a b c "Puff Johnson succumbs to a battle with cervical cancer". sowetanlive.co.za. June 25, 2013. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
- ^ "Wuff, The Magic Singer". Billboard. May 30, 1992. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
- ^ ISBN 0-89820-155-1.
- ^ a b c d e "Work Group's Puff Johnson Creating A Romantic 'Miracle'". Billboard. April 20, 1996. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "R&B singer Puff Johnson dies after battle with cervical cancer". Sunday Times. June 25, 2013. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
- ^ ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ a b c d "Puff Johnson discography". norwegiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
- ^ a b "Puff Johnson discografie". dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
- )
- ^ "Catching Up With Ishmael 'Ish' Morabe". Bona. July 2, 2014. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
- ^ Ndlovu, Andile (June 26, 2013). "Puff loses cancer battle". Sunday Times. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
- ^ "RnB Singer Puff Johnson Dies of Cervical Cancer". The Public News Hub. Publicnewshub.com. June 2, 2013. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
- ^ a b Australian chart peaks:
- Top 50 peaks: Steffen Hung (August 1, 1996). "Puff Johnson". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
- Top 100 peaks to December 2010: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 147.
- ^ "Puff Johnson – Chart history". Billboard. June 1, 1996. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Puff Johnson". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved July 25, 2017.