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| {{Short description|American musician and music producer}} | |||
| {{db-copyvio|url=http://www.auditionradio.com/id3.html}} | |||
| '''Michael Jonzun''' is a musician and music producer. His specialty genres are ], ], and ]. | |||
| Michael Jonzun (a/k/a Michael Johnson & M. Johnson), son of Ray V. Johnson, Sr., started playing music at the age of two with his paper drum set. At the age of four he joined his family’s band, then known as The Johnson Brothers - - Elvin, Ray, Jr., Calvin, Donald (p/k/a Sonni Jonzun), and Larry (p/k/a Maurice Starr). Michael’s father, a master musician of many instruments, who performed with such legendary Artists as Ray Charles, Noble “Thin Man” Watts, and B.B. King, was the Johnson Brother’s Mentor and Musical Director.. | |||
| Born in Florida, he formed the ] in Boston with Steve Thorpe and Gordy Worthy.<ref name="kellman">{{cite web|last=Kellman|first=Andy|title=The Jonzun Crew - Biography|url=http://allmusic.com/artist/the-jonzun-crew-p25502/biography|publisher=allmusic.com|accessdate=January 12, 2011}}</ref> In the early 1980s, the group recorded electro ] tracks including "Pack Jam (Look Out for the OVC)" and "Space Cowboy".<ref name="bush">{{cite web|last=Bush|first=John|title=Lost in Space - The Jonzun Crew {{!}} Review|url=http://allmusic.com/album/lost-in-space-r68809|publisher=allmusic.com|accessdate=January 12, 2011}}</ref> The former was inspired by Michael Jonzun's distaste toward the popular '']'' ].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Vocoder: From Speech-Scrambling To Robot Rock|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126781688|publisher=]|accessdate= February 4, 2012|date=May 13, 2010}}</ref> | |||
| In spite of the fact that his family didn’t have money, they didn’t have an impressive home (the eight of them lived in a modest two bedroom house), and they didn’t have the odds stacked in their favor (being a Black family in a racially segregated and volatile southern community), they did have a recipe for success. | |||
| He made several more LPs in the 1980s, but with less commercial success. He also produced many recordings by other artists. He collaborated with his brother, Soni Jonzun, and with collaborator ], contributed to early tracks by both groups.<ref name="wynn">{{cite web|last=Wynn|first=Ron|title=Michael Jonzun - Biography|url=http://allmusic.com/artist/michael-jonzun-p22936/biography|publisher=allmusic.com|accessdate=January 12, 2011}}</ref> He also worked on ]'s ''Lights Out'' and ]'s ''Rockin' Radio''. In 1986, he left the band to pursue a solo career and released an album on ]. | |||
| The Johnson Brothers’ winning formula was possessing a passionate love for music. Passion meant practicing 7 hours or more, most every day of the week, and using whatever monies they had earned from odd jobs & gigs to buy instruments and musical equipment. Passion meant working towards becoming “great” musicians, not just “good”. Passion meant having a willingness to “starve” while pursuing their dream. Passion meant having a fear of God, obedience to their parents, and honesty. Passion meant keeping a firm belief that they were pre-destined to make it as musicians, and could make it as musicians.. | |||
| In 2012, Jonzun sued the estate of ] for $24 million, claiming co-writing credit on "]," a song Jackson recorded in 2009 with ]. In March 2014, a federal judge dismissed the suit. <ref>, Radar Online, April 18, 2014.</ref> | |||
| In 1973, in pursuit of achieving musical notoriety, at the age of 18, Michael and his brothers packed up and headed to Boston, Massachusetts on a Greyhound bus. They took with them a bag of their Mama’s own delicious southern fried chicken, a few dollars, a large repertoire of music under their belt - - spanning many musical genres from country & western, and Dixieland, to rock & roll, rhythm & blues, jazz, gospel, and classical --, and a mastery of over 50 different types of musical instruments. | |||
| ==Discography== | |||
| Persistence and preparation paid off. Today, Mr. Jonzun’s talents have earned him international acclaim as a Multi-Platinum Record Producer, Songwriter, Artist (Jonzun Crew- - recognized as a forefather of Hip Hop by Source Mag.), Record Label owner (Jonzun Entertainment distributed by Lightyear Ent. via WEA), Music Business Executive, and Multi-Instrumentalist. '''''Some of Mr. Jonzun’s accolades include:''''' | |||
| Albums | |||
| * '']'' (1983)—Jonzun Crew—songs written and produced by Michael Jonzun (Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records) | |||
| * ''Down to Earth'' (1984)—Jonzun Crew Featuring Michael Jonzun (Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records) (rereleased by A&M/PolyGram Records with a completely different track listing) | |||
| * ''Money Isn't Everything'' (1986)—Michael Jonzun (A&M/PolyGram Records) | |||
| Singles & EPs | |||
| * ''Time Is Running Out'' (1984)—Jonzun Crew Featuring Michael Jonzun (Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records) | |||
| * ''Lovin'/Mechanism'' (1984)—Jonzun Crew Featuring Michael Jonzun (Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records) | |||
| * ''Redd Hott Mama'' (1985)—Jonzun Crew Featuring Michael Jonzun (A&M/PolyGram Records) | |||
| * ''Games People Play'' (1986)—Michael Jonzun (A&M/PolyGram Records) | |||
| * ''Burnin' Up'' (1986)—Michael Jonzun (A&M/PolyGram Records) | |||
| Production work | |||
| *''Lights Out'' (1984)—Peter Wolf—primary producer and songwriter | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| ►200+ million records and videos sold world wide | |||
| * ] | |||
| ==References== | |||
| ► (13) "# 1" Billboard Chart Hits, | |||
| {{Reflist}} | |||
| ► (19) “Top 10” Billboard Chart Hits | |||
| {{Authority control}} | |||
| ► (32) “Top 40” Billboard Chart Hits | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Jonzun, Michael}} | |||
| ] | |||
| ►Owner & CEO of Boston International Music, Inc., | |||
| ] | |||
| (A music publishing firm w/ 200+ Compositions in Rotation world wide at radio, film, internet, printed sheet music, records, videos, and television.) | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ►(2) Major Publishing Deals (EMI & Warner-Chappell) | |||
| ► 40+ Certified Gold, Platinum, & Multi-Platinum Records Combined | |||
| ►Co-Writer of Largest Selling Ringtone in History- - “Laffy Taffy” ("Laffy Taffy" reached # 1 on Billboard Charts-Jan. 7, ’06) | |||
| ►Co-Music Producer of Top 3 Music Videos in History: (“Hangin’ Tough”, “Hangin’ Tough Live”, “Step By Step”) | |||
| ►Jonzun Crew is a Recognized Forefather of Hip-Hop (Source Mag.) | |||
| ►Jonzun Crew has toured worldwide playing to audiences of 80,000+ | |||
| ►Jonzun Crew as an Artist has sold 20+ million records sold world wide in its many formats. | |||
| ''(some of their Greatest Hits include - - Space Cowboy, We Are The Jonzun Crew,Space Is The PlaceElectro-Boogie Encounter, Ground Patrol, Pack Jam).'' | |||
| ►Numerous Industry Awards (shared Grammys, ASCAP, JUNO, People's Choice) | |||
| ►Recipient of ASCAP 2007 Co-Writer/Publisher Award for "One of The Most Performed Songs of 2006" ("Laffy Taffy"/D4L) | |||
| ►Producer & Co-Writer of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Recognized "ESSENTIAL RECORDING" for the composition "Showdown" as recorded by Class of 2007 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees Grand Master Flash & The Furious Five. | |||
| ►Write-Ups in Major Metropolitan & Intl Publications as a Music Pioneer & Innovator: (NY Times, LA Times, Time, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, People, Vibe, Source, Jet, Boston Globe, Washington Post, Billboard, Village Voice, Mix, Boston Herald, NME, among others.) | |||
| ►Lecturer (Colleges, Universities, Schools, Music Conferences - - New Music Seminar) | |||
| ►Multi-Instrumentalist of 50+ musical instruments | |||
| ►Producer/Writer/Musician with Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Legends --Mick Jaggar, Ben E. King, Lavern Baker, Bernie Worrell (featuring Herbie Hancock, Keith Richards, Mudbone Cooper, & Bootsy Collins of George Clinton’s Parliament Funkadelic), Solomon Burke, Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon, Bennie Cowan of Parliament Funkadelic, Grand Master Flash & The Furious Five. | |||
| ►Producer/Writer of over 50 Super Star Artists, including - - | |||
| Peter Wolf, New Kids On The Block, New Edition, Aztec Camera, Tommy Page, Mase, Puff Daddy & Family, Sugar Hill Gang, Grand Master Flash & The Furious Five, D4L, LL Cool J, Trina, Adrian Belew of King Crimson, Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen’s E. Street Band, Kelly Price, Maurice Starr, 112, Apollonia, Carl Thomas, Ginuwine, Twista, Afrika Bambaata, Lil’ Bow Wow w/ Jermaine Dupri, Bootsauce, and Englebert Humperdink among numerous others. | |||
| Jonzun Crew fans can hear Michael "Space Cowboy" every week, as Host of his own international radio broadcast Audition Radio. Audition Radio, features the Music & Interviews of New, Emerging, Legendary Artists, and Famed Music Industry Pros. | |||
| Some of the Music Legends, Celebrities, and Industry Pros that Jonzun has had the honor of interviewing on Audition Radio include: 7 Time Grammy Award Winning Gospel Music Legend Pastor Andrae Crouch, Country & Gospel Muisc Legend Mr. Ray Walker of The Jordanaires, Grammy Award Winning R&B Legend Mr. Robert “Kool” Bell of Kool & The Gang, Vocal Music Legend Mr. Lenny Williams (formerly of Tower of Power), Fox Television's Judge Alex, Vocal Music Legend Mr. Walter Scott of The Whispers, Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame Music Legend Mr. Doug "Cosmo" Clifford of Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Music Legend Mr. Larry Hoppen of Orleans, Pop Impresario Maurice “The General” Starr, Music Legend Herb Jackson of Planet Patrol, and Music Business Legend Mr. Joe Jackson (Michael & Janet Jackson's Father), to name a brief few. Please visit ] for program details & schedule. | |||
Latest revision as of 19:15, 13 February 2023
American musician and music producerMichael Jonzun is a musician and music producer. His specialty genres are electro, electronic dance, and electrofunk.
Born in Florida, he formed the Jonzun Crew in Boston with Steve Thorpe and Gordy Worthy. In the early 1980s, the group recorded electro dance tracks including "Pack Jam (Look Out for the OVC)" and "Space Cowboy". The former was inspired by Michael Jonzun's distaste toward the popular Pac-Man video game.
He made several more LPs in the 1980s, but with less commercial success. He also produced many recordings by other artists. He collaborated with his brother, Soni Jonzun, and with collaborator Maurice Starr, contributed to early tracks by both groups. He also worked on Peter Wolf's Lights Out and Tom Browne's Rockin' Radio. In 1986, he left the band to pursue a solo career and released an album on A&M Records.
In 2012, Jonzun sued the estate of Michael Jackson for $24 million, claiming co-writing credit on "This is It," a song Jackson recorded in 2009 with Paul Anka. In March 2014, a federal judge dismissed the suit.
Discography
Albums
- Lost in Space (1983)—Jonzun Crew—songs written and produced by Michael Jonzun (Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records)
- Down to Earth (1984)—Jonzun Crew Featuring Michael Jonzun (Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records) (rereleased by A&M/PolyGram Records with a completely different track listing)
- Money Isn't Everything (1986)—Michael Jonzun (A&M/PolyGram Records)
Singles & EPs
- Time Is Running Out (1984)—Jonzun Crew Featuring Michael Jonzun (Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records)
- Lovin'/Mechanism (1984)—Jonzun Crew Featuring Michael Jonzun (Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records)
- Redd Hott Mama (1985)—Jonzun Crew Featuring Michael Jonzun (A&M/PolyGram Records)
- Games People Play (1986)—Michael Jonzun (A&M/PolyGram Records)
- Burnin' Up (1986)—Michael Jonzun (A&M/PolyGram Records)
Production work
- Lights Out (1984)—Peter Wolf—primary producer and songwriter
See also
References
- Kellman, Andy. "The Jonzun Crew - Biography". allmusic.com. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
- Bush, John. "Lost in Space - The Jonzun Crew | Review". allmusic.com. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
- "The Vocoder: From Speech-Scrambling To Robot Rock". NPR. May 13, 2010. Retrieved February 4, 2012.
- Wynn, Ron. "Michael Jonzun - Biography". allmusic.com. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
- Cronin, Melissa, "Victory From Beyond The Grave! Michael Jackson Wins $24M ‘This Is It’ Lawsuit", Radar Online, April 18, 2014.