Osupa 27 November 2009 Music, Street Music No Comment

They call him the piano man, but if you’ve ever seen singer-songwriter-producer-musician Tommy Johnson live, you’d probably refer to him as a one-man band. Blazing stages from Cleveland to California, Tommy has performed with the likes of such legends as Gerald Levert, Patti LaBelle, Kem, as well as up and coming stars like Conya Doss, creating a repertoire that submits to any genre listed in your iTunes library.

LEVERT AND TOMMY JOHNSON AKA ZERO

Born in Cleveland, Ohio Tommy hails from a musically inclined family who taught him to play the piano and nurtured his Muse for music since the age of three. While coming of age, he continually honed his craft, graduated from the Cleveland School of the Arts and began to make a name for himself locally singing, writing, producing and performing songs for himself and others. His self-generated buzz caught the ear of the Rude Boys’ Joe Little who would pass the praise to Gerald Levert during a studio session. From there, the Domino effect continued when Tommy toured with Gerald (and later with both Gerald and Eddie Levert) knocking out city after city around the globe providing background vocals and even landed spots on 2001’s “Gerald’s World” and the 2002 “G Spot” album where he wrote and produced a track on the CD entitled “Your Smile.” And after Gerald joined forces with fellow Keith Sweat and Johnny Gill for part two of their LSG venture, Tommy tagged along loaning his voice and creative talents to the group’s 2003 single “Shakedown.” Over the years, Tommy has developed a plethora of accolades and these days you can find the Los Angeles-based artist playing various venues around the city including Cozy’s, The Cellar, The Viper Room, The Temple Bar and a host of others with his eclectic band, Medical Card. To check out clips from recent performances and to find Tommy Johnson in a city near you visit www.myspace.com/tommysnyourear or follow him at www.twitter.com/tommysworldcl