Syleena Johnson Biography

This article may contain original research or unverified claims. Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (May 2008)

Syleena Johnson (born September 2, 1972 in Harvey, Illinois) is an American R&B singer-songwriter.

Biography

Johnson took to music early, growing up not only with a musical father but also listening to influential artists such as Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Tina Turner, The Dells, and Mavis Staples. She would later apply her taste for soul music as a member of her high school gospel choir.

Johnson attended Thornridge High School in Dolton, Illinois. Her music career was inspired by her music teachers , who are still working there as of June 2007.^{citation needed}

Johnson's road to music was hardly easy. Her father, Syl, was not encouraging, as his own lackluster success with his craft led him to think little of the music industry. On top of that, Johnson suffered from vocal nodules and had to go through speech therapy. And when Johnson was fifteen, her parents split up. Despite these setbacks, Johnson's relationship with both her parents and her music remained strong: she contributed as a singer and songwriter on her father's 1994 album Back in the Game. After having nodes removed from her vocal cords, she took two years of speech therapy. She has seven years of vocal training.

That same year, Johnson began attending Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she worked in classical and gospel choirs as well as jazz ensembles. Originally a psychology major, success at a talent show convinced her that her strength had always been in music. She switched to a music major and began recording her own songs. In 1996, she transferred to Normal's Illinois State University, and majored in music. In September 1997, Johnson met an assistant scout for Jive Records at a charity basketball game. That contact allowed her to send in a demo tape, which had an immediate impact; days later, she got a callback from a Jive executive with an offer for a deal. "That's a miracle", Johnson later observed. "Demo tapes don't get heard like that." The experience renewed her resolve.

Personal

Johnson is the daughter of 1960s R&B Hi Records singer Syl Johnson and Brenda Thompson (America's first black female police commissioner).¹

In August 2000,² Johnson married former Illinois State University college basketball player Marcus Betts. Betts graduated in December 2000 and became her manager for her first two albums. However, Johnson's itinerant lifestyle was a strain on the marriage and the couple decided to divorce.

In July 2006 she became engaged to basketball player Kiwane Garris.³ Garris, a fellow Chicagoan, is a former player for the Sacramento Kings. On August 1, 2007,⁴ after forty-four hours of labor, their son Kiwane Garris Jr was born. Whether this marriage will endure remains to be seen, as Garris plays for Premiata Montegranaro of the Italian league. Johnson remains in Illinois.

Musical career

Chapter 1: Love, Pain & Forgiveness (2001)

A hiatus from school in 1998 coincided with the collapse of her relationship with an abusive boyfriend. The ordeal gave Johnson the raw material for her debut album Chapter 1: Love, Pain & Forgiveness, which traced a young woman's failed relationship and the healing that followed. Johnson's soulful rasp, reminiscent of old school R&B singers, set the tone for her confessional songs about the pain she endured in a bad relationship with a then-27-year-old man in 1997. Johnson grew from the experience and put it behind her, finding strength in a sense of forgiveness and from the spiritual guidance she says she received from God.⁵

Johnson counted on her own honesty and real-life experiences to produce her compelling music. The young Chicago native confronted her own romantic pitfalls and coming of age story on her debut CD, which featured guest appearances by blues guitarist Buddy Guy and contemporary R&B artist R. Kelly.

Johnson wrote all the songs on her debut CD except her first single, "I Am Your Woman," penned by R. Kelly. Johnson began writing songs for her debut CD at age 20 in 1997 and sent her demo to Wayne Williams, V.P. of Artist Development at the Chicago office of Jive Records. He signed her and paved the way for the release of her debut album in May 2001. The album received much praise, but despite its No. 1 position on Billboard's Heatseekers chart the week of its release, the album was not a commercial success.

Chapter 2: The Voice (2002)

Soon after, Johnson got to work on her follow-up album, Chapter 2: The Voice, which was released November 2002. Once again, the soulstress explored her personal feelings to find a thematic thread for the featured songs. This time, Johnson's shrinking self-esteem -- brought about by the lackluster success of her first album and problems with her weight -- provided the inspiration. Johnson realized that her strength came from her talent and her unwavering religious faith. Hence, The Voice is what keeps Syleena going. As with Chapter 1, Johnson got some high-profile help from Busta Rhymes and his Flipmode Squad, who contributed to "Tonight I'm Gonna Let Go", which got airplay at urban radio stations.

2004–2005

In 2004, Johnson appeared on the MTV Video Music Awards to perform "All Falls Down", her chart hit with Grammy winning rapper Kanye West. The video to the song earned both West and Johnson four VMA nominations, including "Breakthrough Video" and "Best New Artist in a Video". That same year she also earned a Grammy nomination and appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman.

Chapter 3: The Flesh (2005)

One year later, in 2005, she returned in form with her third album the critically acclaimed^{citation needed} Chapter 3: The Flesh. The record's first single, "Hypnotic", featured friend/producer R. Kelly and rapper Fabolous. The second single, "Another Relationship", became another radio single. The album included Production from Hitmakers R.Kelly, KayGee, & Terence "Tramp Baby" Abney & the Platinum Brothers.

Chapter 4: Labor Pains (2009)

Chapter 4: Labor Pains is due out January 13, 2009.⁶

• A recent track has leaked from the recording sessions, titled "It Is True". "Is It True" is the official first single off her new album.

• Another track has leaked from the recording sessions, A cover of Lauryn Hill's 1998 song "Ex-Factor". Johnson's remake has a new twist. Bump J, a male rapper takes Verse 2 with a rap.

• Another track was leaked named "Labor Pains".

Other/trivia

Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (March 2008)

Johnson is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority^{citation needed}.

Johnson was a plus-size model briefly represented by Wilhelmina Models. She appeared in advertising for the New York-based Ashley Stewart (clothing) chain.

Johnson appeared in cabaret show Soul Kittens ^{7 8}. Soul Kittens Cabaret is a musical revue written and produced by Brownstone (band) singer Nichole\Nicci Gilbert.

Johnson says she's already planning a fourth chapter. And she says it will be only about love songs.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Award nominations

References

External links

• Syleena Johnson at Allmusic
• Syleena Johnson at MySpace