Representative Albums: "Way It Is," "Troy Johnson," "Troy"
Biography
You might remember Troy Johnson's sweet voice from his hit "It's You," a "new jack ballad" that was a slow dance staple in 1986. Jump ahead to 2005 and Johnson was once again climbing the chart with "It's You," but this time with a higher calling. A Motown lover who was inspired by the likes of Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, Troy Johnson first came to the public's attention in 1984 with a cut on the Blame It on Rio soundtrack. Around this time he was discovered in the bathroom of a celebrity basketball game by Leon Silvers, a producer who had worked with Shalamar, the Whispers, and Gladys Knight. The relationship resulted in the first "It's You" single and two secular albums, but then Johnson experienced a spiritual awakening. He was soon traveling the world, ministering, and spreading the word. During this time he signed with Epic's gospel imprint Word and released the Plain & Simple album in 1993. Taking a break from music in the late '90s allowed Johnson to plan something much larger. With a desire to have more control over his own future, he helped create the label SA Entertainment and its motto "Powerful Music, Positive Message." The label released his return to secular music in 2005. Titled simply Troy Johnson, the album featured sophisticated grooves, positive lyrics, and the new version of "It's You." ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide
