Elray Johnson

BLACKHAT ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS BLUES LEGEND ELRAY JOHNSON The Biography of: Blues Legend Elray Johnson Elray Johnson is a recording veteran who started in the late 50’s with the “Elmoroccos”, a show band out of New Castle, Pa with recordings that went regionwide. Later he stayed on the road for 22 years working as a single act; in the Midwest, Iowa, Minnesota, North & South Dakota. In the late 80’s he began working in Rochester, NY, where he stayed for two years. At the "House of Blues" he used saxophonist Pete Elus (formerly with James Brown). The early 90’s found Elray in the Cleveland, Ohio area where he worked top blues clubs such as the "Park Avenue Lounge", "Golden Lady", "Sportsman's Lounge' and "Blue-Fellas Lounge". In the late 90’s He began working in Pittsburgh, Pa. He worked with "the Joey Stefinini Band" and The band "Midnight Hour" from Sharon, Pa. Elray worked 12 years for the Lutz Agency in Lincoln, Nebraska, Golden Sounds in Toledo, Ohio for 7 years and the Wooton Agency in Rochester, NY for 4 years. Currently Elray can be seen playing at local Lounges in the Youngstown area. Much of his time is devoted to putting together his tribute show in memory of his mentor the “Genius” Ray Charles. The band will make its debuet in the First Quarter of 2005. Elray has worked with Youngstown’s greats such as Eddie Mingo and Larry Brown (guitarists); Genie Barr, Buddy Wheeler and Iris Elders (saxophonists). He also shared the stage with Hump jones, Big Boogie Dee and Sedril Hobbs, went behind Jack Mcduff in Rochester; Jimmy McGriff in Cleveland Jimmy Smith in Akron and Grooves Holmes in Columbus, Oh. Elray Johnson has worked with artists such as: Robert Lockwood Sr (blues legend), Cleveland Fats, B. B. King, Big Maybelle, Cannonball Adderly, Debrah Coleman, Lonnie Brooks, Joe Bonamassa as well as comedians Dolamite and Ron Cochran and the Blues Doctors. In the mid 60’s Elray recorded “Why did you take her away” and “Rinkey Dink” on the courier-Empire label. In the 70’s Elray recorded “Ebb Tide” and “hold on to my pride”, also on Courier. ‘The Storm” was his next Album and is available to order on this website. Next was “Darkest Night” Featuring Elray And Sharon native Pamela Wilson. The Cd “Blues in the Night’ features “Georgia” as well as 9 other great blues tunes. Elray's “What About Me’ cd features his 9 Great Original Songs, “Call Me”, “Completely”, Darkest Night”, “Rather Be Fishin”’ and “Round About Sundown”, as well as 4 other original blues tunes. "THE STORM","BLUES IN THE NIGHT" "DARKEST NIGHT', and "WHAT ABOUT ME". CD’s can be ordered At www.blackhatentertainment.com. Click on Mahoning valley Music Exchange. THANKS 50 YEARS OF SINGING THE BLUES Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.