Puff Johnson

Puff Johnson
Birth name Ewanya Johnson
Born (1972-12-10)December 10, 1972
Detroit, Michigan, United States
Died June 24, 2013(2013-06-24) (aged 40)
Genres R&B, CCM
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter

Ewanya "Puff" Johnson (December 10, 1972 — June 24, 2013) was an American R&B and Contemporary Christian singer-songwriter.

Life and career

Ewanya Johnson was born in Detroit, Michigan and raised in Los Angeles, California.[1]

She emerged on the music scene in 1996 with her first single, "Forever More", produced by Narada Michael Walden and written by Walden, Puff Johnson and S.J. Dakota. It achieved its biggest success in New Zealand where it reached No. 5. Another single, "Over and Over", also from 1996, was a hit in Europe and Australia reaching the Top 40 in both continents. It appeared on the soundtrack of the film The First Wives Club. Both singles were released on the Work label.

She released her first and critically acclaimed album, Miracle, in 1996. The album was produced by Randy Jackson of American Idol fame, and was certified silver in the UK. Towards the end of the year Miracle reached the Top 40 in the Netherlands, and the single "Over and Over" hit the Top 20. She also collaborated with the Bay Area-based R&B group, Somethin' for the People, with Tupac Shakur on his song "Me Against the World", which was featured on the Bad Boys movie soundtrack and appeared on his album Me Against The World.

In 1997, Johnson toured Europe as an opening act for Michael Jackson and 3T. She did not release any further material and slipped out of the limelight. However, she was listed as a co-writer of three tracks of the 2005 album A Change Is Gonna Come by U.S. singer Leela James ("Good Time", "When You Love Somebody", and "Prayer").

Johnson lived in South Africa beginning in January 2009, following her concert in Johannesburg. She attributed her decision to relocate to South Africa to the friendly and warm people that she had met throughout her journey in the country.

Personal life

Johnson was married to producer Kip Collins, who died in 2006.[2][3]

She was later involved with singer Ishmael Morabe, who she met in a studio in South Africa. They dated for almost two years in South Africa, before she had to leave South Africa due to her visa not having proper documentation. They continued a long-distance relationship following her departure.[4]

Johnson was diagnosed with cervical cancer sometime around 2007. She died of the disease on June 24, 2013, aged 40 years old.

Discography

Albums

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
[1]		 US R&B[5] UK[6] AU[7] NL[8]
"Forever More" 1996 63 31 29 29 91 Miracle
"All Over Your Face" - 57 - - -
"Over and Over" 118 114 20 29 20 The First Wives Club OST

Other recorded songs

Title Year Album Note(s)
"What Child Is This" 1994 Joyful Christmas
"Someday We'll All Be Free" 1995 The Promised Land
"Me Against The World" Me Against The World

2Pac featuring Puff Johnson

"I Like It" 1996 Forever More - Single

B-side

"Never Loved Nobody"

B-side

"That's When You'll Know" Miracle

Bonus track exclusive to Japan

"All That's On My Mind" "Over & Over" - single

B-side

"Baby Can You Feel It"

B-side. Also included on the Australian edition of Miracle.

"Feel So Good" 1997 This Time It's Personal

Somethin' for the People featuring Puff Johnson

"Your Love" 1998 N/A

Featuring Rampage. Unreleased song.

"U Can Call" 2002 Better Dayz

2Pac featuring Puff Johnson. Released on 2Pac's posthumous release Better Dayz.

"All I Want Is You" N/A

References

  1. 1 2 Whitburn, Joel (2003). Top Pop Singles 1955-2002 (1st ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-155-1.
  2. ↑ "R&B singer Puff Johnson dies". DestinyMan.com. 2013-06-25. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
  3. ↑ "Puff Johnson succumbs to a battle with cervical cancer". Sowetan LIVE. 1972-12-10. Retrieved 2013-06-25.
  4. ↑ "Catching Up With Ishmael 'Ish' Morabe". Bona. 2014-07-23. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
  5. ↑ "Puff Johnson - Chart history". Billboard. 1996-06-15. Retrieved 2017-07-25.
  6. ↑ Roberts, David (2003). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 287. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  7. ↑ Steffen Hung (1996-08-18). "Puff Johnson". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2017-07-25.
  8. ↑ Steffen Hung. "Puff Johnson". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2017-07-25.
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