*The Dwelling Legends Basis (LLF) is saddened to announce the passing of Varnell Harris Johnson, LLF President and veteran music government. Broadly revered for his music enterprise acumen and mentorship, “VJ,” affectionately recognized by his friends handed away on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. ET, of congestive coronary heart failure; he was 76. Funeral preparations will probably be introduced at a later date.
Johnson had a broad and various profession as a senior government in file promotion, advertising, A&R, and administration, together with 15 years at Capitol Data and its associated labels, and dealing with an array of profitable R&B, jazz, funk, hip-hop, and gospel acts. Throughout his tenure as President of the Dwelling Legends Basis, Johnson expanded its membership and attain, and helped oversee the group’s star-studded Thirtieth-anniversary awards and fundraising gala in October 2022. Often called an government whose imaginative and prescient and management produced outcomes, he was honored by the LLF with the Chairman’s Award in 2017.
“This can be a main loss,” says David C. Linton, Chairman of the Dwelling Legends Basis and an in depth private buddy. “On the time he broke into the business, he was capable of work in each side of the enterprise. Varnell was one of many first Black executives to have whole autonomy throughout the label system. He not solely signed some nice artists, however he additionally employed different Black executives and molded so a lot of our careers. He had numerous ‘firsts’ in his profession. He was at all times caring, he promoted girls, and you can at all times name him for recommendation – he was that nice hyperlink.”
“He was the quintessential file man,” provides Jacqueline Rhinehart, LLF Vice-President, and advertising skilled. “He was a straight shooter and somebody who was nice at sustaining relationships in any respect ranges of the business.” She remembers that Johnson remained in touch with lots of the artists he labored with through the years, talking steadily with Ron Isley, Frankie Beverly, and Valerie Simpson. “He by no means misplaced his position as an influencer – it wasn’t reliant on what job he held at what label,” Rhinehart concludes.
Ray Harris, a founding member of the Dwelling Legends Basis, remembers Johnson as an esteemed colleague who got here out of an influential regional music market, Philadelphia, the place the promotion folks had a robust camaraderie, one which continued by way of smack-talking, shop-talking marathon card video games at such annual conventions because the Jack The Rapper Household Affair and the Black Radio Unique convention. “He was a folks particular person, particular person to know,” notes Harris, additionally a veteran file promotion government. “And I’ve such a deep appreciation for him as a result of he acquired on board with the Dwelling Legends Basis proper from the start. The group grew considerably due to his participation and management. He was at all times a voice of widespread sense, knowledge, and calm, and we’re going to overlook that voice.”
Johnson is credited by many for recruiting a number of Black executives, together with many ladies, into key positions within the business. He was additionally famous for his ear for expertise, taking part in an unsung however important position in bringing the late Tina Turner to Capitol Data as a solo artist after her break with Ike Turner. He additionally labored intently with Southern soul group Frankie Beverly & Maze, whose determination to file their first stay set, 1980’s Stay In New Orleans, earned the group its fifth gold album. Johnson’s relationship with the Isley Brothers was so robust that when he left Elektra for Island Data, the group jumped labels to proceed working with him. Recognizing the influence and affect of gospel music amongst Black file consumers, Johnson additionally performed a key position in establishing the Verity Data division whereas serving as Vice President at Jive/Zomba in 1994.
A local of Philadelphia, Varnell Harris Johnson attended Simon Gratz Excessive College the place he performed soccer and basketball. He graduated on the age of 16. To get out of the neighborhood, he enlisted within the Military at 17 and served within the Vietnam Conflict as a fight medic. After his honorable discharge, he attended and graduated from Temple College with a level in advertising and promoting. He credited fellow promotion man Harold Childs, a Philadelphia neighbor, with influencing his determination to pursue a profession within the recording business. After a stint as a gofer at A&L Report Distributors, the place he made quite a few label contacts, Varnell shortly grew to become normal supervisor for Philly Groove Data. He was then employed as East Coast Advertising/Promotion Director by Oscar Fields, the vice chairman and normal supervisor at GRC, working with acts together with Brass Development, Conflict, and Enchantment.
His success in that position led him to be employed in 1979 as normal supervisor for the newly fashioned R&B Music division at EMI/United Artists in Los Angeles, working with R&B, jazz, and funk acts together with Ronnie Legal guidelines, Melba Moore, Noel Pointer, George Clinton, Earl Klugh, Conflict, Change and plenty of others. He then moved to mother or father firm Capitol Data as vice chairman of A&R, working with René & Angela, A Style of Honey, Maze that includes Frankie Beverly, George Clinton, Freddie Jackson, Natalie Cole, Peabo Bryson, Roberta Flack, Tina Turner, and Ashford & Simpson.
In 1984, Johnson relocated to the East Coast; he was then named Vice President of Promotion & Advertising at Capitol’s jazz-oriented Manhattan/Blue Notice Data division. There, Johnson labored his magic with such artists as Dianne Reeves, Bobby McFerrin, Phyllis Hyman, The O’Jays, and Shirley Jones. In 1992, Jive Data President, Barry Weiss employed Johnson over to the label as Vice President of Advertising and Promotion to work with R. Kelly, A Tribe Referred to as Quest, KRS One, and Aaliyah, amongst others. A transfer to Elektra Data as Govt Vice President later that yr discovered him working with Keith Sweat, Kut Klose, and Ron Isley.
When he was provided the place as senior vice chairman and normal supervisor at Island Data’ Black music division, he took it, bringing alongside the Isley Brothers from Elektra and sharpening the trajectories of Dru Hill, Karen Clark Sheard, Kelly Worth, and others. After his storied profession at main file corporations, Johnson continued to supply his intensive experience by way of his personal consulting agency Junes Leisure Inc., working with established recording artists.
A resident of New Jersey and an avid golfer, Johnson is survived by his spouse Darlene, son Varnell, (nicknamed “June”), and daughter Tracey.
“You already know, we outline a legend as somebody who made an influence,” continues LLF Chairman Linton, at the moment program director of Jazz 91.9 WCLK Atlanta. “Varnell opened the door for others, he continued to interrupt stereotypes and show that, given the chance, Black executives can shine. Varnell was a legend. The influence he had on our business and our tradition is indelible.”
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