Johnson Appointed Executive Director, Gospel Division – Malaco Music Group

From a Malaco Records press release:

Jackson, MS. April 25, 2006-The Malaco Music Group is proud to announce the appointing of D.A. Johnson to the newly vacated post of Executive Director of its Gospel Division. The position, formerly held by Jerry Mannery, is a natural step up for Johnson, who has been serving the company since 2003 as Marketing and Promotions Director and before that served as National Promotions Director at Savoy Records, in New York City, also for the Malaco Music Group.

“D.A. has been with the company a long time, is dedicated to excellence and always has a fresh outlook,” states Tommy Couch, Sr., President, Malaco Music Group. “We feel confident he will keep Malaco current while adhering to the vision of the company.” Johnson adds, “I am honored to accept this position. I look forward to maintaining the standards and integrity set by my predecessors while keeping us viable and moving us forward in this twenty-first century marketplace.”

Johnson will oversee day-to-day operations of wholly owned labels: Malaco Records, Savoy Records, Muscle Shoals Sound Records, and Atlanta International Records, while continuing to work closely with distributed labels: Blackberry Records, MCG Records, Juana Records, and Marxan Records.

Recently, Johnson was awarded the Urban Network’s 2005 Gospel Executive of the Year Award for a Major Independent Label, his second year to claim the title. His background reads like a who’s who of music, both in the secular world and in the world of gospel. Johnson graduated from the Berklee: College of Music in Boston and since that time has worked with Al Bell of Stax Records (Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding, The Staples Singers) for Bellmark Records/Life Records in Los Angeles, Savoy Records in New York City, followed by The Malaco Music Group in Jackson, MS, as well as with numerous other artists in gospel, R&B and blues.

During his tenure at Bellmark, he helped to promote some of the biggest singles of all time including “Whoomp! There It Is” by Tag Team, “Dazzey Duks” by Duice, “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World” by The Artist Formally Known as Prince, and “Bow Wow” by the late, great Johnny Guitar Watson. He also worked the single “Affection,” by Jody Watley, and with artists The Rance Allen Group, and Edwin & Walter Hawkins, to name a few.

Although Johnson’s notoriety in the music business began first in the secular side of the industry, his roots are in gospel music with his father, Willie Conell Johnson, founder of The Mighty Brooklyn Skyways, a quartet that enjoyed such hits as, “Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven (But Nobody Really Wants To Die),” “May The Work I’ve Done Speak For Me,” and “Unbelievable Man,” all with Peacock Records. In the seventies, the group recorded three albums with Savoy Records.

Johnson has brought the family legacy full circle by signing with Savoy Records in 1999. With Savoy, he first promoted The Georgia Mass Choir (The Preacher’s Wife). He also worked with many gospel heavy-hitters, including: Dr. Charles G. Hayes, LaShun Pace, Rev. Timothy Wright and Lou Rawls. Lately his focus has been with urban artist DA Minista, Malaco’s first gospel rapper and winner of the first Urban Network Gospel Artist of the Year Award for 2005.

For more information, contact Malaco Music Group at: 601-982-4522.