Dennis Johnson
Biography

Few have been blessed with the ability to weave between Jazz, Hip-Hop and R&B, however Keyboardist/Producer/Arranger/Engineer Dennis Johnson has achieved the type of respect earned to work with rising pop stars such as Singer/Songwriter Toby Lightman, Celine Dion, Anastasia, Avril Lavigne to the likes of Phil Perry, Marion Meadows, Will Downing, and Roy Ayers.

“I started playing drums in the 4th Grade for about 10 years, when I found out that d-jaying became my love,” says the Yonkers, N.Y. native.  “D-Jaying was a popularity thing and I thought I was pretty hot. When we did the local DJ contest, there would be plenty of other dj crews that would want to battle me for my equipment, I would accept the challenge. Needless to say, I still have my equipment and theirs too * he laughs.*

In 1986, Sunny View Records signed my rap group, the Vicious Rumor Club.  We did a spin-off record of the Timex Social Club’s mega hit “Rumors” entitled “Yeah, Yeah, That’s It”.  I was still doing my spinning gigs around NYC.

“During the whole DJ-Drum craze, I was noodling around with the keyboards. Sometime in the ‘80’s, I bought my first keyboard and drum machine.  It was the beginning of me recording in the studio. He then began to alternate between DJ’ing for a living and studio owner.”

Johnson met Baldwin in 1992 through a mutual friend.  “I was blown away by the feel of this guy”, says Baldwin. I’m looking for a groove to fill in this song and Dennis comes over with just one disc, but it was always the right beat”, laughs Baldwin.  “He was my hero!” They have been working together ever since.

When Baldwin began to work on music in NY again, he teamed up with Johnson where he proceeded to Engineer and co produce his works.

Working along side Bob Baldwin, Dennis co produced the famous smooth jazz cd 101.9 jingle and has written and produced for Bob Baldwin, Marion Meadows, Roy Ayres, Will downing, Phil Perry, Freddie Jackson, as well as working with pop recording artists such as Celine Dion, Avril Lavigne.