Guitarist/vocalist George Johnson and bassist/vocalist
Louis Johnson formed the band Johnson Three Plus One with older brother Tommy and their cousin
Alex Weir while attending school in Los Angeles. When they became professionals, the band backed such touring R&B acts as
Bobby Womack and
the Supremes. George and
Louis Johnson later joined
Billy Preston's band, and wrote "Music in My Life" and "The Kids and Me" for him before leaving his group in 1973.
Quincy Jones hired them to play on his LP
Mellow Madness, and recorded four of their songs, including "Is It Love That We're Missing?" and "Just a Taste of Me."
Jones took them on a Japanese tour, then produced their debut LP,
Look Out for Number 1, after they signed with A&M, which was also his label at the time (1976). They scored a number one R&B and number three pop hit with "I'll Be Good to You," and enjoyed R&B chart-toppers in 1977 and 1980 respectively with "Strawberry Letter 23" and "Stomp!," while sustaining a consistent hit presence via such songs as "Get the Funk Out Ma Face" and "Runnin' for Your Lovin."
Jones remade "I'll Be Good to You" in 1989 with
Ray Charles and
Chaka Khan on his
Back on the Block release.
The Brothers earned platinum records for
Look Out for Number 1 and
Right on Time.
Jones produced both of these, along with their third and fourth LPs,
Blam and
Light Up the Night. The group produced its single "The Real Thing" in 1981. It reached number 11 on the R&B charts, and the Brothers had another hit with "Welcome to the Club" in 1982. They started doing separate ventures;
Louis Johnson played bass on
Michael Jackson's
Thriller LP and recorded a gospel album, while George Johnson worked with
Steve Arrington.
Leon Sylvers produced their mid-'80s return LP
Out of Control; it didn't equal their past success, but got them another R&B hit with "You Keep Coming Back" in 1984. They recorded Kickin' in 1988, and co-wrote "Tomorrow" with
Siedah Garrett for
Jones'
Back on the Block in 1989.
Louis Johnson died at his home in Las Vegas in May 2015 at the age of 60. ~ Ron Wynn