Jeff Johnson

After winning a Vancouver Battle of the Bands, Jeff’s project The Salad Kings won an opening slot to perform in front of three thousand people opening for Canadian heroes The Matthew Good band on May 8, 1998. From that experience,  Jeff Johnson was sold that music was what he wanted to do for a living. A year later,  Johnson, with help from high school friends Matt Layzell, Mike Young (The Matinee) formed a band called Ten Ways from Sunday that eventually toured Canada and landed coveted spots on Vancouver Seeds 2003 disc and placed “You’ve been around” a tune he co-wrote on EA sports video game NHL 2004. After about 5 solid years of constant shows with Ten Ways From Sunday, Jeff ventured off to form his own group “The Jeff Johnson Band” eventually catching the attention of Nickleback frontman Chad Kroeger and Jonathan Simkin of 604 records. Jeff spent 2 months crafting the “Songs to Believe In” EP at Kroger’s Mountainview Studio with help from friend and engineer Gordini. Two years later Jeff realized that his direction would change from performer to writer/producer when He and friend Rod Black began what came to be Jet Black Stare. Rod risked house and home to make the demos for “In This Life” and with help from Andrew Brightman got attention of then Island A&Rs Rob Stevenson and Eric Spec. One flight to New York and one showcase later Jet Black Stare found a home with Island Def Jam and Jeff Johnson and Gordini joined forces to release In This Life. Despite the wake of harsh economic times, The first single “Ready To Roll” rose the charts peaking at 28 on the Billboard Rock Charts and was featured on every Detroit Red Wings Stanley Cup Final home game as the theme song for their opening ceremonies.  and became the theme song for the new TV series “Starting Strong” slated for a 2010 release. Johnson didn’t stop there. Jeff started his own development production company called Bailey Way Entertainment designed to help new bands get major label deals. Jeff eventually started working with a band from Las Vegas, Adelitas Way and crafted the tune “Closer to You” which tilted the scales and landed the band a deal with Virgin Capitol. Jeff has since had success landing deals for LA rockers Divide the Day co writing the tune “One Night Stand”. Jeff teamed up with legendary Producer, engineer/mixer Mark Needham and eventually landed a deal with Universal Republic.  Jeff has since written with some of the worlds top songwriters such as Franne Golde, Paul Fox, Brian Howes, Joey Moi, Bryan Todd and Aaron Bruno.

Recently, Jeff just finished producing and co writing “You and I Tonight” and I’ll Be There” for Canadian pop rockers Faber Drive’s second release Can’t Keep A Secret.

Jeff has currently been dabbling outside the rock realm and is landing cuts in Nashville with award winning producer Garth Fundis for up and coming star Mandy J Torkelson. From rock to pop, to country, Jeff Johnson is making an impact on the North America as one of the best up and coming writers.

Discography

Artist: Saliva [Island Records]

Title: N/A

Credit: Co-W

Artist: Jessie James [Mercury Records]

Title: N/A

Credit: Co-W

Artist: Dynamite Walls

Title: Queen Of Diamonds

Credit: Co-W

Artist: Adelitas Way [Virgin Records]

Title: Closer To You

Credit: P, Co-W

Artist: Jet Black Stare [Island Def Jam]

Title: In This Life

Credit: P, Co-W