CATFOOD RECORDS SIGNS SINGER JACKIE JOHNSON

Mark Pucci Media

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 18, 2011

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CATFOOD RECORDS SIGNS SINGER JACKIE JOHNSON

JIM GAINES-PRODUCED LABEL DEBUT CD, MEMPHIS JEWEL, SET FOR RELEASE ON JULY 5

EL PASO, TX – Catfood Records announces the signing of Memphis-based soul/blues singer Jackie Johnson, and a July 5 release date for her debut album for the label, Memphis Jewel. The new CD was produced and mixed by Grammy-winning producer Jim Gaines, (Stevie Ray Vaughan, Santana, Luther Allison, Jonny Lang) and recorded at Sonic Ranch Studios in Tornillo, Texas, and Leeway Music in Memphis; and mixed at Gaines’ Bessie Blue Studio in Stantonville, Tennessee.

One of the many highlights on Memphis Jewel is a stone-cold soul/blues duet with Jackie Johnson and Blues Music Award-winning singer Johnny Rawls on “Love You Still,” a song that recalls the classic duets of Otis Redding/Carla Thomas and William Bell/Judy Clay in the glory days of Stax Records. Other special guests on the album include guitarist Johnny McGhee, former LA Motown studio musician (Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross) and guitarist for the group, LTD; singer Reba Russell on background vocals; and guitarist Lance Keltner (Rod Stewart). The studio band on the recording features members of The Rays, the same acclaimed musicians used on Johnny Rawls last four album releases.

The 11 tracks on Memphis Jewel include unique takes on two songs from the Motown songbook: the opening cut, “It Should Have Been Me,” originally recorded by Gladys Knight & the Pips among others, on which Jackie channels her amazing gospel voice into a powerful instrument of both yearning and resolution; and “Tears of a Clown,” the Smokey Robinson and the Miracles hit from 1967, which also contains Marvin Gaye vocal influences. Jackie and the band also do great justice to Betty Wright’s ‘70s southern soul classic, “Clean Up Woman.”

Other tunes of note include the jazzy/funky “Nothing Lasts Forever,” penned by Catfood Records owner Bob Trenchard (a member of The Rays); the contemporary R&B sound of “Do Ya,” written by Jackie Johnson and her husband, Van; and Abner Burnett’s “Brightside,” which takes a musical journey down to New Orleans complete with a second line beat reminiscent of the Neville Brothers and Little Feat. Memphis Jewel closes with three songs that showcase Jackie’s gospel influences to powerful effect: the redemptive “Wash Your Hands,” the powerful ballad “Rain” and “Keep the Faith,” which ends the album on an upbeat note of hope complete with a gospel chorus.

Born and raised in Memphis, Jackie Johnson grew up singing gospel music while attending the same church as the legendary Rufus and Carla Thomas. While in her late teens, she first toured overseas with Rufus Thomas, who personally requested permission from Jackie’s mother to allow her to accompany him for the shows. Besides singing with Thomas, Jackie got her first exposure singing professionally by backing such other artists as the Staple Singers, Barbara Carr, Shirley Brown and Lenny Kravitz.

As word of Jackie’s soulful and passionate vocal style spread, artists from all over the world came to Memphis to have her sing background vocals on their albums. Most recently, she performed on Huey Lewis’s latest album, Soulsville, his salute to soul music recorded in Memphis. Lewis was so impressed with Jackie that he asked her to tour with Huey and the News in support of the new album.

In addition, Jackie has opened for Bonnie Raitt at the Montreux Jazz Festival; performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London as special guest with Belinda Carlisle, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page at the World Health Organization Cancer Trust Benefit; performed with Aaron Neville at the House of Blues in New Orleans; and toured Italy and Spain as lead vocalist and background singer several times.

For more information on Jackie Johnson, visit www.catfoodrecords.com.

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