Johnny Gill

Johnny Gill Jr. was born on May 22, 1966, in Washington, D.C. He began his singing career at the age of five, performing in his family gospel group, Little Johnny and “Wings of Faith,” alongside his brothers. His formal education included Kimball Elementary, Sousa Junior High, and the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, though his professional commitments led him to complete high school through tutoring. Gill considered pursuing a degree in electrical engineering but ultimately committed to his music career.

Gill’s recording career officially started in 1982 when, at 16, he released his self-titled debut album on Cotillion Records following a demo submission prompted by childhood friend Stacy Lattisaw. He collaborated with Lattisaw on the duet album ‘Perfect Combination’ and released a second solo album, ‘Chemistry,’ in 1985. A significant turning point in his career came in 1987 when he joined the R&B/pop group New Edition, replacing Bobby Brown. As the sixth member, Gill brought a more mature sound to the group, contributing to hits like “Can You Stand The Rain” and “N.E. Heartbreak” from their ‘Heart Break’ album.

His solo career continued with a self-titled album in 1990, yielding major hits such as “My, My, My” and “Rub You the Right Way.” He followed this with ‘Provocative’ in 1993 and ‘Let’s Get the Mood Right’ in 1996. Gill also co-founded the supergroup LSG (Levert-Sweat-Gill) in 1997, releasing multi-platinum albums. He later established his own label, J Skillz Records, in 2014, releasing ‘Game Changer’ and ‘Game Changer II.’ His song “Rub You the Right Way” experienced a resurgence in popularity on TikTok in 2023, showcasing his enduring appeal.