Willie Neal Johnson & The Gospel Keynotes

Who was Willie Neal Johnson & The Gospel Keynotes?

Willie Neal Johnson was a gospel singer who became known as "Country Boy" for his rootsy blues-driven style and his down to earth friendly personality.

Willie was born in Tyler, Texas on August 25, 1935 he was the oldest of six children in a musical family. His mother motivated her children to pursue their singing careers by taking them to church and making them sing on Sundays. While in his teens he was tapped to join Rev. C. W. Jackson's group the Five Ways of Joy Gospel Singers.

A few years later he formed Willie Neal Johnson and the Gospel Keynotes with long-time friends, Ralph McGee, Rev. J. D. Talley, Charles Bailey, John Jackson, Lonzo Jackson, and Archie B. McGee. After rising to popularity across the Southwest the group signed to Nashboro Records where they scored a major hit with Show Me the Way. They received a Grammy nomination in 1980 for Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now. The Gospel Keynotes went on to record over 20 LPs for Nashboro.

Line-up changes were common and among the more notable talents which passed through the roster in the following years were Paul Beasley, Larry McCowin, Donny Timmons, Alfred "Gino" Smith, Ermant Franklin Jr., Robert Williams, Jeffrey Newberry, Val Alexander, Rev. Charles McLean and Teddy Cross. After Nashboro closed its doors they signed to the Malaco Music label located in Jackson, MS. In 1985 they changed their name to Willie Neal Johnson and the New Keynotes. With Malaco they recorded seven albums. They were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in Detroit and the American Gospel Quartet Hall of Fame in Birmingham, Alabama in 1999.