The Brothers Johnson

Long-running funk pioneers The Brothers Johnson have always been fronted by George and Louis Johnson, known respectively as "Lightnin' Licks" and "Thunder Thumbs". They originally started out with elder brother Tommy and cousin Alex Weir while still at school in California, going on to get regular work as backing touring band for the likes of The Supremes and Bobby Womack before George and Louis went on to become permanent members of Billy Preston's band, writing several tracks for him. Quincy Jones then hired them to play on his Mellow Madness album and subsequent tour and Jones repaid the favour by producing their 1976 album Look Out For #1. Both their next two albums Right On Time and Blam!! reached the US Top 20 album charts, though these were eclipsed by their Top 5 1980 album Light Up The Night. They split in 1982 to pursue solo careers and Louis Johnson played bass on Michael Jackson's Thriller album, as well as recording a gospel album with his new group Passage. However, they reunited for the Out Of Control album in 1984 - scoring the hit You Keep Me Coming Back - and followed it in 1988 with Kickin', a collaboration with Irene Cara. Again they pursued solo projects before a further reunion tour in 2002, followed by a live CD and DVD, Strawberry Letter 23: Live.