I’m On Wikipedia! Who’da thought?
Hey Guys,
I just wanted to share this wikipedia article that pretty much sums up my life. I am honored to be included in this online encyclopedia.
Cheers,
Aria Johnson
Aria Johnson is an American Recording artist and Songwriter. In 2006 Aria starred in NBC’s “Star Tomorrow” with David Foster , for 13 weeks singing her original music and almost winning the entire competition, making it to 13 out of 14 episodes.
Life and music career
Childhood and youth
Aria Johnson was born and raised in Newark, California, and grew up in a Christian household. Aria moved to Los Angeles in 2002 to further her career in music.
Her mother, Merrilee Johnson is of Irish, English and German decent, and was a stay at home mom before becoming Aria’s Manager and business partner of Atmosphere Inc. Aria’s father, Michael Johnson who is of Irish, Portuguese and Lebanese decent, was a touring base guitarist who later, over the course of 27 years, was CFO and Controller for several technology companies that soon became public. Aria’s father was in a band named “Bogus Thunder” that opened for the legendary Bay Area band Tower of Power in 1971 (the same band that was later featured on Aria Johnson’s 2009 Debut Album).
Her father was a fan of Rock & Roll music and presented artists such as Jimmy Hendrix, Led Zepplin and Cream to her as a child, while her mother was a fan of Motown, Oldies and Gospel. She is the middle child of and older brother, David Johnson and a younger sister Jena Johnson. David is a bodybuilder and model, while sister Jena is student and aspiring fashion designer. Aria’s parents were divorced in 1995, and her father re-married Kathy Gosney in 1998. Aria has said,
“My childhood was anything but ordinary. I was riding on the back of Harley’s at age four, having ex-Hell’s Angles show up at my house for bible studies on Friday nights, and shooting military weapons on Grandpa’s ranch on a semi-regular basis. All this was happening while I was busy singing The Little Mermaid on My First Sony”.
Aria Johnson has been singing since she was old enough to talk. She started in church and later toured as a teenager with her girl group for seven years. In 1995, Aria began singing in a choir with The San Ramon Valley School of Performing Arts, and started her first girl band called, “Sweet”. Sweet had two songs on a Christmas compilation that was sold in Tower Records for over ten years. Those songs included “Jingle Bell Rock” and “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree”. Sweet also performed at Disneyland in Anaheim, California shortly after. That same year Aria’s group was also featured singing on Fox Television News on Christmas morning 1995.
As a result of her exceptional vocal ability, Aria was asked to join an Adult touring Choir while still a child. She was later asked to sing at The Whitehouse, for the President of the United States, and at The Vatican for the Pope. In 1996 she began studying vocals with Jim Bedford of Bedford Artist Development and joined the all girl group “Reality”. Jim Bedford has trained the voices of artists such as Gwen Stefani, Marla Sokoloff,Miss California Jennifer Glover, Jessica Bowman of Dr Quinn and many of the Mickey Mouse Club Mouseketeers including Britney Spears.
Aria Johnson was in the group “Reality” from 1996-2001, performing all over California and Nevada including Reno and Las Vegas. Consecutively from 1996-2001, Aria Won Overall Grand Champion of the California State Talent Competition for vocals. In 1998, Aria ran for Miss America winning First Runner Up to the Miss Northern California title. She sang “Sunday Kind Of Love”, by Etta James. In 1999, Aria’s group “Reality” opened for Pete Escovedo (who has been at the forefront of the Latin Jazz Movement for over three decades and is the father of famous 80’s pop star Sheila E.) at The Alameda County Fair Pleasanton, California. In 2000 Aria’s group performed for thousands when they opened for The Beach Boys at The California State Fair in Sacramento, California.
2001-Present
From 2001-2002 Aria Johnson fronted a band “Lucky Six” that although was currently performing in San Francisco, San Jose and Los Gatos, was asked to tour Europe, Hong Kong and China. Instead, she decided to focus on her maturing her solo efforts and move to Los Angeles. For years, Aria lived in a cracker jack box apartment in the ghetto of Venice Beach, away from her family and friends, struggling as a young artist and giving up everything- all for the love of music. It was through blood, sweat, tears and sacrifice, that Aria finally got the prize. Aria has said,
Music saved my life, I was one half good girl and the other half full blown rebel, but I couldn’t spend much time ‘dancing with the devil’, because I always needed to be ready for a show.
Life and music career
Aria Johnson NDBM Studio Feb 2008
In 2003 Aria Johnson performed multiple times at The Staples Center, for audiences of 17,000 plus. In 2005 Aria recorded her self titled EP that was never released to the public. Some of the songs from the EP were licensed. Aria’s song “Beauty” aired on the US hit show, “America’s Next Top Model”. And two other songs from her EP, “Reason To Believe”, and “Bleeding” aired on NBC’s Star Tomorrow. In 2005 Aria Johnson was also a dancer in music video’s for Hidden Beach Records whith the song “In The Club”, by rapper 50 Cent. It has been said that during her time in Los Angeles, Aria was offered multiple record deals but passed on them so she could manifest her vision to create something new and beautiful that would positively impact the world.
In 2006, Aria Johnson starred in “Walk The Walk”, a television series which follows the process of releasing the documentary movie “A Clown Short of Destiny” spanning a decade (1995-2005) about the true history of Slipknot and the Des Moines, Iowa local music scene. “Walk the Walk” chronicles the struggles that go along with putting out as film as controversial as this. The first episode, was shot in Park City, Utah at the film festival.[8] In 2006 Aria did a music video produced by metal director Chad Calek who has directed video’s for Pepsi/Mountain Dew, MTV, and Tears For Fears In 2007 Aria Johnson starred in the kids TV show “Super Jane”. She was the super mommy of Jada Grace, Berry Gordy’s youngest daughter.
Aside from being known for her vocal ability, Aria Johnson includes themes of overcoming obstacles and female empowerment in her music. Aria’s music has been called multi-generational, and timeless. It has been said that at a young age, Aria “discovered an uncontrollable desire to bring light to the world, as a tool for change”.
Aria herself has said;
“I never wanted to be that artist who just pranced around the stage and had nothing else to give. I was this kid with all this depth and perspective and I just wanted to heal people. I never sold out. Now I am blessed to have the album that I wanted to release… a true picture of my life and who I am.”
Along with Travis Barker of Blink 182, Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac, Sheila E., Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Mick Jones of Foreigner, and Michele Merkin, Aria managed to beat the top 92 bands in the country and make it 13 of the 14 weeks in the competition. “She sings good, she looks good…she’s got something special,” said producer David Foster. The contract was so bad that none of the top acts signed the record deal with Warner Brothers. In 2006, Aria Johnson starred in MTV’s Little Talent Show, with Kimberly Locke from American Idol and Brian Dattilo from Days of our Lives.
Songwriting
Aria Johnson’s writing has been critically acclaimed on a song co-written with and for Atlantic Records artist “Hope”, on her debut album, called “Insane” . Starting in 2007, Time Warner Television’s dance channel featured Aria Johnson on their national playlist, and In 2005, Aria’s song “Beauty” aired on the hit show by Tyra Banks, “America’s Next Top Model”. In December of 2008 Aria Johnson signed a Licensing deal with Pump Audio.
Discography
Main article: Aria Johnson’s discography
Studio Albums
- 2009: If Your Down(album)
Songs
- 2008: Diamond Rings |Written by Rebecca Johnson “Aria Johnson” Pseud.
- 2008: If Your Down |Written by Rebecca Johnson Pseud. “Aria Johnson” and Gerald Legaspi Pseud. “Sonny”
- 2008: Being A Woman |Written by Rebecca Johnson Pseud. “Aria Johnson” and Gerald Legaspi Pseud. “Sonny”
- 2008: Spain (Let’s Do It Again)| Written by Rebecca Johnson “Aria Johnson” Pseud.
- 2008: The Time of Our Lives |Written by Rebecca Johnson “Aria Johnson” Pseud.
- 2008: The Story of my Life | Written by Rebecca Johnson Pseud. “Aria Johnson” and Gerald Legaspi Pseud. “Sonny”
- 2007: Rock Me | Written by Rebecca Johnson “Aria Johnson” Pseud.
- 2007: Better Off | Written by Rebecca Johnson “Aria Johnson” Pseud.
- 2007: Angel | Written by: Gerald Legaspi Pseud “Sonny Legaspi”
- 2005: Hold on Me Feat. Tower Of Power| Written by Rebecca Johnson “Aria Johnson” Pseud.
- 2005: I Need You Tonight| Written by Rebecca Johnson “Aria Johnson” Pseud.
- 2004: Rose Colored Glass | Written by Rebecca Johnson “Aria Johnson” Pseud.
Other albums
- 2004: EP Aria Johnson
- 2006: Release Me | Written by Rebecca Johnson Pseud. “Aria Johnson”
- 2005: Reason To Believe | Written by Rebecca Johnson Pseud. “Aria Johnson”
- 2005: Crashing Down | Written by Rebecca Johnson Pseud. “Aria Johnson”
- 2003: Beauty | Written by Rebecca Johnson Pseud. “Aria Johnson”
- 2003: Eight-Thirty to Five Thirty | Written by Rebecca Johnson Pseud. “Aria Johnson”
- 2000: Bleeding | Written by Rebecca Johnson Pseud. “Aria Johnson”
Aria Johnson’s album “If You’re Down” will be in ITunes in February 1st 2009. She spent the much of 2008, in between Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Georgia recording her debut album at Tree Sound Studios where (Whitney Houston, Fergie, Elton John, Gwen Stefani, Akon, Prince, Usher, Dave Matthews, Aerosmith, Nelly Furtado, Ludacris, Jermaine Dupri, and Pink (among many more) have recorded. Aria co-produced many of the songs on her album as well as working with Producers Sonny Legaspi, Travis Daniels, Randy Emata, and DJ Hen Boogie. Legendary musicians played on Aria’s record including, Sade’s guitarist Ryan Waters, who played on half of the album; and the Ike Stubblefield who played in the Motown Review groups such as The Four Tops, Martha Reeves, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Rare Earth playing on several tracks on Aria’s album including the title track. Her new album has a song called “Hold On Me” that features the legendary band Tower of Power on the horn section[22]. Top mixing specialist, Tony Shepperd worked on “Hold on Me” as well. He also have worked with Whitney Houston, Back Street Boys, Lionel Richie, Madonna, Kenny Loggins, Neil Diamond, Take 6, Michael W. Smith, Chicago and Elton John.
Aria Johnson’s album was mastered in Hollywood by the the iconic mastering master, Bernie Grundman.
Filmography
- The Little Talent Show (TV) (2006) Actor
- Star Tomorrow (TV) (2006) (TV) Herself/ Guest Singer/Host
- Walk The Walk (TV) (2006) (TV)…Herself/ Guest Pop Star/ Host
- Super Jane (2007) (TV)…Super Young Mommy
Awards
- 1996-2001- Overall Grand Champion: California State Talent Competition
- 1998-First Runner Up To Miss Northern California
Influences
Aria’s musical influences are Aretha Franklin, Lauren Hill, Jimmy Hendrix, Bonnie Raitt, Etta James, Michael Jackson, Stevie Nicks, Mariah Carey, Donna Summer, The Supremes, Sheryl Crow,Marvin Gaye, and deep soulful house music. Aria has said,
“Music has shaped my life and now, I will continue to make music as long as my fans still smile, and God allows my voice to be heard.”
Trivia
Aria’s aunt (her great-grandmothers sister), is silent film actress and Broadway star, Anne Duane. Anne ran away from home when she was 16 and joined a dancing troupe.
External links
- Aria (III) at the Internet Movie Database
- Aria’s Official Website www.ariajohnson.com
- Aria’s Fansite Myspace
