Martha Johnson (singer)

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Martha Johnson
Born (1950-12-18) December 18, 1950 (age 73)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres
OccupationMusician
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • keyboards
Years active1977–present
Websitemarthaandthemuffins.com

Martha Johnson (born December 18, 1950) is a Canadian rock singer, keyboardist, and songwriter. She is best known as the vocalist of the 1980s rock band Martha and the Muffins.

Early life

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Johnson was born on December 18, 1950, in Toronto, Ontario.

Career

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Johnson worked in Toronto as a medical receptionist.[1] She started her career playing the organ with cover band "Oh Those Pants". She then was part of Toronto band the Doncasters in the early 1970s.[2] Johnson joined David Millar, Mark and Tim Gane, and Carl Finkle to form the band Martha and the Muffins in 1977.[3] The band, later known as M + M, released an international hit single with "Echo Beach", with Johnson as lead singer.[4] In 1985, she and her husband and bandmate Mark Gane were presented with a CASBY award for their production work with the group.[5]

Johnson also released Songs from the Treehouse, a solo children's album, in 1997 for which she won the Juno Award for Best Children's Album at the Juno Awards of 1997.[6]

In 2001, Johnson was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, but continues to perform and to raise awareness in her shows.[7] In 2013, Johnson recorded an album called Solo One with a portion of the proceeds going to the Michael J. Fox Foundation.[8]

In 2016, Johnson participated in the Rock Steady boxing program, which promotes fitness for those living with Parkinson's disease.[9]

In 2022, Johnson provided a pop cultural recommendation in an article appearing in Toronto Life. She recommended watching Ricky Gervais' After Life television series on Netflix.[10]

Discography

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Martha and the Muffins/M+M

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Further information: Martha and the Muffins § Discography

Solo albums

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  • 1995: Songs from the Treehouse (credited as Martha) (Muffin Music)
  • 2013: Solo One (Muffin Music)

Guest appearances

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  • 1982: Gerry Cott – '"Ballad of the Lone Ranger" (single) (Backing vocals by Martha Johnson) (Epic)
  • 1985: Northern Lights – "Tears Are Not Enough" (single) (featuring vocals by Martha Johnson) (Columbia)
  • 1985: We Are the World (LP) (includes "Tears Are Not Enough") (Columbia)
  • 1996: Jack Grunsky – Jumpin' Jack (features "Home Made Cooking" and "Iko Iko", backing vocals by Martha Johnson) (BMG)
  • 1996: Schoolyard Jam (features "My Little Sister" by Martha Johnson and "The Fox", "C'est L'Aviron", featuring Martha Johnson on vocals) (Prologue)
  • 1999: Ants in Your Pants (CD) (includes "If I Were Not a Little Kid", credited to Martha) (ZepLenz)
  • 2000: Love Starts with the Children (CD) (includes "Santa's Gift of Love" by Martha Johnson) (Wellcraft Music Group)
  • 2002: Select Cuts from Echo Beach (features vocals by Martha Johnson) (Select Cuts)
  • 2006: Heyday! (film) featuring "Let Go" by Martha Johnson
  • 2010: La Bella Stella (features "Shooting Stars" by Martha Johnson) (Recess Music)

References

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  1. ^ " A miracle for Martha and the Muffins". James Adams. The Globe and Mail, January 31, 2010
  2. ^ Colin Larkin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music: Kollington – Morphine. MUZE. p. 525. ISBN 978-0-19-531373-4.
  3. ^ Ira Robbins (January 1, 1987). The New Music Record Guide. Omnibus Press. p. 92. ISBN 978-0-7119-1115-4.
  4. ^ Steve Binnie (January 8, 2016). Feeling Like a Number One. Lulu.com. pp. 56–. ISBN 978-1-326-52514-9.
  5. ^ Kirk LaPointe (May 11, 1985). "CASBY Awards: The people speak". Billboard. pp. 74–. ISSN 0006-2510.
  6. ^ "Martha and the Muffins’ fresh batch almost ready — but in the meantime, their anthology lets them look back". Toronto Star, Nick Krewen October 30, 2021
  7. ^ "Martha and the Muffins back after 18 years" from CBC (February 2, 2010)
  8. ^ "Fresh Air". CBC Radio One, August 4, 2013
  9. ^ "Rock Steady Boxing takes jab at Parkinson's disease". Toronto Star, Patricia Hluchy June 20, 2016
  10. ^ "What notable Torontonians are watching, reading and listening to this month". Toronto Life, March 15, 2022
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