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Ruben Waters Loves You further defines and extends the soul genre with its singular blend of intimate lyrics and harmonies. One can hear elements of motown, country, brit-rock, and 70s r & b distilled into something uniquely modern. Singer/songwriter Mark William Johnson affirms “the songs are intensely personal…soul music simply means that your songs are honest, and each time you perform them you bare a little bit of your soul, your spirit and your life.”

Formed in February of 2001, Ruben Waters Loves You is the musical vision of Mark William Johnson. Born in Oklahoma City and raised in Chicago, Johnson cites his parents as his earliest musical influences. “I grew up in a house where on any given day you could hear everything from Richie Havens to the Chi-Lites to Jimi Hendrix, music was a constant. A veteran of the Chicago music scene, Johnson co-founded the seminal Chicago mod band, I Spy and has done stints in the bands 90 Days and Martha Rudy.

In February of 2003, a self-titled EP was released along with three videos. The single “who would’ve guessed” was placed on a compilation released at US and World Cup Ski Events in conjunction with Tommy Hilfiger in January of 2003. In 2004, the song “Keep Me Around” finished among 12 finalists from more than 5000 submissions in a song writing contest sponsored by the National Academy for the Recording Arts and Sciences. In summer of 2005, recording began on a full length album of all new material which has yet to be released. Rough mixes and live versions of various songs from this work in progress have seen the light of day online and indicate a more classic, R & B direction on some of the newer material as well as several quiet, somber, acoustic tracks featuring only a twelve string guitar, piano, and Johnson's raspy baritone.

Musicians who have contributed to or joined the ranks of Ruben Waters Loves You over the years include: Max Shapiro, David "Duke" Schommer, Tommi Zender, Eric Sagarin, Nicole Cardi, Colonel Josh Shapera, Joseph Bianco, Brad Taylor, Eric Williams III, and Jonathan Taylor.