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Soul Legend Johnnie Gee
 The Bio History of John Henry Gee (Johnnie Gee) began when he was born on the 29th of September1959 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Johnnie Gee was the 6th of seven children. (Sisters: Jean "Jackie", Ida and "Juanita", (Brothers: Dewitt, and Jerome. Johnnie began his musical career at the age of 6 as the drummer of the "Step By Step" band and later became the lead singer of the Step By Step band who formed in 1968. In these early years the Step By Step Band, Jerome Gee, Dewitt Gee, Ronald Purfoy, Greg McDonald, Delaney Henderson, Michael Brown, Lee Hicks, Steve Barry, Jeff McCledon, Chester LeBron, Raymond Jones and lead singer Johnnie Gee played local clubs and bars in Milwaukee - Chicago and moving further afield as there talents grew and they could compete in bigger competitions. From these early days Johnnie Gee would be at the same clubs as big talented stars of there days, such as Jackie Wilson, Harold Melvin and The Blue notes, James Brown & The JB's, The Chi-Lites, The Stylistics, Ike & Tina Turner, Prince, Johnnie Taylor, Jerry Butler, Joe & Silvia Robinson, Kool & The Gang, and Ray Goodman & Brown, would be learning from them even back then. Johnnie Gee and the band finally had a chance to record their first single with Cuca Records “Time After Time”, the B’ side of the single was self titled song by Lil Johnnie Gee: “She’s Gone”.

In 1968 Tim Butler the (A&R - Scout for the famous Brunswick Records) discovered the Step By Step Band. At their peak, Lil Johnnie Gee & the Step By Step Band were perhaps the most consistent teenage song writers in Soul Music history out of the Midwest. , the Step By Step Band first achieved some regional attention in 1970 with the popular song “Time After Time,” most notable for its contrast to the luscious work that they would record a year later with Brunswick Records. They had the best producers in the business like: Eddie Parnell, who had some of the most infectious songs in the early 70’s. Front man and lead vocalist Johnnie Gee smooth falsetto lead vocals was one of the best in the Midwest. Their first album on Brunswick Records was titled, 'I Always Wanted To Be In The Band', the LP was a masterpiece highlighted by Eddie Parnell & Benny Clark’s master compositions. The Step By Step LP (Recorded in 1975 Released in 1976 Song List Included: “Cash Money”, “Cool Days Are Out Of Style”, “Don't Leave Me”, “I Ain't Gonna Never Let You Go”,  “I Always Wanted To Be In The Band”, “I’m A Lonely Man”, “I'm Glad”, “People”,  “So Very Near You”,  “We Won This Time”, “Cash Money”, “So very near you,” “Roses” and “People”, all rocketed up the Pop and Soul charts, and immediately made the Step By Step Band the most sought after Northern Soul & Pop artists around the country back in the Mid 70’s.

The group’s seamless harmonies and Johnnie Gee falsetto blended magically with Step By Step's lush production and their smooth style. By any measurement, Step By Step Band must be considered one of the most important Soul Music groups of the past 40 years. Originally a regionally popular group in the Midwest the group was together for a three years before getting a contract with Brunswick Records.

The band Brunswick Records eponymous debut was a playful fun song performed by the whole band and vocals by Jerome Gee, Greg Emmerson, Greg McDonald and Johnnie Gee titled: "I Always Wanted To Be In The Band", containing a basket of marvelous compositions by Johnnie Gee, Step By Step band and co-writer Benny Clark. Step By Step remained with Brunswick Records until 1976, wanting more artistic freedom they felt they had to move on and work with several labels. The group name Step By Step Band had to be changed as it was owned by the Gee family, so each member reverted to solo careers. Dewitt (Boogie ‘D’) Gee went on to play with the famous Parliament/Funkadelic. Johnnie Gee had a number of popular records, in total made 5 singles between the years of 1976 and 1989.

In 1979 Johnnie Gee enlisted in Uncle Sam’s Army, US Armed Forces for 3 ½ years and completed his tour with an Honorable Discharge. Johnnie Gee didn’t waste anytime getting right back in the music saddle and recorded for several top bands and studios in  Milwaukee, Johnnie Gee teamed up with the popular Trumpet player Benny Emmerson who worked with the famous “Luther Allison Band”, Benny recorded such famous hits with the Luther Allison Band like: (K.T) and several other songs that are still popular today with blues music collectors.

In 1982 Johnnie Gee, “fresh out the Army” started his own record label/production company “Sidetraxx Records” & Entertainment. The label produced 4 popular singles, breaking yet again more records with such celebrities like:, “Jr. Mafia” (Notorious B.I.G) clique, “Chic Delvic”, “Bizzy Bone”and Gansta Nip, and went on to sell over 550 thousand copies worldwide. Johnnie Gee has worked with the best producers, using the latest technology and special studio effects for the popular LP 'Redemption' recorded by the Universal Artist (Double R) and Bizzy Bone. After 41 years of experience in all aspects of music, and being a complete entertainer, Johnnie Gee today controls all of his Publishing, Licensing, Distributing and copyrights.

In 2007 Paul Tarnopol, the son of the late Nat Tarnopol inked a deal with Sidetraxx Records/Johnnie Gee to continue and preserve the legacy of music and experiences Johnnie Gee earned over his 40 years as a professional recording artist.

2007 Press Release: (Sidetraxx Records/Johnnie Gee) M2K To Distribute Sidetraxx Records May 16, 2007: Milwaukee based Sidetraxx Records inks deal with M2K for worldwide digital distribution. According to Sidetraxx president Johnnie Gee, Sidetraxx will be using the arrangement with M2K to develop and introduce new mid-west labels and recording artists. Prior to Sidetraxx Records, Johnnie Gee was one of the founding members of the group “Step by Step,” which recorded for the famous Brunswick Records, Platinum Records and Cuca Records.

'''2006 Press Release (Brunswick Classics) Brunswick Records To Release Classic Soul Recordings Used To Launch Platinum Albums By Beyonce, Joss Stone And Paul Wall, Top 40 R&B Singles 1966–1975 double disc remastered collection. NEW YORK (EWORLDWIRE)'''

Brunswick Records today announced that on July 11, soul music fans will be able to purchase the long-awaited “Brunswick Top 40 R&B Singles 1966-1975” collection. Brunswick, along with sister label Dakar, was home to some of the greatest R&B artists from the mid 60’s to the mid 70’s, including Tyrone Davis, the Chi-Lites, Barbara Acklin The Young-Holt Unlimited, and The Step By Step Band just to name a few. From Jackie Wilson’s “Higher & Higher” to Willie Henderson’s “Funky Chicken,” the “Brunswick Top 40 R&B Singles 1966-1975” collection is a treasure trove of very popular and hard to find genuine soul classics. Younger consumers will instantly recognize many of the tracks from recent recordings by Joss Stone, Paul Wall and Beyonce, who sampled the Chi-Lites’ 1970 hit “Are You My Woman (Tell Me So)” to create her Grammy-nominated “Crazy in Love.” Under the leadership of Nat Tarnopol and Carl Davis, Brunswick rose to become one of the most important R&B labels of the classic soul era. This collection of 40 hit songs is a great representation of the hundreds of gems produced by Brunswick from 1966 to 1975.

With over 20 top 10 recordings, six number one smashes and very rare photographs, this double CD set is an automatic staple in every soul music fan’s collection. Retail giants Wal-Mart and Circuit City will be featuring “Brunswick Top 40 R&B Singles 1966-1975” on sale the day of its release. As a producer, song writer, music agent and professional entertainer, Johnnie Gee has kept his chops up for 37 years, and the new EP release is another bar to put on the shoulders of ‘The General of Soul’. Johnnie Gee is a talented songwriter with the ability to write songs that’s provided, in a secular format, the depth of the most heartfelt Soul music; and he was a remarkable song stylist who defined (or redefined) nearly every song he touched in his career. At their peak, Johnnie Gee & The Step By Step Band were perhaps the most consistent song writers in Soul Music out of the Midwest. They had the best producer in the business Eddie Parnell, some of the most infectious material of the early 70s and perhaps the smoothest falsetto lead vocalist in Johnnie Gee. Step By Step LP (Recorded in 1975 Released 1976 Song List: Step By Step Cash Money Cool Days Are Out Of Style Don't Leave Me I Ain't Never Gonna Let You Go I Always Wanted To Be In The Band I Am A Lonely Man I'm Glad People So Very Near You We Won This Time “Cash Money,” “So very near you,” “Roses” and “People” all rocketed up the Pop and Soul charts, and immediately made the Step By Step Band the most sought after Northern Soul & Pop artists around the country in the Mid 70’s. The group’s seamless harmonies and Johnnie Gee falsetto blended magically with Step By Step's lush production and their smooth style.

By any measurement, Step By Step Band must be considered one of the most important Soul Music groups of the past 30 years. Originally a regionally popular group in the Midwest the group was together for a three years before getting a contract with Brunswick Records. Their first album on Brunswick Records was titled, 'I Always Wanted To Be In The Band', the LP was a masterpiece highlighted by Eddie Parnell & Benny Clark’s master composition, “Cash Money.” Coming soon September 29th The EP Thinline Formed in the late 60s in Milwaukee, the Step By Step Band first achieved some regional attention in 1971 with the popular song “She's Gone,” most notable for its contrast to the luscious work that they would record a year later with Brunswick Records. Their Brunswick Records eponymous debut was a playful fun song performed by the whole band and vocals by Jerome Gee, Greg Emmerson, Greg McDonald and Johnnie Gee titled: "I Always Wanted To Be In The Band"

With 15 classics Northern Soul songs in his music catalog, Gee continues the music journey in 2009 with several professional labels and companies that provide services for indie and major artists today. Sidetraxx Records, Giasia Records, XXtremee Distribution, GE COM Music Publishing, and STDC Digital are just some the businesses Johnnie Gee attends to on a daily basis. To know music and have the skills Johnnie Gee has at age 50, is rare and hard to come by these days. If you are an artist, musician, label, manager or music consumer find someone with the experience like Johnnie Gee to lead your career, after 40 years Johnnie Gee is still strongly connected with most major labels, and shops new and Indie artist all the time. Long time friend “Marshall Thompson” leader of The Chi-Lites has partnered together to seek out new talent for the 2010 roster for Sidetraxx Records and Mer’ance Records, after the death of Johnnie Gee’s long time friend the “King Of Pop” Michael Jackson, his father Joe Jackson and Marshall Thompson received some bad press, saying how bad of a father Joe was to Michael, and Marshall was being sought for fraud. In the defense of his long time friends, Johnnie Gee can say’ he has known both of these gentlemen for over 35 years, I have only the up most respect for their skills, friendship, and legacy. These two gentlemen were key to my grooming and becoming a popular artist, I had to be my best as well for my parents, spankings, belts, and strict punishment was the other key to being successful in the business, in fact more children who came up in the 60’s and 70’s had the same kind of upbringing. So looking back to the 60’s and 70’s, compared to kids and success today, Johnnie Gee is glad to be the humble experienced artist, songwriter and musician he is today, it took that kind of push from Mom, Dad and friends like Joe and Marshall to make a child successful back then in the music business. ''' 2008 Classic Release Feat. Johnnie Gee''' Numero Records Home Schooled's editions finest gem. Milwaukee's Step by Step appears on the compilation LP with the classic single "Time After Time," a moody song, highlighted by Johnnie Gee, the 13-year-old front man. The song would make some noise in Chicago, but the band would sit on the shelf as the Kid Soul window was closing. Ultimately, the window would close on the Jackson's, too. But Johnnie Gee kept going.

To find out more about this music legend, Google his name or visit his Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/johnniegee