Johnnie Gee

The Brunswick Records Explosion In The 60s & 70s



Between the mid 60’s and the mid 70’s, Brunswick Records was one of America’s leading R&B record companies. From its studio office on Michigan Avenue, Brunswick employed some of Chicago’s very best writers, producers and musicians to create a large portion of what was being played on R&B radio during that period. If you listen to any classic soul station in America, you are bound to hear several of their recordings every day.



Beginning with Jackie Wilson’s first hit, “Reet Petite,” in 1957, Brunswick introduced numerous hits to the R&B and Pop charts for nearly 20 years, by artists such as Step By Step (Feat. Johnnie Gee), Tyrone Davis, Barbara Acklin, Young-Holt Unlimited and The Chi-Lites. The label also featured releases by Gene Chandler (of “Duke Of Earl” fame), Erma Franklin (The Queen Of Soul’s sister), Little Richard, T-Bone Walker, and many more.



By the time Brunswick stopped producing new product in 1982, the company had racked up more than 150 Billboard charted singles. Even today, Brunswick recordings are extremely popular with old and, more importantly, younger soul music fans around the world. In addition to appearing continuously in films and on television, the music has been reincarnated through sampling by artists such as Jay-Z, Joss Stone, Fantasia and Jaheim, to name only a few. In fact, the 2003 smash “Crazy In Love” by Beyonce was created by sampling the hook of the recording “Are You My Woman” by the Chi-Lites.



Although the label is known more to record collectors & music industry insiders, who are aware that many of the musicians behind huge hits for Motown performed on numerous Brunswick recordings as well, the label plans to raise awareness of the depth and quality of Brunswick recordings to the average music fan. Become part of the historical legacy of Classic Rare Soul by downloading Johnnie Gee's classic music