Charles Johnson (1931 - October 6, 2014)

Also see Charles Johnson And The Revivers.

Charles Johnson was born in Tyler, Texas where he was raised by his mother, Mamie, on a farm as a sharecropper. His father had abandoned the family in the Great Depression years. Johnson worked as a ranch hand during his teen years which eventually led him to a ranching family that treated him as an adopted son. The Green family encouraged Johnson's growing desire to sing gospel music.

Johnson relocated to California in the mid-1950s where he formed a group called The Gospel Consolators. The group's reputation grew as they performed with many of the top Black Gospel groups of that era. Johnson was ultimately selected to join one of the most popular groups in that genre during in the early 1960s, The Sensational Nightingales.

After logging over 20 years with the Nightingales with great success, he formed his own group, Charles Johnson & the Revivers in 1984 with Rick Luster and Darrell Luster. Like the Nightingales, the Revivers were based in Durham, North Carolina. The Revivers proceeded to break the color barrier in Southern Gospel, frequently sharing the stage with the best-known acts. Their albums were released on the Better Way label initially, then on the industry-leading Canaan Records label, with bookings secured by Harper & Associates. Their most popular song was "I Can't Even Walk (Without You Holding My Hand)."

Songwriter's Résumé

(Partial List)

Going On With My Jesus
It's Time To Go Back Home
My Friend Jesus
On The Cross At Calvary
There Is A Guarantee In Jesus