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Terry "Buzzy" Johnson | |
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| Born | Isaiah Johnson (1938-11-12)November 12, 1938 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Died | October 8, 2025(2025-10-08) (aged 86) Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
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| Formerly of | The Flamingos |
Terry "Buzzy"Johnson (bornIsaiah Johnson, November 12, 1938 – October 8, 2025) was an American popular music singer, songwriter, and music producer.[1]
Johnson was born on November 12, 1938, inBaltimore, Maryland, and grew up as a neighbor ofThe Orioles'Sonny Til andThe Swallows'Earl Hurley. In 1954, Johnson formed The Whispers (no relation to the more famous Los Angeles-based group) with four high school friends, and recorded forGotham Records (based inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania). He wrote, arranged and sang lead on "Fool Heart" and "Are You Sorry?", both released in 1955.[2]
Johnson is the duet lead heard, along with Paul Wilson, on "Lovers Never Say Goodbye", "Love Walked In", "Time Was" and "But Not For Me", allBillboard chart hits (except the latter). He recorded three albums with The Flamingos,Flamingo Serenade,Requestfully Yours andFlamingo Favorites. They toured extensively and appeared five times on the TV showAmerican Bandstand.
Shortly after Tommy Hunt left the group in 1961, the Flamingos split into two groups, one with the Careys and Paul Wilson and one with Terry Johnson and Nate Nelson calling themselves at varying times, the Modern Flamingos, the Fabulous Flamingos and later simply, Terry Johnson's Flamingos. The two recorded on Atco together in 1963 as the Starglows. The result was the Johnson-penned ballad "Let's Be Lovers" (b/w "Walk Away Softly", written by Skyliners' manager and "Since I Don't Have You" co-author Joe Rock). Johnson wanted to record more than tour while Nelson, having a family to support by this time, wanted to perform. Nelson joined The Platters shortly after. Johnson re-recorded "Let's Be Lovers" in 2005, with artists Jeff Calloway and TeeTee for his own Hot Fun Record label. Johnson was the owner of "The Flamingos" federal trademark[3] and led the most recent incarnation of the group. The lineup was Johnson, Starling Newsome, Stan Prinston and musical director Theresa Trigg. The Flamingos featuring Terry Johnson appeared on two PBS specials:Rock and Roll at Fifty (in which they were the only group to have more than two songs featured) andDoo Wop Cavalcade: The Definitive Anthology. In 2013, The Flamingos released the Diamond Anniversary Tour CD. They continued to perform in concerts across the country.
In 1964,Smokey Robinson recruited Johnson onto the staff ofMotown Records where he and Robinson became regular collaborators. Their most notable credited work was the 1969Billboard Top 10 hit forThe Miracles, "Baby, Baby Don't Cry". Other charted hits include "Malinda" forBobby Taylor & The Vancouvers and "Here I Go Again" for Smokey Robinson & The Miracles. Johnson also wrote and produced for theFour Tops, theTemptations,Martha and the Vandellas andthe Supremes. In 1969, Johnson released the solo 45's "My Springtime" and "Whatcha Gonna Do", both b/w "Suzie" on Gordy Records (a Motown subsidiary.) He then released the follow-up "Stone Soul Booster" b/w "Sandy" under the name "Buzzie". When Smokey moved to California in 1974, Johnson remained in Detroit and later had a short-lived stint as Harold Melvin & The Blue-Notes’ musical conductor.
Johnson died inLas Vegas on October 8, 2025, at the age of 86.[4][5]
In 1996, Johnson and the surviving Flamingos were awarded the Rhythm & Blues Foundation's Pioneer Award and in 2001, Johnson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with The Flamingos. Shortly after, he re-focused his energy on touring as Terry Johnson's Flamingos, establishing the group as a mainstay of casinos and major concert package tours. In 2003, Johnson was honored by NARAS as "I Only Have Eyes For You" was inducted into the Grammy Award Hall of Fame. He is also an inductee of The Vocal Group Hall of Fame and has received the Heroes & Legends Award (HAL).
In 2017, Johnson released two No. 1 singles on the European Indie Music Chart breaking records for being No. 1 for four weeks and is featured on multiple playlists on Spotify.[6] Pollstar Magazine calls him the "Musical Chameleon".[7]Boyz II Men recruited he and his producing partner Theresa Trigg for their 2017 CD releaseUnder The Streetlight, where they re-produced his famous arrangement of "I Only Have Eyes For You", which Johnson had arranged, sang and played guitar on for The Flamingos.
In 2013, Johnson released theDiamond Anniversary Tour 2013 CD to commemorate the 60th anniversary of The Flamingos. In 2015, The Flamingos, appeared onThe View withWhoopi Goldberg.
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