Michelle Johnson

Singer-songwriter Michelle Johnson has recorded, performed, or shared stages with some of the biggest names in entertainment: Paul McCartney, Elton John, Gladys Knight, Sheena Easton and Barbra Streisand to name a few. Her style - best described as Carole King meets Ella Fitzgerald - draws from jazz, pop, soft rock, musical theater, gritty blues, & soul. Her aesthetic has roots deep in the singer-songwriter tradition with traces of gospel & folk, & echoes of the vocal masters who ruled the radio waves in the days before rock & roll. That voice lights up "I'm All In," the Las Vegas artist's warm & vibrant latest single. Once a background singer, she's now stepping into the spotlight, so keep your eyes on her!

As the child a Liberian diplomat and American school administrator from Detroit, she grew up in Cairo, Egypt and Hong Kong before attending and graduating from Yale University. After graduation, Michelle moved back to her birthplace, New York City, where she began moonlighting as a vocalist in jazz clubs while maintaining a paralegal job by day. Eventually, her original path to Harvard Law School diverged onto a different route when her passion for the entertainment industry eventually won out. While living in New York, Michelle became a sought after session singer and background singer to various touring artists. Her first tour was with the popular neo-soul/hip-hop group PM Dawn. She also did a stint on Broadway, and traveled and performed all over the world, singing in several languages. She has appeared on Jay Leno and the Tonight Show, the Arsenio Hall Show, Soul Train, and many international television shows in Asia and Europe.

Michelle is currently based in Las Vegas, where she is known as that city's "First Lady of Jazz.” Her self-produced shows at the Smith Center sell out regularly, and she is a favorite at that beautiful performing arts center, which is known as the Heart of the Arts in Las Vegas. The Smith Center’s intimate room “Myron’s Cabaret Jazz” is a wonderful venue for cabaret artists, and Michelle has created and debuted several award winning tributes to Ella Fitzgerald, Prince, Carole King, and many other artists via The Smith Center platform. She also runs Diva Las Vegas Productions (DLVP) and produces events all over the world.

Michelle is an active advocate for women in business on both a local and national level. Michelle won the “ National Association of Women Busines Owners’ "Woman of Distinction” Award for her achievements in entertainment. In her spare time, she mentors other women who are seeking careers in entertainment, production, and public speaking. She is also a coauthor of the inspirational book “Power of the Platform” and is in the process of writing her own book about the music industry.

Today the accomplished singer-songwriter Michelle Johnson is writing and recording her beautiful originals as she enjoys what she calls her “second act”. Her songwriting themes include self empowerment, love and self actualization. Her extensive touring and recording experience has blessed her with many opportunities and connections, and her message is that it is never too late to make great art, to connect with others, and to heal people through the power of music. Her music video for “I’m All In” (now on YouTube) is from the first release on her upcoming EP. Find out more at www.michellejohnson.com.