A Taste of Honey

An internationally celebrated Pop, Disco, Soul, R&B, and Funk icon, Janice-Marie Johnson (the leader and co-founder of A Taste of Honey®) is celebrating her 50th Golden Anniversary of “A Taste of Honey® Featuring Janice-Marie”-–-marking 50 years of impact in the music industry. A trailblazer, among firsts with one of the Recording Academy’s most coveted awards, as a Black woman Janice-Marie became the first female bassist, the first person of Native American heritage, and her group A Taste of Honey® became the first Black group to ever receive the impressive GRAMMY® for “Best New Artist” in 1978. Known for writing, “Boogie Oogie Oogie,” one of the most recognized Billboard chart-topping hits of the disco era, and her classic original English lyrics rendition of Kyu Sakamoto’s “Sukiyaki,” Janice-Marie’s timeless melodies, sweet lyrics, and effervescent personality have inspired each generation of musicians and performers since her debut. Her original English “Sukiyaki” lyrics have been translated into numerous languages, most notably the Spanish recording by the late “Queen of Tejano music,” Selena. “Sukiyaki” remains the only Japanese song to have topped America’s Billboard Hot 100 chart and sold more than any other Japanese song in the history of the country. Janice-Marie’s proof is in the pudding with multiple Gold and Platinum international hits, and with her songs being sampled in every decade since A Taste of Honey’s® debut by influential artists like Snoop Dogg, Doug E. Fresh, Pure Sugar, Mary J. Blige, Positive K, Ice Cube, and more recently Wiz Khalifa’s, “Big Daddy Wiz,” the #1 track on his 2022 Multiverse Album, Janice-Marie has become newer and older artists’ favorite “Auntie.”

Janice-Marie was inducted into the Native American Music Awards ‘Hall of Fame’ and received their “Producer of the Year” award. She has a heart for children living in poverty as it reminds her of her own childhood. She has been lauded for her humanitarian efforts and her upcoming single is a call to action for all to stand up and rise to secure the futures of generations to come. The ultimate entertainer, Janice-Marie’s passionate and engaging performances capture the hearts of her audiences causing them to “boogie till they just can’t boogie no more!”