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Shaun Johnson (singer)

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Shaun Terrance Johnson[1]
Born
Saint Joseph, Missouri
OccupationSinger
Years active1995-present
Known forTonic Sol-fa, Shaun Johnson and the Big Band Experience

Shaun Terrance Johnson is an American vocalist. Johnson is the lead vocalist of the a capella group Tonic Sol-fa, and the lead singer and founder of Shaun Johnson and the Big Band Experience.

Early life and education

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Johnson was born and raised in St. Joseph, Iowa.[2] As a child, Johnson dreamed of becoming a famous singer, and his interest in music was encouraged by his parents.[3]

Johnson, a tenor,[4] graduated from Saint John's University in 1994 with a major in history and political science. While in college, he met fellow student Mark McGowan, and both joined Tonic Sol-fa, an a capella group, in 1995.[5] Johnson chose to join the band rather than attend law school,[6] with law school being a fallback option in case the music career didn't pan out;[7] his family was supportive of the decision.[8] The band's name derived from a method of teaching choral singing used in England in the 1800s.[4] College friends Jared Dove and Greg Bannwarth would later join the group.[9]

Career

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Tonic Sol-fa

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According to the St. Cloud Times, Tonic Sol-fa achieved "international fame".[10] Unlike many a capella groups, Tonic Sol-fa's songs are drawn from a variety of contemporary music genres, including pop, rock, country, and bluegrass.[6][4] The group launched their final tour in April 2025.[11]

The group has sold over two million albums.[12][13][14] December 15, 2008 was recognized as "Tonic Sol-fa Day" by R. T. Rybak, the mayor of Minneapolis, [15] In 2010, the band won an Upper Midwest Emmy award for a song featured in a Toys for Tots ad.[16] In 2016, Tonic Sol-fa was voted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame.[17][18]

Shaun Johnson and the Big Band Experience

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In 2012, Johnson created Shaun Johnson and the Big Band Experience. He created the band out of a desire to perform live more frequently.[19] The big band consists of eight members, but occasionally performs with an orchestra. The band performs standards as well as non-traditional numbers;[20] Johnson aimed for the band to be "something other than a staid, 'sing "Sentimental Journey"' kind of show", and to use revenue from the band to fund nonprofits like the Make-A-Wish Foundation.[19]

Band members are recruited from "top-shelf players from across the spectrum of popular music".[21] The band performs a mix of original songs as well as covers with unique arrangements.[22] According to Allmusic, the band "straddles the line between the traditional pop of Frank Sinatra and the contemporary stylings of Michael Buble".[23]

The band initially focused on performing during the Christmas season to raise money for charity.[24] In 2013, Shaun Johnson and the Big Band Experience released the album What I'll Do (YouTube Sessions).[1] The band received a PBS special, The Spirit of the Season, in 2018.[7] In 2019, the band's album Capitol peaked at number five on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.[25]

Personal life

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Johnson resides in Sioux Falls, South Dakota[26] with his wife, Mary, and their three daughters.[27] Johnson previously lived in St. Cloud, Minnesota.[10] According to the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune, Johnson has participated in philanthropic efforts with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Habitat for Humanity and the American Red Cross.[28]

Discography

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With Tonic Sol-fa

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  • Left Turns in Cross Traffic (1996)[29]
  • Style (2001)[29]
  • Sugaure (2002)[29]
  • Red Vinyl (2003)[29]
  • By Request (2004)[29]
  • Boston to Beijing (2005)[29]
  • On Top of the World (2007)[29]
  • Christmas (2008)[29]
  • Just One of Those Days (2009)[29]
  • Something Beautiful (2010)[29]
  • Twenty One (2012)[29]
  • Original (2015)[29]
  • 30K (2016)[29]
  • March of the Kings (2019)[29]
  • Something for the Rest of Us (2019)[29]
  • One Note at a Time (2020)[29]
  • Playlist (2020)[29]

With Shaun Johnson and the Big Band Experience

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  • Live (2012)[23]
  • What I'll Do (2013)[23]
  • Capitol (2019)[23]
  • The Set List (2019)[23]
  • Made for Her (2021)[23]
  • Vintage (2025)[23]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Local Music Tap: 'Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience' Album Review". CBS News. December 9, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  2. ^ "Shaun Johnson Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". Allmusic. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  3. ^ Howe, Rylan (December 2, 2024). "Cue up the band". The N'West Iowa Review. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c Metzger, Michael (March 6, 2008). "Tonic Sol-Fa mixes unusual potion of a cappella". MinnPost. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  5. ^ Drazenovich, Dana (Winter 2007). "The Scene: Johnnie Rockers and Musicians" (pdf). Saint John's Magazine. p. 10. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  6. ^ a b Judd, Jake (February 10, 2025). "Beloved Central Minnesota A Cappella Group Begins Farewell Tour at Hometown Venue". KNSI. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  7. ^ a b Wilson, Jackie (November 30, 2022). "Shaun Johnson". Cityview. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  8. ^ "Meet Shaun Johnson". Canvas Rebel. October 27, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  9. ^ Miller, Bruce (December 10, 2009). "Tonic Sol-fa: Dancing to their own beat". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  10. ^ a b Zaczek, Alyssa (August 18, 2017). "In wake of ex-member's sentencing, Tonic Sol-Fa is moving forward". St. Cloud Times. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  11. ^ Goblish, Josh (February 7, 2025). "Tonic Sol-Fa Announces Final Tour, Returning to St. Cloud for Opening Show". Marshall Radio. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  12. ^ "Grammy Award-winning Tonic Sol-fa in Brainerd Dec. 10 - 'I Still Believe'". Brainerd Dispatch. November 17, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  13. ^ Lawler, Christa (January 31, 2019). "Best Bets: Sound an Echo, jazz, and comedies at CSS and NorShor". Duluth News Tribune. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  14. ^ Newspapers, Craig Spychalla, Capital (April 8, 2011). "Tonic Sol-fa will make you think twice how you look at a cappella music". Portage Daily Register. Retrieved April 2, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ Gabler, Jay (2008-12-12). "Press Release of the Day: Rybak proclaims Tonic Sol-fa Day in Minneapolis". Twin Cities Daily Planet. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
  16. ^ "Complete list of regional Emmy winners". Minnesota Star Tribune. September 26, 2010. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  17. ^ Harkness, Jeff (April 5, 2024). "Some Surprise Members of the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame". KYBB. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  18. ^ "Tonic Sol Fa – Minnesota Music Hall of Fame". Minnesota Music Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  19. ^ a b Miller, Bruce (December 10, 2013). "Shaun Johnson branches out from Tonic Sol-fa". Sioux City Journal. Archived from the original on December 10, 2013.
  20. ^ Kompas, Kate (December 23, 2015). "Tonic Sol-fa member brings his Big Band to Paramount". St. Cloud Times. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  21. ^ Wildsmith, Steve (March 7, 2023). "Jumping, jiving and wailing with the Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience". Highland Echo. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  22. ^ Jenson, Cameron (June 13, 2016). "'A more immersive experience': Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience records music video at Pioneer Village". The Globe. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g "Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience". AllMusic. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  24. ^ Coyle, Hannah (October 5, 2022). "Shaun Johnson to bring big band sounds to Phipps". Hudson Star-Observer. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  25. ^ "Shaun Johnson & The Big Band Experience - Biography, Music & News". Billboard. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  26. ^ "Shaun Johnson Readies For Tonic Sol-Fa Tour". South Dakota Public Broadcasting. November 1, 2019. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
  27. ^ Geertsema, Dawn (October 29, 2021). "Shaun Johnson". 605 Magazine. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  28. ^ Media, For Daily Tribune (April 8, 2015). "Big Band sound coming to Wautoma". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Tonic Sol-Fa". AllMusic. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
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