ROSZETTA JOHNSON RESURFACES!
Nov. 5, 2002
It all began on Halloween night, when I received the following e-mail:
Mr. Farrell,
I am writing on behalf of a friend and coworker, Rozetta Johnson, who recorded a
number of records years ago. When I searched on the Internet, she was amazed to
discover that some of her songs have been played on the radio recently. One of
her songs, IT'S NICE TO KNOW, Rozetta Johnson (1965) is listed on your playlist
for March 2, 2002. Since she has no copies of any of her songs from the past,
she is interested in finding out whether she can get a copy of this song (or any
other songs you may have) on CD. Thank you for any assistance you can offer.
Judy Armstrong
Ramsay High School Librarian
Birmingham, Alabama
Now, Roszetta (the correct spelling, as it turns out) Johnson is
not a household name, but as a lover of rare soul music, I knew exactly who she
was. So I wrote back to Ms. Armstrong that I had three R.J. songs in my
collection and would be happy to burn them onto a CD-R for her. After all, it
wasn't very often that I got to directly pay back one of the soul singers whose
music has meant so much to me.
Then, I decided to send a mass e-mail to my numerous friends in the Internet
soul music community, asking if they had any additional R.J. songs I could put
on my CD for her. The response was incredible! I got replies from such places as
Vancouver, London, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Dublin, Perth, South Africa, and
Israel. (Not to mention the good ol' U.S. of A.)
Among those I heard from was Adrian Croasdell of the highly respected British
reissue label, Ace/Kent, which now owns the original master tapes of several
Roszetta Johnson sessions, including some unreleased material. Mr. Croasdell is
going to send me that material for my CD, and would like to interview R.J.
Another gentleman in the UK, David Cole, also asked if I would pass on a request
to R.J. to be interviewed for his R&B magazine, In the Basement.
I've forwarded every e-mail I've received to Judy Armstrong as Roszetta Johnson
does not own a computer. R.J. was initially amazed, and is now overjoyed, to
learn that people all over the world have been listening to
and savoring her music for years. Like so many of the vintage singers who never
achieved great commercial success and who have since fallen through the cracks, Roszetta simply assumed that she and her
classic recordings had been completely
forgotten. But thanks to the e-mails I've sent on from my friends in the
Internet soul music community, she now knows better. And I couldn't be gladder
about that!
Finally, here's the most recent e-mail I received from Judy Armstrong:
Dean,
I just wanted you to know how much Roszetta has enjoyed all of the messages you
have sent. She is finally beginning to understand that there are people all
over the world who have enjoyed her music for years. You can imagine how happy
she is. We work in an urban high school. As I have spread the word about the
messages, students and teachers are looking at her with a new respect. We just
had no idea! Thank you for everything you are doing.
Judy
From time to time, I feel burned out on doing college radio and think about not applying for a show on the next WHUS schedule. But the next time I get to feeling that way, all I have to do is remember how much of a difference a radio D.J. can make in people's lives, even if he (or she) often is unaware of it.
Roszetta Johnson's 45 RPM discography:
It's Nice To Know b/w That Hurts
(Jessica 402/Atlantic 2297- 1965)
A Woman's Way b/w Mine Was Real (Clintone 001 - 1970)
Billboard R&B chart #39, Billboard Pop chart
#94
Who Are You Gonna Love (Your Woman Or Your Wife) b/w I Can Feel My Love
Coming Down (Clintone 003 -
1971) Billboard R&B chart
#45
Chained and Bound b/w Holding The Losing Hand (Clintone 006 - 1971)
To Love Somebody b/w Can't You Just See Me? (Clintone 007 - 1972)
How Can You Lose Something You Never Had? b/w Personal Woman (Clintone 008 - 1972)
It's Been So Nice b/w (I Like Making That) Early Morning Love (Clintone 014/Columbia 10247 - 1975)