Production Instructor

Producer ~ Musician ~ Songwriter

Ivan Johnson, showing musical interest at an early age, started playing drums at his grandfather’s church.  At the age of 5, Ivan was featured in a talent show with Calvin Lockett aka Biggie Smalls in Uptown Saturday Night. As time went on, he kept busy playing for many gospel groups and choirs in the California Bay Area and surrounding areas. He played drums while touring with the Hawkins Family, Yolanda Adams, John P. Kee, the Gospel Elites, and the Caravans. At the age of 15, while learning to play the piano, he was the drummer on the sitcom Just Kidding on NBC and debuted playing his first song on piano. A short time after, Ivan played the organ while touring with Hezekiah Walker.

 

Music is his passion. At age 17, he decided to follow his true inner passion to write and produce music. In 1997, Ivan worked on the production of the movie soundtrack Phat Beaches. He had the opportunity to work with artists E-40, Suga Tee, and Spice One. It was at the movie premiere that Ivan became acquainted with representatives from Quincy Jones Music Publishing. In 1998, Ivan received a publishing deal with Quincy Jones Music Publishing and opened his own recording studio, B-Phatt Studio, in Sacramento, California. He also started touring again, this time with Tony Toni Toné.

 

While signed with Quincy Jones Music Publishing, he worked with a variety of artists, contributing to their projects, including Aaron Sky, Az Yet, and Virtue; and songwriters Juanita Wynn, Eric Dawkins, and Terrell Carter (and many more). Several songs he’s written are held by artists such as Anita Baker, Immature, Mary J. Blige, and Eddie Murphy’s television show The P.J.s. Also, in 1998, he organized a band that accompanied world-renowned gospel recording artist Karen Clark-Sheard at the Henry J. Kaiser Center in Oakland, California. During this same year, Ivan also toured the country with Kenny Lattimore, in addition to touring Amsterdam and Europe with artist Rahsaan Patterson.

 

In 2000, Ivan started his own publishing company, Sugalicious. He began working with local choirs and artists in the Sacramento, California, and San Francisco Bay areas, such as Peace Gospel Choir, Arthur Johnson, Huey Lovelady & Unity, James Jackson & VOS, Atlanta Praise, Juanita Wynn, The Wynn Sisters, Robin Hodge-Williams, Virtue, Sharon Wynn-Davison, Melvin E. Carter, Sharon Jones, and Harold Pauley & Unlimited Praise. In the R&B arena, he worked with Tony Terry, Jasper, BJ (Regatta Records, Atlanta, Georgia), and Leonard Bailey. In 2004, Ivan Johnson signed with Dogg Pound Gangsta (DPG) Recordz and produced Daz Dillinger, Kurupt-Young Gotti, Tha Dogg Pound, and many more. He still works in this capacity.

 

More recently, Ivan Johnson founded Yibro Music Group, Inc., an independent gospel record label producing artists with sounds that include but are not limited to jazz, neo-soul, hip-hop, R&B, pop, and progressive and alternative rock.

2013 & 2014 - Played in Nagoya, Japan at Gary’s Motown
2015 - Played in Beijing, China at CJW

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Ivan currently holds the title of Music Director for Club Nouveau, Karyn White, Tony Terry, Glenn Jones, Howard Hewett, and Jay King. Ivan has been the featured keyboardist for smooth jazz artists Jeff Ryan, Mark Allen Felton, Julian Vaughn, Dee Locus, Jeanette Harris, Tony Exum, Jasmine Ghent, and R&B artist KEM.

Just a portion of his production list includes: The Daughters of Christ, Tony Terry, Michael Jeffries, Robin Hodge Williams, The Deele, Joe Leavy, Jay Logan, The Moore Twins, Kimberly KJ Jackson, EQ, 2 Songs on Robert Brookins Tribute Record, Juanita Wynn, Glenn Jones, Maxine Jones (Former Member of En Vogue), Robin J. Williams & Peace Gospel Choir, Daz Dillinger, Tha Dogg Pound, and many more.

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Contact Information:
Email: yibromusicgroup@yahoo.com • Phone: (770) 256-9087

Legal Representation:
Law Offices of Bret D. Lewis • www.blewislaw.com • (310) 207-0696