Johnny Rawls was born in Columbia, Mississippi, in 1951. His first solo album, "Here We Go", was released in 1996, but since the mid-70s, he had been part of the band as the musical director for the legendary soulman OV Wright until his death in 1980. The band continued as the Ace of Spades Band and, for over a decade, performed across the country, sharing stages with Little Milton, Bobby Bland, Johnny Taylor, and other southern soul legends. Rawls' first four albums were released by the British label JSP Records, where he also worked as a producer and arranger. Since 2004, Johnny Rawls has released his albums through Catfood Records and Third Street Cigar Records.
Johnny Rawls is the leading figure of the generation of soul musicians who succeeded the pioneers who recorded in Memphis and Muscle Shoals during the 1960s and 1970s. Wilson Pickett, Percy Sledge, Little Milton, Bobby Bland, Joe Tex, Otis Clay, ZZ Hill and Johnny Taylor helped shape the distinctive sound of southern soul, which, starting in 1980, was manteined by artists like Bobby Rush, Charles Bradley, Trudy Lynn, Barbara Carr, Willie Clayton, Jimmy Burns, and Johnny Rawls. A two-time BMA winner (2010 - 2019, with 23 other nominations), Rawls is currently the contemporary southern soul artist who keeps the southern sound alive and in constant creative motion. His latest studio work, "Make Them Dance", is the finest example of the greatness and generous essence of a composer and performer who has achieved absolute and unconditional recognition.