Herb Johnson made his first mark at Arctic by singing background on Barbara Mason’s “Yes, I’m Ready” with Kenny Gamble and Weldon McDougal. He also provided vocal backing on Eddie Holman’s Harthon-produced ’65 Parkway hit “This Can’t Be True.” His own Arctic release was the delicate ballad “Gloomy Day,” complete with thunderclap sound effects on the intro, and the infectious upbeat “Carfare Home.” Kenny Gamble wrote the songs at Herb Johnson’s kitchen table before the pair wandered over to audition for Arctic label head Jimmy Bishop. Bishop was so sure “Gloomy Day” had hit potential that he had Herb cut both songs for what turned out to be his lone Arctic offering. Kenny Gamble was the producer.
Born December 26, 1935 in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Herb Johnson “was a natural. He sang in tune,” says famous Philadelphia session musician Bobby Eli. “I’ve been on a lot of different sessions with him that were just painless. People loved Herb Johnson,” continues Bobby Eli. “He wasn’t like a mover and shaker, like a James Brown or anything, but he had a certain kind of class and dignity with him.” He was also stylish when it came to his hair. “He had, at that time, one of the highest processes I’ve ever seen in my life,” says Eli. “His process was like a work of art, man. It was between him and Howard Tate as to who had the best process in the world!” Herb Johnson remained musically active until he died of cancer on January 19, 2004.
