Johnson (composer) : biography
26 March 1953 – 18 August 2011
Early life
Johnson was born in a musically affluent Syrian Christian family in Nellikkunnu, Thrissur, Kerala, on 26 March 1953. His father was a bank employee. Johnson was a singer in the choir of Nellikkunnu St. Sebastian’s Church. He obtained training in guitar and harmonium from his colleagues during this early periods itself. He used to sing in youth festivals and musical shows and joined the orchestra team of some local troupes and played harmonium in many concerts. He also used to sing in female voice in ganamelas(a stage show where film songs are sung by local or professional artists).
In 1968, Johnson and his friends formed a club named Voice of Thrissur. Johnson was the main instrumentalist in the club where he played wide varieties of instruments – guitar, harmonium, flute, drums and violin.
Within a few years, the club became one of the most sought after musical troups in Kerala, and had more than fifty members. This club used to give accompaniment music to playback singers Jayachandran and Madhuri in their musical shows. It was Jayachandran who introduced Johnson to G. Devarajan, one of the most prolific composers of South Indian cinema then. Devarajan literally adopted Johnson and brought him to Chennai in 1974. Johnson bought an accordion, during this period, from R. K. Shekhar (A. R. Rahman’s father), and began assisting Devarajan in filmscoring and composing.
Partial discography
Original scores and soundtracks
| Year |
Album |
Year |
Album |
| 1980 |
Cheriyachante Kroorakrithyangal |
1981 |
Premageethangal Oridathoru Phayalwan Inaye Thedi Raktham Chaatta Parvathi |
| 1982 |
Football Sooryan Ithiri Neram Othiri Karyam Kelkatha Shabdam Palangal Kilukilukkam Swarna Gopuram Ithu Njangalude Kadha Ormakkayi Thuranna Jail |
1983 |
Koodevide Shesham Kaazhchayil Kolakomban Onnu Chirikkoo Kattathe Kilikkoodu Naseema Thamburu Thavalam Ivide Thudangunnu |
| 1984 |
Parannu Parannu Parannu Sandarbham Ente Upasana Swanthamevide Bandhamevide |
1985 |
Akkacheede Kunjivava Nerariyum Nerathu Oru Kudakkeezhil Makan Ente Makan Kadha Ithu Vare Mounanombaram Upaharam Sannaham Jwalanam Oduvil Kittiya Vartha Aa Neram Alpa Dooram Ozhivukalam |
| 1986 |
Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal Oru Katha Oru Nunnakkatha Neram Pularumpol Akalangalil Kariyila Kattu Pole Ice Cream Malamukalile Daivam Ente Entethumathram Thidambu |
1987 |
Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam Sruthi Athinumappuram Ithente Needhi Arinjo Ariyatheyo Onnam Manam Poomanam Archana Pookkal Kathirippinte Thudakkam |
| 1988 |
Aparan Unnikrishnante Adyathe Christmas Ponmuttayidunna Tharavu Isabella |
1989 |
Peruvannapurathe Visheshangal Varavelpu Varnatheru Radham Nerunnu Nanmakal Lal Americayil Kireedam Artham Dasaratham Vadakkunokkiyantram Mazhavilkavadi Pradeshika Varthakal Pandu Pandoru Desathu |
| 1990 |
Nanma Niranjavan Sreenivasan Malootty Paavakkoothu Varthamanakaalam Muppathi Randam Naal Shubhayathra Sunday 7 PM Sandram Dr. Pasupathy Kalikkalam Gajakesariyogam Rajavazhcha Kouthuka Vaarthakal Ee Kanni Koodi Cheriya Lokavum Valiya Manushyarum Niyamam Endu Cheyyum Orukkam Thalayanamanthram Pavam Pavam Rajakumaran Kaattukuthira Sasneham Mridula Mukham Ananthanum Appukkuttanum Anayundu Khalasi |
1991 |
Kakka Thollayiram Sundari Kakka Nettipattam Beli Chanchaattam Perunthachan Kankettu Ezhunnaallathu Mimics Parade Athiradhan Arangu Kanal Kaattu Innathe Program Karpoora Deepam Aanaval Mothiram Sandhesam Apoorvam Chilar Ennum Nanmakal Njaan Gandharvan Nagarathil Samsaaravishayam Venal Kinavukal Cheppukilukkana Changaathi Nayam Vyakthamakkunnu |
| 1992 |
My Dear Muthachan Thalasthanam Kunukkkitta Kozhi Mahanagaram Kasargode Khadarbhai Snehasaagaram Oottyppattanam Aadharam Maanthrika Cheppu Ezharapponnana Savidham Kudumba Sametham Neelakkurukkan Sadayam Poochaikkaru Manikettum Aayaram Gayaram Ambathu Lakshavum Maruthi Carum |
1993 |
Addheham Enna Iddheham Golanthara Vartha Samooham Ghoshayaathra Ente Sreekuttiku Maanavam Samaagamam Chenkol Agneyam O’ Faby Meleparambil Aanveedu Chamayam Naaraayam Thalamura Paamaram |
