Lost Gem: The too-short life of Puff Johnson gave great musical joy

Like a shooting star, singer and songwriter Ewanya “Puff” Johnson came on to the soul music scene in the 1990s, pleasing with her keen sense of melody and a lovely voice.

Born in Detroit in 1972, Puff Johnson’s musical journey was deeply rooted in her upbringing. She hailed from a musically inclined family, and her dream of sharing her soulful melodies with the world became a reality when she signed a record deal with Epic Records in the mid-1990s.

Her debut album, Miracle, released in 1996, showcased significant skills, and yielded three singles, the biggest of which was the top 30 “Forever More.” But a deep cut in that project, “Love Between Me and You” was a near perfect 90s adult soul jam, featuring Johnson’s smooth vocals wrapped around a tasty Barry Eastmond production.

Puff Johnson’s life journey was tragically cut short when she passed away from cancer at the young age of 40 in 2013. But her music lives on, and we celebrate her career in our latest SoulTracks Lost Gem, the beautiful “Love Between Me And You.”

By Chris Rizik

Puff Johnson – “Love Between Me and You”

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