(July 30, 2025) It is with particular sadness that we pass on to readers the passing of singer supreme, Darryl Johnson, a longtime soul music warrior who continued to make wonderful music over the past decade, even as his body struggled.
Charlotte, North Carolina Johnson honed his craft for over four decades, first coming to America’s attention with a stunning 1994 performance on the television talent show Star Search. He became best known for his work as part of a latter-day version of the legendary soul music act The Chairmen of the Board in the 2010s, performing both their 70s catalog of hits and their later regional favorites as one of the leading Carolina Beach Music acts.
Chairmen leader, Ken Knox, told us this morning “Darryl, was the perfect fit for Chairmen Of The Board because of his dynamic vocal range reminiscent of original member Danny Woods. Darryl will be missed.”
After leaving the Chairmen, Johnson moved to Detroit in 2017, where his desire to make solo music was often compromised by his physical ailments, including the amputation of his leg in 2020 due to complications from diabetes. He sang about it, autobiographically, in his release “Nightmare” (“I’m living a dream, but there’s a nightmare inside of me”).
Amazingly, over the next five years, Johnson continued to record passionately, even as he struggled with both health and housing. His singles, including “Shop Around,” “Only Love Can Mend a Broken Heart,” “What You Got (Sho Is Good To Me),” and most recently, this year’s “Is It Because I’m Black,” all displayed his powerful tenor voice and his considerable skills as both a songwriter and song interpreter.
Through it all, I found Darryl Johnson to be a delightful man of strong conviction and immense talent, who courageously battled through adversity with faith and an undying passion for his music. We will miss him on the pages of SoulTracks and as part of our rich soul music community. Rest in peace, Darryl.
By Chris Rizik
