Musician, producer, songwriter and artist from Detroit, Michigan. Son of legendary soul singer Emanuel “E J” Johnson (lead singer) of Enchantment. With his musical roots beginning in church, Emanuel started playing instruments and singing with an instinctive ability as a child.
Piano and organ would become his passion and by age fifteen he gained his first paying position as church organist.
By his late teens, Emanuel began playing for local groups and choirs and would eventually lead to playing on professional stages and traveling with artists such as Antun Foster and Chemistry, Kierra “Ki Ki” Sheard and Karen Clark Sheard. He also had the opportunity to play and accompany such artists as Martha Munizzi, Twinkie Clark, Dorinda Clark Cole, the Clark Sisters, Kim Burrell, Marvin Sapp and Rance Allen to name a few.
Live Recording for Jacky Clark Chisholm, “Expectancy” and a Live Dvd recording with Ron Winans Family & Friends V, A “Celebration” which included Marvin Winans, Be Be and Ce Ce Winans, Gladys Knight and more.
Teaching would also become a part of this journey as organ and piano instructor at the legendary Clark Conservative School of Music and his own company GIWU Music Factory.
As traveling and performing began to slowdown, Emanuel started writing his first album and launched his own ministry/brand GIWU (God Is With Us). Their first single “We Need You” was released in September 2007 a tribute to victims of Hurricane Katrina. Other releases include God Is With Us 2008, Christmas With You 2009 and Movin’ single 2011.
GIWU has shared the stage with many up and coming local artists around metropolitan Detroit and was blessed to be a special guest on the National Television Word Network Live tv taping April 2012.
In 2013, Emanuel collaborated and produced for other local Independent Artists such as Reggie Williams, Rashida Johnson, Erica Dennard and wrote and produced GIWU Music’s first artist Mark Holloway’s Live Dvd Recording, “Feeling Like New” to be released in 2016. Also, he wrote and produced a very special first collaboration ballad with his dad, “Valentine” released February 7, 2014.
This year has already been one of the most historic, busiest and productive years for GIWU Music.
Shooting and releasing a music video, composing, MDing and producing the soundtrack to the stage play, “Pains Of The Past”, Producing and MDing a Live Recording for Reggie Williams September 12 and releasing a new single, “Intercede” September 11.
Stay tuned for more artists, music, production and clothing/accessories from the Emanuel Johnson II and GIWU brand.