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Wednesday, January 19, 2022

Bruce Johnston: From backing up Ritchie Valens to collaborating with The Weeknd.

 

Photo from LA Times/ Bruce Johnston and The Weeknd

Bruce Johnston's career has spanned over 60 years as he started with backing up the likes of Ritchie Valens (in a band that also included Sandy Nelson, Phil Spector, etc.) and others in the late 50's and has continued along with his solo releases and his long time membership in The Beach Boys.  Now, he adds a somewhat surprising collaboration with Canadian R&B/Pop singer, songwriter and producer, The Weeknd.

The Weeknd's new release, Dawn FM, features Bruce among the credits for producer and songwriter on the track, "Here We Go...Again."  Bruce arranged the vocals which include him as well as Christian Love (The Beach Boys' Mike Love's son) on backing vocals.  

Bruce's career has always included some surprise collaborations including Pink Floyd's The Wall so we can always expect artists to gravitate to him for his pop and vocal sensibilities.  We're excited to see what other opportunities come his way as well as for Christian too.  As a side note, Bruce always brags on Christian's vocal abilities and will often cite him as his favorite vocalist.  He says all we have to do is hear Christian sing "God Only Knows" nightly for The Beach Boys to understand why.  Bruce says it would make Christian's cousin Carl Wilson proud!