Michelle Johnson
Spotlight: The Music of Icons
Myron’s at the Smith Center, Las Vegas, NV, September 7, 2025
Reviewed by Jeanie Carroll
This scintillating spectacle was dedicated to most of the celebrities Michelle Johnson has had the honor of working. She communicated genuine sincerity with “Out Here on My Own” (Michael & Lesley Gore). Johnson held us in the palm of her hand from her first notes. She started her story with a journey back to her childhood musical-theater roots and explained that she had become obsessed with the musical Jesus Christ Superstar when she was only ten years old. She told us she performed her first solo in a talent show. We chuckled quietly as she began to sing “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” (Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice) in her squeaky ten-year-old voice, and then we really cracked up (considering the lyrics) as the song progressed.
At 15 she took on the gargantuan task of arranging a medley of five iconic and eclectic Streisand hits. She crooned this potpourri showing pride in what she had accomplished. She ramped up the energy with “Morning Train” (Florrie Palmer) and shared some of her Sheena Easton stories to our delight. “Random Black Girl” (Michael Kooman/Christopher Dimond) summed up Johnson’s foray onto Broadway. She felt typecast and overlooked because of the atmosphere that prevailed at the time, but she was still “singing the soul!” She joined the group PM Dawn and toured with them and other acts for several years. Her pivotal opportunity to perform at Woodstock ’94 fulfilled her “Rock and Roll Fantasy” (Paul Rodgers), and she ended up performing with Bad Company, recording with Elton John, singing a Cheryl Lynn song for David Foster, and sharing the stage with Garth Brooks, and Wynonna Judd. The icing on the cake … singing with Paul McCartney.
Johnson covered the megahits of these musical phenoms in her own inimitable style with passion and love. Between each tribute she told an anecdote about each of these artists and shared a beautifully prepared slideshow about them and shared the advice she had received from them. It was educational, humorous, and interesting; and we were enrapt and entertained throughout.
This plethora of musical prowess was performed by Las Vegas’ best. They included quitarist extraordinaire Steven Lee; keyboard wizard Dave Richardson; synthesizer sensation Brenda Cowart; drumming diablo Don Meoli; brilliant bassist John Belzaguy; and superior saxophonist Joe Escriba (who was also music director). And that’s not all! Johnson had three vocalists who added spice, pizzazz, and juicy harmonies: Karalyn Clark, Gret Gonzalez, and Ashley Gonzalez.
After living in NYC, Johnson landed in Las Vegas and immediately began to work. In addition to being involved in production shows and doing freelance work, she founded the all-star Desert Angels Choir. She then fulfilled her dream of being on the same stage with her idol Barbra Streisand, who bowed to her from the stage at the end of the concert and thanked her for the Choir’s fantastic work that night. Johnson did a lot of studio work as well, and she played two of the many songs she’d worked on—the “tickets jingle” for UNLV (which most of the audience recognized), and the Family Guy theme (Walter Murphy). The highlight of the show came when she recreated the Hollywood Bowl performance in which she shared the stage with Paul McCartney and sang on “Hey Jude.” We all gleefully sang the “na na na” along with her.
To round out the show, Johnson paid tribute to other icons she has worked with, including Deniece Williams, Dionne Warwick, Donny Osmond, David Cassidy, Sonny Turner of The Platters, and The Eagles. She also lovingly covered her favorite boss, Gladys Knight. Her back-up singers were the perfect Pips! The finale of this superlative evening of sublime musicianship was the exciting and hopeful “Fame” (Michael Gore/Dean Pitchford). We really will remember her name—Michelle Johnson!
