Johnny Bristol

John William Bristol (February 3, 1939 – March 21, 2004) was an American musician, most famous as a songwriter and record producer for the Motown label in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was a native of Morganton, North Carolina, about which he wrote an eponymous song. His composition "Love Me for a Reason" saw global success when covered by the Osmonds including a number one on the UK charts in 1974. The pair recorded two singles in 1959 for Anna Records, a label owned by Gwen Gordy (Berry Gordy's sister) and Billy Davis and four 45s for Gwen Gordy and Harvey Fuqua's Tri-Phi label, none of which was a success beyond the Midwestern United States.

In the mid-1960s, Motown had absorbed Tri-Phi and Bristol began working with Fuqua as a songwriter and producer. Bristol is the male voice on the Supremes' version of "Someday We'll Be Together", singing response to Diana Ross' lead vocal. number 2 US R&B chart and number 3 UK), A deal for Ariola/Hansa saw him score with club hits "Love No Longer Has a Hold on Me" and "Take Me Down". An accompanying album failed to consolidate his status, and it would be eight years before new product by Bristol appeared, with a 12" single "I'm Just a Musician" for Hansa. An affiliation in 1989 with the UK record label Motorcity Records was brief,

A comprehensive article on his career is contained in issue 51 of the music magazine, In the Basement.

Bristol was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2009.

Bristol was married twice. His first marriage was to Maude Perry. They had two children. His second marriage was to Iris Gordy. They had one child, Karla Gordy Bristol, who is a City of Beverly Hills Commissioner.

Discography Albums Year Title Chart positionsUK AUS US "Memories Don't Leave Like People Do" (Bristol) 52 — — — —"You and I" (Bristol) — — 48 20 —1975"Leave My World" (Bristol) — — — 23 —"Love Takes Tears" (Bristol) — — — 72 —1976"Do It to My Mind" (Bristol) — — 43 5 —"I Sho' Like Groovin' with Ya" (Bristol) — — — 47 —"You Turned Me on to Love" (Bristol) — — — 36 —1978"Waiting on Love" (Bristol) — — — 27 —"When He Comes (You Will Know)" (Bristol) — — — — —"Strangers in the Dark Corners" (Bristol) — — — — —1979"Hang On in There Baby" (duet with Alton McClain) (Bristol) — — — — —1980"My Guy – My Girl" (Robinson/White)(duet with Amii Stewart) 39 — 63 76 —"Love No Longer Has a Hold on Me" (Bristol/Powell) — — — 75 171981"Take Me Down" (Pennington/Gray) — — — — —"Sweet and Deep" w/Linda Evans — — — — —"Share with Me My Dream" w/Linda Evans — — — — —1989"Man Up in the Sky" — — — — —"I'm Just a Musician" (Powell/Glasco/Colby) — — — — —1991"Come to Me" (Thomas/Taylor) — — — — — "—" denotes the single failed to chart