Johnny Edwards

John Douglas Edwards is an American rock singer who sang for the bands Buster Brown, Montrose, King Kobra, Wild Horses, Northrup, Royal Jelly and is best known as the second lead singer of the rock band Foreigner.

Biography

Edwards' first band of note was Buster Brown from Louisville, Kentucky. Together with drummer James Kottak, who had joined the group for their 1985 sophomore album, Sign of Victory, Edwards was recruited by guitarist Ronnie Montrose to appear on his 1987 album, Mean.

With Northrup not making any progress and a deal with Enigma Records falling apart, Edwards joined former Buster Brown and Montrose bandmate James Kottak, fresh out of Kingdom Come, and Kingdom Come guitarist Rick Steier in a new band called Wild Horses, championed by producer Keith Olsen. However, Edwards would end up leaving the band before their first album after receiving an offer to join Foreigner.

Mick Jones, the founding member, lead guitarist, and main songwriter of Foreigner had been at home recovering from having the flu. Jones was in the process of listening to audition tapes of various singers to replace the newly departed Lou Gramm when he came upon a cassette of Johnny Edwards. Upon hearing the demo tape, he jumped out of bed and shouted out, "This is it!", referring to Edwards as Jones' choice as Foreigner's new lead singer.

In a 2004 interview Jeff "JK" Northrup, Edwards' old bandmate and friend, discussed receiving an offer to record a new rock album with Edwards as vocalist. Edwards declined, choosing to remain outside music. Paul Shortino assumed lead vocals on the project. Edwards still contributed songwriting and co-lead vocals for two tracks on the album Afterlife, issued in 2004 on MTM Music.

Edwards made another guest vocal appearance on JK Northrup's 2007 album, Wired In My Skin providing lead vocals on the title track.

Edwards and Northrup also can be heard playing and singing together on two compilation rock albums released by the MelodicRock Records label and website.

Discography

With Buster Brown Loud and Clear (1984) Sign of Victory (1985)

With Montrose Mean (1987)

With King Kobra King Kobra III (1988)

With Foreigner Unusual Heat (1991)

With Royal Jelly Royal Jelly (1994)

With JK Northrup JK Northrup (2001)

With Shortino/Northrup Afterlife (2004) (vocals on two songs)

With JK Northrup Wired In My Skin (2007) (vocals on title track)

With Bleu Phonque Bleu Phonque (2018)