Jon Johnston

Jon Johnston, whose full name was John D. Johnston, was a Canadian singer and songwriter associated with Toronto’s independent Badger Records label during the mid-1970s.

Johnston’s relationship with Badger appears to have begun by 1974, when the label announced that a record by him was forthcoming. His first presently documented single appeared the following year, pairing ‘Baby (I’m Falling in Love with You)’ with ‘Brother of the Road’. The recording was produced by Jerry Toth and Bobby Griffith and recorded at Zaza Sound in Toronto.

The single’s material came from outside writers: ‘Baby (I’m Falling in Love with You)’ was composed by David Bailey, while ‘Brother of the Road’ was written by Bobby G. Griffith. Johnston soon developed as a songwriter in his own right, however, and his subsequent releases increasingly featured original material.

Later in 1975, he released ‘Jon’s Song’ with ‘Rainin’ on Toronto’, followed in 1976 by ‘Canadian Summer’ and ‘Jacqui Is a Lady’. ‘Canadian Summer’ became his most visible recording, receiving regional chart activity and airplay from Canadian stations in Ontario and Western Canada. Contemporary press coverage identified Johnston as the writer and performer of both songs on the record.

Johnston’s recordings were closely connected with Badger Records, Zaza Sound and Toronto composer and producer Paul J. Zaza. Badger was based in Weston, Ontario, and entered into a national manufacturing and distribution arrangement with Quality Records in 1975.

By 1977, Johnston’s music had moved increasingly toward country and country-pop. ‘Thank God for the Man’, backed with ‘Manitoba (Just Short of Nashville)’, featured two Johnston compositions and was produced by Paul J. Zaza at Zaza Sound Studios. His final presently documented release, ‘Lovin’ Ya Girl Tonight’ backed with ‘What Am I Going to Do?’, also appeared on Badger in 1977 and received Canadian airplay.

-Robert Williston