Joan Embrey Johnson grew up in Newark, New Jersey, with parents, grandparents and other relatives
with music backgrounds. She was exposed to all kinds of music, growing up, as she had a grandmother
who sang opera, a grandfather, known as Mr. Nostalgia, who recorded for RCA records and performed in
clubs all over the world, an aunt who played gospel for and toured with the Clara Ward Singers and a
childhood that allowed her to see and often meet many of the greats, like Dinah Washington, Sarah
Vaughn, Billie Eckstein, The Ink Spots, all of whom performed in Newark and nearby New York. The
Apollo Theater was one of her major haunts.
She married and had five children, took herself back to school where she earned a B.A. Degree, in
Psychology, from Upsala College, East Orange, New Jersey and an M.A., in Psychology, from Antioch
University, Washington, D.C.
Ms. Embrey-Johnson worked as a paralegal, paralegal supervisor, litigation coordinator and
administrative law specialist for many years. However, music was always a part of her life.
She was a competitive roller skater, in dance and figures, as were her children and her father. The
family competed all over the country, winning many titles and enjoying the challenge of competition and
the beauty of the sport. Ms. Embrey-Johnson eventually obtained a judges commission and judged
competitions as well.
As is the case with many performers, Ms. Embrey-Johnson sang in the school glee club and church
choirs, from a very early age. She sang doo wops with friends and was offered a contract during her teen
years. She chose to remain in school.
Eventually, she began to do club dates, with a friend of hers who had a band and performed at a number
of venues, in New York and New Jersey, such as the Peppermint Lounge, Windows on World’s Best Little
Bar in New York, La Detente, Chez Josephine and others, prior to moving to Arizona.
Since moving to Arizona, she has been a featured soloist with the George Chelena Chorale, a 50
member, a cappella ensemble that performed big band music in many venues in the Valley, including
Glendale Glitters and the Sun Dome; has sung with the Westbrook Choristers for several years and has
performed at Bobby C’s, the String Chemistry Café, Club Central, the Glendale Gaslight Inn, the PERA
Club, SRP events and many other venues throughout the Valley of the Sun.
with music backgrounds. She was exposed to all kinds of music, growing up, as she had a grandmother
who sang opera, a grandfather, known as Mr. Nostalgia, who recorded for RCA records and performed in
clubs all over the world, an aunt who played gospel for and toured with the Clara Ward Singers and a
childhood that allowed her to see and often meet many of the greats, like Dinah Washington, Sarah
Vaughn, Billie Eckstein, The Ink Spots, all of whom performed in Newark and nearby New York. The
Apollo Theater was one of her major haunts.
She married and had five children, took herself back to school where she earned a B.A. Degree, in
Psychology, from Upsala College, East Orange, New Jersey and an M.A., in Psychology, from Antioch
University, Washington, D.C.
Ms. Embrey-Johnson worked as a paralegal, paralegal supervisor, litigation coordinator and
administrative law specialist for many years. However, music was always a part of her life.
She was a competitive roller skater, in dance and figures, as were her children and her father. The
family competed all over the country, winning many titles and enjoying the challenge of competition and
the beauty of the sport. Ms. Embrey-Johnson eventually obtained a judges commission and judged
competitions as well.
As is the case with many performers, Ms. Embrey-Johnson sang in the school glee club and church
choirs, from a very early age. She sang doo wops with friends and was offered a contract during her teen
years. She chose to remain in school.
Eventually, she began to do club dates, with a friend of hers who had a band and performed at a number
of venues, in New York and New Jersey, such as the Peppermint Lounge, Windows on World’s Best Little
Bar in New York, La Detente, Chez Josephine and others, prior to moving to Arizona.
Since moving to Arizona, she has been a featured soloist with the George Chelena Chorale, a 50
member, a cappella ensemble that performed big band music in many venues in the Valley, including
Glendale Glitters and the Sun Dome; has sung with the Westbrook Choristers for several years and has
performed at Bobby C’s, the String Chemistry Café, Club Central, the Glendale Gaslight Inn, the PERA
Club, SRP events and many other venues throughout the Valley of the Sun.
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