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Sam Jonathan Johnson's new single,

“Let’s Ride Together” featuring TheOwnlyHope

is available everywhere!

  • Amazon
  • Apple Music
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Sam Jonathan Johnson is the composer, musician and producer of his fun, romantic song, “Let’s Ride Together”. The song features Johnson's son, TheOwnlyHope (a.k.a. former Def Jam artist Mic Little) on vocals/rap and introduces Kado Thorne with a rap verse.

"I was playing a mid-tempo R&B groove on the piano one day and I envisioned two strangers meeting in the mall who immediately became infatuated with each other. As I imagined them interacting, the musical flow made me go into a “Rhapsody in Blue” kinda vibe...Gershwin."- Sam Jonathan Johnson

“Let’s Ride Together” is available for download and streaming worldwide on all major platforms. 

About the Artists

Sam Jonathan Johnson began playing the organ at the age of fourteen, without any music lessons, at the E. 17th St. C.O.G.I.C. in Des Moines, IA, where his mother was the choir director and pianist. After serving with the Army in Vietnam, the Purple Heart recipient formed an inspirational, secular singing group called Spontaneous Combustion that performed across New York City and opened for acts such as The Jackson Five.

Sam Jonathan Johnson in the studio

©️ 2024 Sam Jonathan Johnson

Johnson’s style of musical composition garnered the attention of John Hammond, the father of the music industry, who signed him to a record deal. Under his full name, Samuel Jonathan Johnson, his debut album, My Music, was released in Europe by Columbia Records in 1978. Shortly thereafter, his plans abruptly changed when his mother was given six months to live. Additionally, due to a worldwide oil embargo, record labels prioritized their established artists' products, and his album was shelved as a result! He reluctantly asked to be released from his contract so he could stay at his mother's bedside.

Miraculously, Johnson’s mother recovered and lived an additional nineteen years which inspired him to return to his church roots. He later performed as a freelance musician and singer with artists across the country such as Glenn Goins of Quazar, Norman Conners and Sherry Winston.

More than twenty years after My Music was released, the album gained notoriety when a sample from the title song was used in the 2001 hit, “We Gonna Make It”, by Jadakiss featuring Styles P. Since then, several songs from My Music have been sampled by many prominent producers including DJ Jazzy Jeff, 9th Wonder and Big Sean.

In 2023, "My Music" appeared in the Sundance Film Festival award winning A. V. Rockwell film, A Thousand and One, starring Teyana Taylor.

Sam Jonathan Johnson is ready for his next chapter of composing and producing new music for the world, beginning with “Let’s Ride Together”.

 

 

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© 2024 TheOwnlyHope

TheOwnlyHope is the former eleven-year-old Def Jam recording artist known as Mic Little from the Billboard Top 100 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Song, “Put It in a Letter”, featuring Grammy Award winning singer, Ne-Yo, in 2007. His work as a writer, arranger and producer has been featured with prominent artists such as Bad Bunny, Tory Lanez, Fridayy and Maverick City. He co-produced Eladio Carrión’s 2023 song, “Air France” from the Grammy nominated album 3MEN2 KBRN

TheOwnlyHope is currently creating new music for a solo EP, in addition to several upcoming collaborations.

© 2025 Actualized Productions 

All Rights Reserved

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