Molly Johnson is a celebrated figure in Canada. A singer, songwriter, TV host, and founder of the rock band Alta Moda, Molly has made a significant impact on the development of music not only in Toronto but across the entire country. Learn more about her life and fascinating career in this article on toronto-trend.
How It All Began
Molly Johnson was born in Toronto in 1959. Her musical career began in childhood when producer Edward Mirvish cast her in the opera Porgy and Bess. Her debut on the stage of Toronto’s Royal Alexandra Theatre led to her participation in musical productions like South Pacific and Finian’s Rainbow.
As a child, Molly dreamed of becoming a choreographer and studied at Canada’s National Ballet School for over 15 years. Eventually, she realized she wanted more: fame and recognition. She shifted her focus to music and became the lead vocalist for the disco group Billy Reed and the Street People. By the late 1970s, Johnson had started writing her own songs.
Collaborations Leading to Success
In 1979, Molly Johnson and Norman Orenstein founded the rock band Alta Moda, which quickly gained popularity in Canada. Molly, along with her co-founder Norman, formed the core of the group. Her enchanting and powerful vocals earned her the title of “Diva of Queen Street.”
One of the band’s most successful songs, Julian, was nominated for a Juno Award, propelling the group to unprecedented success and popularity.
In 1990, Molly and Norman Orenstein created another band, Infidels. While working on these two projects, Molly lived at the Cameron Public House, a bohemian hotel on Queen Street, where she met musicians Herb Tookey and Bill Grove. She hosted popular jazz nights, known as Blue Mondays, with pianist Aaron Davis and bassist David Piltch.
The trio, named Blue Monday, occasionally performed outside the Cameron Public House in various Toronto venues. One of their most notable gigs was at the Imperial Room of the Royal York Hotel.
In 1992, both of Molly’s bands disbanded, prompting her to pursue a solo career.
Finding Herself as a Solo Artist
After leaving her bands, Molly Johnson took a break from performing. In 1993, she returned to the stage with solo concerts, featuring jingles in her repertoire. During one such performance, she met Toronto-based composer and producer Steven MacKinnon.
MacKinnon proposed a collaboration, and together they began crafting new songs. In 2000, Molly released her self-titled debut album. This marked the start of a Canadian tour, during which fans warmly embraced her music. Critics lauded her exceptional vocal talent.
The album’s first two singles, My Oh My and Diamond in My Hand, garnered over 9,000 plays on Canadian radio in their release year. Molly’s popularity grew even further when her album was introduced in France, featuring songs by French jazz legend Stéphane Grappelli. This propelled her to international stardom.
From her first release, Molly Johnson achieved great success as a songwriter and a modern interpreter of jazz music. Her subsequent albums also received critical acclaim internationally.
Molly continued touring across Europe and earned a significant fan base in France. She performed in Canada’s largest concert halls and appeared on Bravo’s Live at the Rehearsal Hall.
No Canadian jazz festival was complete without Molly Johnson’s participation. In 2008, she became the host of the CBC Radio 2 Morning show on CBC.
In 2011, Molly released her final album, The Molly Johnson Songbook, which featured her greatest hits.
Molly Johnson’s career, marked by her unique voice, songwriting talent, and love for jazz, continues to inspire audiences in Canada and beyond. As Toronto’s jazz queen, she remains a symbol of the city’s rich cultural heritage.
