Assistant Music Director and Principal Accompanist, New York City Gay Men's Chorus (1984-1996)
Music Director, New York City Gay Men's Chorus Chamber Choir

B.A. cum laude in Music and Political Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
M.Mus. in Composition, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Principal teachers:
Robert Porco (conducting)
Roger Hannay (composition)
Maury Yeston and Ed Kleban (BMI Composer/Lyricist Workshop)

Described by Variety as "a leading figure in the worldwide gay and lesbian choral movement, and a popular accompanist and musical director in the cabaret world," Dean X Johnson served as assistant music director of the New York City Gay Men's Chorus from 1984 to 1996. He was its principal accompanist and the music director of the NYCGMC Chamber Choir. In December 1993 he conducted the chorus in two full evenings at Carnegie Hall, and at Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and on two European tours. In 1993 he led the NYCGMC on a recording of "The Day After That" with Liza Minelli. Under Johnson's direction the NYCGMC Chamber Choir was seen on MTV with Downtown Julie Brown, Entertainment Tonight, and Charles Kurault's Sunday Morning on CBS.

"Dean had extraordinary gifts for improvisation and good humor," says Gary Miller, musical director of the Gay Men's Chorus. "He knew every trick in the book to make us sound like a million dollars."

Johnson's compositions have been performed by more than 70 gay and lesbian choruses across North America. His Song of Martina, a short opera on the life of Martina Navratilova, had its Carnegie Hall premiere in March 1995 with lesbian comic Lea Delaria in the title role. Johnson received an NEA grant for his opera East River Bridge, commissioned for the Brooklyn Bridge Centennial. His Commemoration Anthem was performed at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts by the combined choirs of the University of North Carolina, and his disco song "Clappin' My Way To Disco Heaven" was made into a video.

He conducted the prestigious Oto Yurikago Kai Children's Choir in Tokyo and the chorus of the American Express Goodwill Tour in Singapore and Hong Kong, and was conductor for the European and African tour of West Side Story with the American Dance Machine. He was music director for the first prize-winning U.S. entry at the International Festival of Short Plays at Arezzo, Italy.

Johnson accompanied Eartha Kitt at the Piccadilly Theatre in London and Carnegie Hall in New York; Chita Rivera and Fred Ebb in New York; the Incomparable Hildegarde at Rainbow and Stars; Elaine Stritch, Nancy Dussault and Debbie Shapiro Gravitte at Avery Fisher Hall; Stockard Channing, Marni Nixon, Holly Near, Frederica von Stade, Roberta Peters, Jim Bailey, Kurt Ollman and Joyce Castle at Carnegie Hall; Margaret Whiting and Jack Wrangler at the Ballroom; Greta at Hayman Island, Australia and at New York's Chez Regine; les nuits americaines in Paris; and "thousands" of cabaret acts. He appeared on Broadway as a German boy in Jerome Kern's Music in the Air with E. G. Marshall and Patrice Munsell.

Johnson held a Bachelor of Arts cum laude and a Master of Music degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he studied conducting with Robert Porco and composition with Roger Hannay. He was a member of the BMI Composer/Lyricist Workshop under Maury Yeston, composer of Nine, and Ed Kleban, lyricist of A Chorus Line.

He was also an Eagle Scout.

— Yelton Rhodes Music (www.yrmusic.com)

WORKS:

OPERA

East River Bridge
Opera
date: unknown
note: Commissioned for the Brooklyn Bridge Centennial, with support from the NEA

Song of Martina
An opera on the life of Martina Navratilova
date: 1995
premiere: Lea Delaria in title role, Carnegie Hall, New York, March 1995

CHORAL
Lyrics by the composer except where indicated

All of Us
for: TTBB and piano 4-hands
date: 1994
duration: 5:00
published: Yelton Rhodes Music

All the Good You Left Behind
for: TTBB, English horn and piano
date: 1997
lyrics: Mark Fuschetti
duration: 5:15
published: Yelton Rhodes Music

Can't Wait!
for: TTBB and piano 4-hands
date: 1996
duration: 2:45
published: Yelton Rhodes Music

Commemoration Anthem
for: SATB
date: 1981

Credo
for: TTBB and piano (optional 4-hands)
date: 1995
duration: 2:30
published: Yelton Rhodes Music

Deep River
arrangement for: TTBB
date: 1994
duration: 3:00
published: Yelton Rhodes Music

Free to Love
for: TTBB and piano 4-hands
date: 1993
duration: 5:30
published: Yelton Rhodes Music
recorded: Cincinnati Men's Chorus, Damon B. Stevens and Russell Peguero-Winters, piano (1998).

Joyful and Triumphant!
for: TTBB and piano 4-hands, optional timpani (3) and crash cymbal
date: 1992
lyrics: Jeff Baron
duration: 4:30
published: Yelton Rhodes Music

Making Spirits Bright
for: TTBB and piano
date: 1993
duration: 9:00
published: Yelton Rhodes Music

Music
Music and lyrics composed and/or arranged by Dean X Johnson
for: TTBB and piano with optional brass, orchestral bells and timpani
date: 1994
duration: 3:00
published: Yelton Rhodes Music

So Glad!
for: TTBB and piano 4-hands
date: 1997
duration: 4:25
published: Yelton Rhodes Music

Strong Beautiful Women
for: SSAA and piano 4-hands
date: 1997
duration: 4:00
published: Yelton Rhodes Music

Waken!
for: antiphonal TTBB choruses and piano 4-hands; optional timpani and crash cymbal
date: 1995
duration: 3:45
published: Yelton Rhodes Music

Waking the World with Song
for: two TTBB or SATB antiphonal choirs and optional synthesizer
date: 1992
duration: 5:00
published: Yelton Rhodes Music

We Live
for: TTBB and piano 4-hands
date: 1989
duration: 4:00
published: Yelton Rhodes Music
performed: Gateway Men's Chorus of St. Louis, Georgia Tech Performing Arts Center, Atlanta, GA June 18, 1994

Welcome! Sing, Be Merry!
for: TTBB and piano, with optional handbells (4) and double bass
date: 1986
duration: 3:00
published: Yelton Rhodes Music
recorded: Boston Gay Men's Chorus, AFKA Records SK-432 (1994, 1996).

You Will Live On
for: TTBB and piano 4-hands
date: 1995
duration: 4:30
published: Yelton Rhodes Music

SONGS

Clappin' My Way to Disco Heaven (disco single)

ARRANGEMENTS

Christmas Brunch
for: TTBB, SATB, or SSAA
tune: "Away In a Manger"
words: Craig Sturgis
date: 1992
duration: 3:00
published: Yelton Rhodes Music
performed: Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus, Emory University, Atlanta, GA December 16-18, 1994

Coming Out on Christmas
for: TTBB, SATB, or SSAA
date: 1992
tune: "Hark the Herald Angels Sing"
words: Craig Sturgis
duration: 3:00
published: Yelton Rhodes Music
performed: Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus, Emory University, Atlanta, GA December 16-18, 1994

Lo! How A Rose E'er Blooming
arrangement for: TTBB and piano, or TTBB, harp and vibraphone
date: 1986
duration: 6:00
published: Yelton Rhodes Music
recorded:
Windy City Gay Gay Chorus, Windy City Performing Arts (1991).
Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, (label?) (1996)

Six Short Spirituals
Six rare Christmas spirituals; arranged by Dean X Johnson and Anthony Shenton
arrangement for: TTBB or SATB and piano
date: 1993
duration: 8:00
published: Yelton Rhodes Music

Silent Night
Music and words by Franz Grüber
arrangement for: TTBB and piano
date: 1992
duration: 5:30
published: Yelton Rhodes Music

Sweet By and By
arrangement for: TTBB
date: 1991
duration: 4:40
published: Yelton Rhodes Music

Wexford Carol
arrangement for: TTBB and piano
date: 1993
duration: 3:40
published: Yelton Rhodes Music

UNCOMPLETED WORKS:
Unknown

WRITINGS:
Unknown

DISCOGRAPHY:

AS COMPOSER
"Welcome! Sing, Be Merry!," Boston Gay Men's Chorus, Robert Barney, conductor, Boston Gay Men's Chorus: Freedom, Merriment & Joy, AFKA Records SK-432 (1994, 1996). "Free to Love," Cincinnati Men's Chorus, Damon B. Stevens and Russell Peguero-Winters, piano, Naked Man: A Journey to the Soul, Cincinnati Men's Chorus cassette (1998).

AS ARRANGER
"Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming," Windy City Gay Chorus, Windy City Gay Chorus: Don We Now — Holiday Favorites, Windy City Performing Arts CD (1991).
"Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming," Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, Don We Now... (label?) (1996).

AS PERFORMER
Love Lives On, New York City Gay Men's Chorus, Dean X Johnson, keyboard, Virgin Records 91647 (1991). (Also co-writing credit on "Tuxedo Junction").
Christmas Comes Anew, New York City Gay Men's Chorus, Dean X Johnson, piano, Virgin Records 91647 (1991). (Some of the arrangements may be his).
"Before Stonewall" by Tom Wilson Weinberg, New York City Gay Men's Chorus Chamber Choir, Dean X Johnson, conductor, Don't Mess with Mary: The Official CD of Stonewall 25, Aboveground Records AR107CD (1994).

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

• "Dean X Johnson," (obituary), Variety (January 19-25, 1998).
• "Dean X Johnson," obituary by Christine Dinsmore, The Washington Blade (January 23, 1998).
• "Dean X Johnson," obituary by Scott Hess, Poz Magazine (June 1998).

PERFORMING RIGHTS AFFILIATION:
Unknown

RESOURCES:
Yelton Rhodes Music
1717 N. Ogden Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90046-2129
1-888-4yrmusic
www.yrmusic.com

MUSICAL EXECUTOR:
Cathy R. Johnson (sister)
1 Claymore Drive
#25-02 Orchard Towers
Singapore 229594
(65) 6836-9515 (home)
panjohnson@pacific.net.sg
(65) 6547-2698 (work)
cjohnson@globalsources.com

OTHER CONTACTS:
Unknown