Johnny Bristol (born John William Bristol on 3 February 1939 in Morganton, … Read Full Bio ↴Johnny Bristol (born John William Bristol on 3 February 1939 in Morganton, North Carolina, USA - 21 March 2004), was an African American musician, most famous as a songwriter and record producer for Motown Records in the 1960s and early 1970s.
Bristol and singing partner Jackey Beavers recorded two singles in 1959 for Anna Records, a label owned by Gwen Gordy (Berry Gordy's sister) and Billy Davis and four 45s for Gwen Gordy and Harvey Fuqua's Tri-Phi label, none of which was a success beyond the Midwestern United States.
Recorded in the early 1960s for Harvey Fuqua's Tri-Phi label in Detroit, Michigan as "Johnny & Jackey". When Tri-Phi was absorbed by Motown in the mid-1960s, Bristol became Fuqua's songwriting and production partner, working on material for Motown artists such as Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell ("If I Could Build My Whole World Around You"), Edwin Starr ("Twenty-Five Miles"), David Ruffin ("My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me"), and others. On his own, Bristol produced hits such as "Someday We'll Be Together" for Diana Ross and the Supremes and "I Don't Want to Do Wrong" and "Daddy Could Swear, I Declare" for Gladys Knight and the Pips.
When Motown left Detroit for Los Angeles in 1972, Bristol moved over to MGM Records, where he resumed his career as a recording artist. He released several successful R&B hits, among them "You and I" (1974), and "Leave My World" (1975), as well as the top ten pop hit "Hang In There Baby" (1974). Bristol continued his career a a solo artist and an independent producer into the early 1990s. Bristol's last releases were a 12" single in 1991 for Whichway Records, "Come to Me", and an album, Life & Love, released for the Japanese market in 1993. The latter included Earth, Wind & Fire's "That's The Way I Feel About You" as a duet with his daughter, Shanna J. Bristol. The album received a US release three years later under the title Come To Me.
He died at the age of 65 in his home in Michigan in 2004.
Bristol and singing partner Jackey Beavers recorded two singles in 1959 for Anna Records, a label owned by Gwen Gordy (Berry Gordy's sister) and Billy Davis and four 45s for Gwen Gordy and Harvey Fuqua's Tri-Phi label, none of which was a success beyond the Midwestern United States.
Recorded in the early 1960s for Harvey Fuqua's Tri-Phi label in Detroit, Michigan as "Johnny & Jackey". When Tri-Phi was absorbed by Motown in the mid-1960s, Bristol became Fuqua's songwriting and production partner, working on material for Motown artists such as Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell ("If I Could Build My Whole World Around You"), Edwin Starr ("Twenty-Five Miles"), David Ruffin ("My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me"), and others. On his own, Bristol produced hits such as "Someday We'll Be Together" for Diana Ross and the Supremes and "I Don't Want to Do Wrong" and "Daddy Could Swear, I Declare" for Gladys Knight and the Pips.
When Motown left Detroit for Los Angeles in 1972, Bristol moved over to MGM Records, where he resumed his career as a recording artist. He released several successful R&B hits, among them "You and I" (1974), and "Leave My World" (1975), as well as the top ten pop hit "Hang In There Baby" (1974). Bristol continued his career a a solo artist and an independent producer into the early 1990s. Bristol's last releases were a 12" single in 1991 for Whichway Records, "Come to Me", and an album, Life & Love, released for the Japanese market in 1993. The latter included Earth, Wind & Fire's "That's The Way I Feel About You" as a duet with his daughter, Shanna J. Bristol. The album received a US release three years later under the title Come To Me.
He died at the age of 65 in his home in Michigan in 2004.
What Does It Take
Johnny Bristol Lyrics
What does it take to win your love for me?
How can I make this dream come true for me?
Oh, I just got to know,
Oh, baby, 'cause I love you so,
Gonna blow for you
I've tried, I've tried, I've tried,
I've tried in every way
I could to make you see how much I love you
Oh, I thought you understood
So you gotta make me see,
What does it take to win your love for me?
How can I make this dream come true for me?
Oh, I just got to know,
Oh, baby, 'cause I love you so,
Gonna blow for you
I've tried, I've tried, I've tried,
I've tried in every way
I could to make you see how much I love you
Oh, I thought you understood
What does it take to win your love for me?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Johnny William Bristol, Vernon Bullock, Harvey Fuqua
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
Susan Smith
Take me back to when music was awesome and people like this man could really sing x
Melissa Jeremiah
hearing this reminds me of standing on daddys feet while him and mom danced around the room what a happy memory, thanks to a very gifted voice a talent gone far too soon
soul rnb
Amen ! Sir - We Salute You Mr Bristol for the Soul Music you left us .
grooverunner
So many great versions of this modern day classic, love the version by Garland Jeffries.
The Yellow Cursor
thanks I added garlands version to my playlist. this and Jr's letterman appearance is pretty stllar.
penny banks
Mr . Johnny Bristol is the "Originator" of this "Soulful" sound. And many, many others.....Songwriter, Producer, and Artist. He was born to do music......
mrbillhicks
The definitive version of this song is Junior Walker's but it would seem that no one can make a bad version of it... Simply put, it's just a great tune
tubellergr23
Agree. An enormous song. No matter whom.
goldyntuch
Truly love him.Sent from God.
Karla Gordy Bristol
Wow. that's a special comment. Nice I agree