William L. Johnson's mission rises above the fame and fortune that usually rewards a successful music/acting career. His goal is to reinvest the majority of his earnings into a structured business that supports the advancement of the urban community. By spreading the message of self-reliance and providing opportunities to qualified individuals from disadvantage backgrounds, he hopes to break the cycle that keeps generations impoverished.
William Johnson may be seen in over twenty film projects and has already generated a buzz on the underground circuit from anxious fans awaiting his national exposure. His upcoming feature Destroy the Light, directed by Preston Whitmore III and starring Boris Kodjoe, and Giancarlo Esposito, may prove to be the spark that ignites his mainstream popularity.
He has held starring and prominent roles in theatrically released projects. His performance as a lead in director Craig Ross' Blue Hill Avenue helped the movie garner top honors at the Acapulco and Black Hollywood film festivals. Johnson also starred in the independent production Sweet Oranges and was featured in Ross' Motive starring Shemar Moore, Vivica Fox, Golden Brooks, and Victoria Rowell.
Johnson's acting diversity has been displayed in several independent short films and features such as Move, Wanted: Soulful Energy Xchange with Gary Dourdan and Mari Morrow, director Tony Spires' Two Degrees starring Don "DC' Curry, and Nikita Blues from Foremost Entertainment. He also performed a scene-stealing role in Showtime's A Spider's Web with Stephen Baldwin and Carrie Weir.
Equally important to Johnson is his passion to deliver conscious messages through his music via his stage persona "Brotha Bill". Brotha Bill's essence is a lyrical flow that sets him apart from other neo-soul artists. Those who have experienced his fusion of poetic verse and energetic R&B funk are sure to cherish the kinetic vibe in their own home. His CD contains uptempo songs as wells as succulent cuts that feed the desire for real, soulful music.
Upon relocating to Los Angeles in 1998 Johnson quickly gained a name for himself as a very talented and versatile actor starring in films that have won accolades at top film festivals. Claiming Gary, Indiana and Chicago, Illinois as hometowns, Johnson has steadily improved his craft in the Los Angeles entertainment scene for the past six years. His music career was spawned at an early age upon matriculation to Emerson Visual and Performing Arts High School. Soon after graduation he formed a group, Black to Black, which was nurtured by notable manager Jimmy Newton. In 1999, Johnson and prominent producer/engineer Booker T. Jones conceived BaldHeadDread, which garnered significant exposure when they scored the movie soundtrack for Ragdoll. Both projects were stepping stones to help him launch his solo venture.
