Songwriter of the Year

Johntá Austin

"It is my extreme pleasure and honor to be named Songwriter of the Year at this year's R&S Awards. I remember being in NYC a few years ago and seeing another Atlanta-based songwriter, Kandi Burruss, take home this exceptional acclaim. I am proud to have my name listed along with Kandi, and the many other wonderful songwriters who have accepted this award. I feel especially privileged to share the award this year with Jermaine Dupri and the Queen herself, Ms. Mary J. Blige. These two are not only icons who are constantly raising the musical bar, but dear friends as well. I am grateful for the producers and artists that have taken me seriously as a songwriter. And I am grateful to ASCAP for having built an organization that continues to be the leading and most appropriate home for composers, authors, and publishers. A completed song is its own sweet reward. This award however, makes the completion that much sweeter." – Johntá

For nearly a decade, songwriter/arranger/producer/vocalist Johntá Austin has pursued his goal of making music that stands the test of time. He has consistently hit his mark, writing and/or performing such hit songs as "Just Be a Man (About It)," for Toni Braxton, "Miss You (I Miss You)," for Aaliyah, "We Belong Together" for Mariah Carey and many more. Johntá's list of successful works continues to grow with this year's winning songs, "Be Without You," "Don't Forget About Us" and "Yo (Excuse Me Miss)," for which ASCAP is proud to present him with the Rhythm and Soul Songwriter of the Year Award.

Aspiring child actor and church choir singer Johntá landed his first gig at age 12 as the co-host of a CNN children's television show called Real News for Kids. His work on the program caught the attention of late night talk show host Arsenio Hall, who invited him to be a guest on his show. When Johntá revealed his desire to be a professional singer, Arsenio urged the boy to sing with the show's band, a challenge that Johntá immediately accepted.

Although the Arsenio experience lead to a record deal offer from RCA in 1994, the 13-year-old Johntá quickly discovered that he was more interested in songwriting. He wrote lyrics for the song "Sweet Lady," performed by Tyrese on his debut album, which became a Top Ten hit in 1998, before Johntá had even graduated from his performing arts high school. The song also earned him his first-ever ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Award. Johntá subsequently joined with Atlanta-based Noontime Management, which has been assisting him and his career ever since.

After the success of "Sweet Lady," Johntá was flooded with opportunities to work with numerous superstars, including Mariah Carey, Toni Braxton, Ginuwine, Aaliyah, Faith Evans, B2K, Ciara, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia and Mario. In 2005, he joined forces with superstar writer/producer Jermaine Dupri. After collaborating on several songwriting projects with Dupri, including writing much of Janet Jackson's 20 Y.O. album, and performing as a guest artist on Jermaine's 2005 single, "Gotta Getcha," the two of them began working on Johntá's debut album, Ocean Drive.

Johntá started off 2006 by winning a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song, for co-writing the smash Mariah Carey hit, "We Belong Together," with Jermaine. He co-wrote Mary J. Blige's single, "Be Without You," from her #1 selling album, The Breakthrough. And he enjoyed continued success with the hits "Don't Forget About Us," "Like You," "Shake It Off" and "Yo (Excuse Me Miss)." His own single, "Turn It Up (featuring Jadakiss)" from his Ocean Drive album, generated heat of its own.

Johntá shared the Songwriter of the Year honor with Jermaine Dupri at ASCAP's Pop Music Awards earlier this year. The fact that such a young writer could rise so quickly to share such an honor with one of the industry's leading writer/producers is a testament to his incredible talent and drive. In a career just over a decade long, Johntá Austin's musical gifts have stood the test of time, and we look forward to hearing what he will create in the years to come.


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