Ski Johnson

Donald Mitchell “Ski” Johnson (Born. October 28th, 1966) is an American jazz Saxophonist, producer, Record Executive and entrepreneur. He is the CEO of SJ Enterprises, LLC a marketing firm, Wide-A-Wake Record Label and the Director/Founder of the Brands the Sax Machine and the Ski Johnson Golf Apparel and casual wear. All company's fall under the umbrella of SJ Enterprises, LLC. He is additionally the creator of an Organization “Jazz for Life Foundation”, which brings about awareness of the cancer Epidemic, he started the organization after losing his parents to cancer.
==Personal Life and Education==
Born in Washington, DC, he lives with his 17-year-old daughter named Skylar Johnson, in Potomac, MD, But he suffered from the disease alopecia at 12 years of age, as a result, he lost his Hair and was bullied tremendously being called as "Skee-Ball head." Johnson shortened and embraced that nickname.
He attended Duke Ellington School of Arts for graduation. After his formative education, Johnson studied music at Virginia Commonwealth University and followed that experience by attending Howard University.
==Musical Career==
In 1988, while attending Howard University Ski Johnson started Wide-A-Wake Records with Larry Toye and Malcolm Alexander and released his first Album “Ski Johnson and Friends on the Rise”. Which Featured Grammy Nominated Pianist Marc Cary and others. The Album was an instant Hit and was played on over 400 Radio Stations throughout the country. Followed by the release “Following a Rainbow” in 1989, both the albums gain heavy rotation on the WHUR RADIO in Washington DC.
In 1990 Ski Johnson release his first Live Album “Ski Johnson Live” and Started Producing and Sighing Rap and R&B acts to his Wide-A-Wake Records Label. That same year, after years on Washington's supper club and festival circuit, Johnson gained a measure of national exposure by joining R & B vocalist Brian McKnight and Walter Beasley on tour. Together with his band, he went on to tours with musicians like the Harper Brothers, Lo-Key, Freddie Jackson, Patti LaBelle, and more, all over the world.
His album “Ski's Supreme”, released in 2000, featured Singers Tony Terry, Roy Ayers, Alyson Williams and Comic Huggy Low Down.
In 2004 Ski Johnson Released “Welcome to My World” and Album Cover was featured in scenes in the Movie XXX2: State of the union with actors Samuel Jackson and Ice Cube.
In 2008, Ski Johnson released New Beginnings and the album hit #1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Charts and spent over 6 weeks on the Billboard Charts. The album features notable musicians such as producer Antone “Chooky" Caldwell and Earth, Wind and Fire ‘s producer Paul Minor. Dedicated to the American Cancer Society. Also, the “Underdogs on Top” released in 2012 peaked at #3 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz charts and spent over 4 weeks on the Billboard charts. 
In 2015 Ski Johnson released “Shake it like you mean it” featuring 3 times Grammy Winner Producer Deezle. In 2021 Ski Johnson Released his highly anticipated hit Album JAZZ For Life, produced by Songwriter Chilly Ed Beats featuring award-winning vocalists Emerald Khan, PhillinMe and Chilly Ed Beats.
==Legal Issues==
In 2015, a jury convicted Johnson of wire fraud and sentenced him to five years’ probation, including six months of house arrest. He reportedly claimed to be a Grammy-nominated artist and lodging expenses several times between 2011 and 2014, according to federal prosecutors.
According to federal prosecutors, In May 2012, Johnson called Barb Rooney, Vice President of the Big Sky Resort in Montana. Johnson contacted him under the alias Kevin Wright, identified himself as Johnson’s manager, a Grammy-nominated musician. Johnson offered two Grammy tickets to be auctioned off and he would donate a free Performance at the fundraiser organized by Big Brothers and Big Sisters and sending an Email on 1 day to a Big brothers Charity in Montana requesting for payment for a pair or Grammy tickets that Johnson paid for from the Recording Academy. Though Big Brother Big Sisters Never sent Johnson the money for the Tickets and Performed for free, he was charged with Wire Fraud. The courts ruled that because the tickets say on the back that they are non-Transferable. (“BBBS”).
==Critical reception==
* Recording Academy 5 Year Recognition Award 2016 
* The Mandela Award for Outstanding Business Services 2013 
* Congressional Leadership and Outstanding Commitment to community service award 2015 
* Cadillac Award 2013 Boys Town Executive Director Award 2013 VIP events Concierge Musician of the Year 2015.
==Making History==
February 3, 2014, Ski Johnson made history becoming the first Saxophone Player to perform at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Closing Bell.
==Discography==
Year	Title
1988	Ski Johnson and Friends on the Rise
1989	Following A Rainbow
1992	Ski Johnson Live
1993	Tell Me Something Good
1994	In your Eyes
1998	I feel you Man
2000	Ski's Supreme
2004	Welcome to My World
2009	New Beginnings
2012	Underdogs on Top
2015	Shake it like you mean it
2021	Jazz for life
==TV Appearances==
Ski Johnson’s tv show "Living it up with Ski Johnson" announced on OCT 6th, 2010. Johnson is also profiled in the episode of CNBC’s “American Greed”.
* Real Housewives of Potomac
* BET
* Good Morning America
* CBS
* Fox 5
* NYSE
* CNBC American Greed (S11 E15)
==Charitable Contributions==
BoysTown, PetConnect Rescue, National Guard Youth Foundation, USO, NGLCC, New Yorks Womens Foundation, The Balm in Gilead, Georgetown Jingle, A World Fit for Kids Los Angeles, Shadows and Everybody Wins.
==In the media==
<youtube width="300" height="300">szqKMcpgQwc</youtube>  
<youtube width="300" height="300">t8FjUJM5Utk</youtube>  
<youtube width="300" height="300">eW-CFv_BfWY</youtube>  
<youtube width="300" height="300">yjDpgQ4X3yo</youtube>
==References==
==External links==
* Official Website
* xXx²: The Next Level Trailer
* ‎Ski Johnson on Apple Music 
Category:1966 births
Category:American jazz saxophonists
Category:American producers
Category:American entrepreneurs
Category:Virginia Commonwealth University alumni
Category:Howard University alumni