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Wess
Wess and Dori Ghezzi in Sanremo.jpg
Wess with Dori Ghezzi (Sanremo, 1973)
Background information
Birth name Wesley Johnson
Born (1945-08-13)August 13, 1945
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.
Died September 21, 2009(2009-09-21) (aged 64)
New York, U.S.
Genres Pop, soul
Occupation(s) Singer
Instruments Vocals, bass guitar
Labels Durium, London, UAR
Associated acts Dori Ghezzi

Wesley Johnson known by his stage name Wess (August 13, 1945 — September 21, 2009) was an American-born Italian singer and bass guitarist, perhaps mostly known for representing Italy along with Dori Ghezzi in the Eurovision Song Contest 1975 in Stockholm, Sweden, placing third.

Originally from North Carolina, Wess moved to Italy in the 1960s in pursuit of a musical career. He formed a successful duo with Ghezzi and achieved some hits in Italy, such as "Voglio stare con te", "Come stai? Con chi sei?" and "Un corpo e un'anima". Wess also was a singer and played bass guitar for the soul-funk band Wess & The Airedales in the 1960s and early 1970s.

He died in New York during his United States tour when a breathing crisis led to his death.

Personal life

He was the father of Deborah Johnson and UK-based R&B singer Romina Johnson, who often accompanied him as a backing singer.

In popular media

In its winter 2018 issue, Oxford American magazine published an essay about Johnson's life as a young performer in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and how his earliest experiences affected his career in Italy.

See also

List of bass guitarists

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