Paul Johnson

Paul Leighton Johnson was born January 11, 1971, in Chicago, and began DJing at 13 in 1984, throwing his first party at his eighth grade graduation, inspired by Farley "Jackmaster" Funk. He started producing his own records in 1990, releasing across Chicago's most important house labels, including Dance Mania, Relief, Cajual, and Peacefrog, and launched his own label, Dust Traxx, in 1997.

His 1999 single "Get Get Down" became a worldwide hit, spending 18 weeks on Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart and reaching number one, as well as topping charts in Canada, the UK, and several European countries. Daft Punk named him first among their influences on "Teachers" and opened their BBC Essential Mix with his track "Hear the Music."

Johnson continued DJing and producing despite health complications from a shooting earlier in his career, and died of COVID-19 complications on August 4, 2021, at age 50.