What does Madonna, Mick Jaggar, Peter Wolf, New Edition, New Kids On The Block, Leslie West & Corky Laing of Mountain, Mark Wahlberg, Englebert Humperdink, and Gloria Gaynor all have in common???  Multi-Platinum Hit Record Producer, Songwriter, Engineer, Artist, Entrepreneur, Music Business Executive, Actor, and Multi-Instrumentalist, Michael “Space Cowboy” Jonzun of the legendary electro hip-hop space posse Jonzun Crew.

            As one of the founding godfather’s of electro hip-hop and electro space music, Jonzun has been recognized worldwide as a pioneer in forging new frontiers and setting trends in the sound and blueprint of popular music, both then and now; including the boy band phenomenon along with his brother Maurice “The General” Starr.  Jonzun has collaborated with well over 100+ Super Star Artists attaining Gold, Platinum, and Multi-Platinum certified statuses for his works as issued by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).

            To that end, Jonzun has sold well over 200+ Million records worldwide, 20+ Million of which were sold on his group alone, the Jonzun Crew, in its many formats (CD’s, Video Games, Albums, Singles, Cassettes, Film, DVD’s, Digital Downloads, etc.). Jonzun’s works have garnered (17) # 1 Billboard Chart Hits, (19) “Top 10” Billboard Chart Hits, (32) “Top 40” Billboard Chart Hits, and 60+ Charting Hits collectively across Billboard and other Major Magazines.

            While Jonzun’s accolades are many, the opposition and struggles that he’s faced on his journey to the top has been even greater. As a child from the deep Jim Crow South of Volusia County, FL, segregation and racism were king, and being “colored” was a guilty sentence from birth.

            Jonzun vividly remembers the KKK riding, the burning crosses, the death threats that ensued, and having to lay on the floor with his family to avoid being shot and burned out of their home as a result of he and his brother Larry (pka Maurice “The General”  Starr) integrating the local elementary school, when they were just 7 and 8 years old respectively. School staff, including the principal, were not a refuge or safe haven as they too told them, “N-[word] go home! Don’t come back, there’s no room for you here!”

             The racism and violence they experienced would have lead many to hostility and vengeance, but for Jonzun and his family opposition fueled ambition, and rejection fueled direction to keep their eyes on the prize of the world stage. Jonzun and his five older brothers -- Ray, Jr., Elvin, Donald (p/k/a Sonni Jonzun, a  Jonzun Crew Member, now deceased), Calvin (now deceased), Larry (p/k/a Maurice “The General” Starr, and  former Jonzun Crew Member) – were all accomplished Multi-Instrumentalists and Vocalists, with a way out of their circumstances-- The Johnson Brothers family band.  While the schools provided them outdated books with torn out pages and racial epithets written throughout, and instructors who promised to fail them regardless of their academic performance, they were blessed with two of the greatest teachers of all, their parents. They were also equally blessed with a prominent Caucasian family who weren’t afraid to take a stand against the ills of inequality, and provided the Johnson brothers with a home library filled with new books, and they also gave their mom a partial scholarship to become a school teacher.

            During their youth, the Johnson brothers witnessed their mom attain her dream of graduating college, becoming a School Teacher, playing piano in the church, and keeping her faith while sketching designs of the future 10,000 sf.+ mansion they would one day move into from out of their modest 896 sf. 2 bedroom home that the eight of them lived in. Their dad, who is now deceased, was a Brick Mason by day and a Professional Pick-Up Musician by night for the likes of such music legends as B.B. King, Ray Charles, Lionel Hampton, and Noble “Thin Man” Watts. Together, their parents prepared their six sons for the challenge of stardom and greatness, through endless hours of rehearsal, drilling, studying, working odd jobs to pay for instruments, and gigging live at every opportunity that would advance them. Their parents instilled in them early on, “if you can’t take it, you won’t make it.”

            Having exhausted every chitlin’ circuit, teen dance hall, private function, and the like that Florida had to offer for almost two decades, in 1973 The Johnson Brothers finally got their big break to bring their talents to Boston, MA.  Opportunity had met preparation. With a one-way Greyhound bus ticket, they never looked back!

            The Johnson Brothers came to Boston by the invitation and sponsorship of their Uncle, world renowned oil on canvas Master Visual Artist, Arthur Rayford, and his wife Aida. Their Uncle and Aunt made sure the only job The Johnson Brothers had to do was practice and play, play and practice, practice and play, it was a dream come true. Arthur Rayford, who himself had moved to Boston, MA in faith of a fertile ground where his talents would be allowed to flourish, knew all too well that his nephews who had assassins hits on their heads needed a ticket out in order to stay alive and make it.  Rayford, who moved to Volusia County, FL from South Carolina with his family as a child, was punished with an adult prison sentence at just the age of 8 years old for failing to step off the sidewalk and look down when a white pedestrian approached. From that day, Rayford personally knew environment can either be a catalyst or a detriment to your success.

            On their seventh day in Boston, Jonzun and Starr knocked on the door of Intermedia Studios, the same studio where Aerosmith had recorded “Dream On,” in hopes of a break. When the Chief Engineer, R. Berred Ouellette, answered the door and asked what they wanted, the two brothers blurted out with fingers crossed, “We’re going to be stars, we want a record deal, and this is your big opportunity to become a part of greatness.” In response, Ouellette, in a laid back tone welcomed them in, and gave them a shot to prove themselves. Jonzun and Starr sang and played every instrument Oullette would bring out.  Jonzun and Starr showing they could walk the talk, Oulette invited all of The Johnson Brothers back to cut a demo. When the demo was complete, Oullette played it for both Livingston Taylor and J. Geils of The J. Geils Band.  From that demo Livingston Taylor began using Jonzun and Starr as Session Vocalists and Musicians, and J. Geils recorded and co-produced the original compositions The Johnson Brothers had written.
            Armed with the material that J. Geils had co-produced with them, The Johnson Brothers headed to the world famous Harlem, New York’s Apollo Theater and entered into its “Make It or Break It” talent night. That night, the Johnson Brothers hit the live stage and “Made It!” While The Johnson Brothers had come in Second Place to an eight year old comedian, the Legendary Entertainer, Dancer, and Emcee of The Apollo Theater, Charles “Honi” Coles loved them and invited them back with an open invitation. The Johnson brothers knew if they could get past the brutally honest audience of The Apollo Theater, and not get booed off its stage, not only could they make it there, but they could make it anywhere.
            Fast forward, as a Record Producer, Songwriter, Engineer, Artist, Actor, and Multi-Instrumentalist Jonzun’s accolades include:

►200+ Million Records and Videos Sold Worldwide

► (17) # 1 Billboard Chart Hits

► (19) “Top 10” Billboard Chart Hits

► (32) “Top 40” Billboard Chart Hits

►2018 ASCAP SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS Recipient  for “ TOP CABLE TELEVISION SERIES - THE NEW EDITION STORY” (featuring the Hits Jonzun Co-Wrote/Produced: Candy GIrl, Is This The End, Jealous Girl, Popcorn Love)

►Owner/Founder & CEO of Boston International Music (A music publishing firm w/ 200+ Compositions in Rotation Worldwide at radio, film, internet, printed sheet music, records, videos, and television.)

►Owner/Founder of the world renowned Mission Control Recording Studios.

►(2) Major Publisher/Writer Deals with the world’s top two Publishers – EMI/Sony ATV  & Warner-Chappell Music

►Hundreds of  Certified Gold, Platinum, & Multi-Platinum Records Combined in Different Territories Worldwide

►Michael "Space Cowboy" Jonzun awarded by ASCAP in April 2007 Co-Writer/Publisher Award for "One of The Most Performed Songs of the Year 2006" ("Laffy Taffy"/D4L)

►Co-Writer of Largest Selling Ringtone in History- - “Laffy Taffy”

►Co-Music Producer of Top 3 Music Videos in History by a Vocal Group: (“Hangin’ Tough”, “Hangin’ Tough Live”, “Step By Step”)

►Jonzun Crew is a Recognized Forefather of Hip-Hop (Source Mag.)

►Jonzun Crew has toured USA and abroad and headlined to audiences of 80,000+

►Jonzun Crew as an Artist has sold 20+ Million Records Worldwide in its many formats (Some of their Greatest Hits include: Pack Jam, Space Cowboy, We Are The Jonzun Crew, Electro Boogie Encounter, Space Is The Place, to name a few)

►Jonzun Crew's music is performed in two of the largest video games --
"Grand Theft Auto -San Rio" & "Scarface (The World Is Yours)"

►Jonzun Crew was recognized by The City of Boston in City Council declaring “Jonzun Crew Day” on September 8, 2012.

►Jonzun Crew's  “Lost In Space” is recognized as the first electro hip-hop album.

►As an Artist Jonzun has released (5) Commercial Albums – Lost In Space (Jonzun Crew on Tommy Boy), Down To Earth (Jonzun Crew on Tommy Boy), Down To Earth (Jonzun Crew on A&M), Money Isn’t Everything (Michael Jonzun as a Solo Artist on A&M), Cosmic Love (Jonzun Crew on Critique/BMG)

►Jonzun's Compositions and Productions appear in hundreds of television shows and major motion pictures (including Love & Basketball, Dogma, Two Moon Junction, Black Mask, Shag The Movie, Sure Thing, Moonlighting, MTV, BET, and VH1 to name a few.)

►Numerous Industry Awards including, ASCAP, Jack The Rapper and  shared awards resulting from  Artists’ albums, containing Jonzun’s works, that garnered such awards as  Grammys American Music, JUNO, The Brit Award, and People's Choice Awards, to name a few.

►Producer/Writer/Musician with Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Legends:  Mick Jaggar, Ben E. King, Lavern Baker, Bernie Worrell (featuring  Keith Richards, Mudbone Cooper, & Bootsy Collins of George Clinton’s Parliament Funkadelic), LL Cool J, Solomon Burke, Bennie Cowan of Parliament Funkadelic, Grand Master Flash & The Furious Five.


►Producer & Co-Writer of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Recognized "ESSENTIAL RECORDING" for Showdown as performed by Class of 2007 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees, Grand Master Flash & The Furious Five

►Jonzun and Starr with Sugar Hill Records President Sylvia Robinson are the architects of the Rap Battle with the first recording being “Showdown” as performed by The Sugar Hill Gang vs. Grand Master Flash & The Furious Five

►Write-Ups in Major Metropolitan & Intl Publications, refer to Michael Jonzun, as a Music Pioneer & Innovator: (NY Times, LA Times, Time, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, People, Vibe, Source, Jet, Boston Globe, Washington Post, Billboard, Village Voice, Mix, Boston Herald, NME, among others.)

►Lecturer (Colleges, Universities, Schools, and renowned Music Conferences such as New Music Seminar)

►Former Radio Talk Show Host of Audition Radio, that has interviewed hundreds of Celebrity Artists.

►Mentor to our then Nation's youngest terrestrial Radio Talk Show Host, Shali "Space Boy" Jonzun

►Jonzun has mentored such protoges and interns as: Scott Rouse (Intern at Mission Control who went on to enjoy success as a Musician, Producer, Writer, Remix Engineer for Jeff Foxworthy, John Anderson, and Alan Jackson), Gloria Stewart (Session Vocalist & Songwriter at Mission Control who went on to enjoy success as a former Singer with Jonzun Crew, and  enjoy Billboard Chart ht successes as a Pop Songwriter for K-Ci & Jo Jo, Toni Braxton, Chante Moore whose albums went #1 on the Billboard Charts, among numerous others), Miguel Sa Pessoa (Tech at Mission Control, who went on to become a Staff Engineer at Mission Control, and Record Producer in his own right earning the title of “#1 Jazz Album in New England), Lauren Martin-Harkens (Former Singer for Jonzun Crew who went on to enjoy the role of “Camille” in the television soap “As The World Turns.”), Linda Champion (Mission Control Studios Production Asst. who’s now  a successful practicing Boston Attorney), Claudia Jordan (Premiered in Jonzun Crew’s Music Video “Cosmic Love”,  and went on to become a Bob Barker Beauty on “The Price Is Right,” Deal or No Deal personality/model, and an Internationally Syndicated Radio/Television/Internet Host), Charles “Prince Charles” Alexander (Intern/Music Protégé who went on to become a Remix Engineer for Mary J. Blige, and Notorious BIG),  David Malikpor (Intern at Mission Control who went on to become Founder of Pro Audio Design  -- one of the World’s Largest Pro-Audio Gear & Design Companies), Patrick Smith (Intern at Mission Control, who later became an Engineer at Mission Control, and went on to become an Audio Engineer for Jay Leno’s “TheTonight Show With Jay Leno”,  and Audio Engineer for such legends as Terrance Blanchard, Dizzy Gillespie, Winton Marsalis, Delfayo Marsalis, Branford Marsalis), to name a few.

►Multi-Instrumentalist of 50+ musical instruments


►Producer/Writer/Collaborator of over 100+ Super Star Artists, including:  Madonna, Peter Wolf with Mick Jaggar, Nick Shepherd of The Clash, Head, Andy Paley, New Kids On The Block, New Edition, Aztec Camera, Tommy Page, Mase, Ben E. King, Lavern Baker, Puff Daddy & Family, Sugar Hill Gang, Grand Master Flash & The Furious Five, D4L, LL Cool J, Trina, Trick Daddy, Arthur Baker, Adrian Belew of King Crimson, Leslie West and Corky Laing of Mountain, Sun Ra, Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen’s E. Street Band, Kelly Price, Maurice "The General" Starr, 112, The Jets, Saffire, Apollonia, Carl Thomas, Larry Russell Brown, Walter Platt, Bernard “Bishop Bullwinkle” Thomas, James Harris III aka & Terry Lewis (aka Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis),  Tim S. Mayer,Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon , Ginuwine, Twista, Afrika Bambaata, Another Bad Creation, Perfect Gentlemen, Lil’ Bow Wow w/ Jermaine Dupri, Bootsauce,  Young Saints featuring Randy Bachman, Englebert Humperdink featuring Gloria Gaynor, Ice T., Chuck D., Elliot Easton & Greg Hawks of The Cars, GE Smith, Will Lee, Dallas Austin, Mark Wahlberg, Livingston Taylor, Brad Delp of Boston, Stylistics, , Bernie Worrell (featuring  Keith Richards, Herbie Hancock, Mudbone Cooper/Maceo Parker/Bootsy Collins of George Clinton’s Parliament Funkadelic,), LL Cool J, Solomon Burke, Bennie Cowan of Parliament Funkadelic , The Dramatics, and El & Bunny Debarge, among numerous others.

►Currently in the works Jonzun is completing the writing of several stage productions for live theater, as well as his autobiography for publishing and film.



 ​