Mr Charles Johnson felt the calling of God and urging of the Holy Spirit to leave his friends and brothers, the Sensational Nightingales and embark on a ministry of his own.  He had been with the Sensational Nightingales for 23 years, recording numerous gospel albums and traveling all over Europe and America on the black gospel circuit.  During his time with the Nightingales Charles was the lead singer as well as the songwriter for the group.  Charles took nothing with him except his guitar.

Charles Johnson was born near Paris, Texas.  The youngest of 5 children, he grew up in church singing with his family all of his early years.  In 1947 at the age of 16 Charles left Paris for Abilene, Texas where he found employment on two ranches.  He still sang with friends on the weekends.  In 1950 Charles headed for California to work and sing until joining the Sensational Nightingales in 1961.

While with the Sensational Nightingales Charles' song "It's Gonna Rain" was on the billboard charts for 100 weeks in the decade of the 70's.  That album (It's Gonna Rain) has reportedly sold 1 million, 12 thousand albums and was one of three albums that the Nightingales had on Billboards Top 10 albums chart at the same time. 

Charles did not know or understand Southern Gospel, Inspirational, Adult Contemporary or any of the other denominations of Gospel music, he only knew that he wanted to sing, play and minister with his own style of music to the Glory of God.  So in January, 1984 with no promoter or booking agent, but with two brothers Darrell and Ricky Luster he formed the group, Charles Johnson and The Revivers.  They loaded up their guitars and sound system and were ready to travel and minister, but where?  Three days later a gentleman called to ask if Charles would like to come to Melbourne, Arkansas, Charles asked "what for?", the man said, "to sing, Charles said "that's what I do, I'd love to come".  After nineteen days singing from church to church in the Melbourne area, that church called a friend in West Virginia and they went and sang at almost every church in West Virginia. 

Following this experience Charles Johnson and the Revivers began to sing "their" music. Not knowing what the term Southern Gospel meant they wrote and sang what they felt, the way they felt it.  One of their first songs, "Sealed Til the Day of Redemption" got into the hands of a Southern Gospel radio station in 1988, it was played, and from this Charles began a whole new listening audience of people that loved his music.  In 1990 they followed that up with "I Can't Even Walk Without You Holding My Hand", this song went into the top 5 on the Singing News Chart.  "I Can't Even Walk" got the attention of Nashville Record companies and Charles signed a recording contract in 1991 with

In 1996 Charles signed with Centergy records and recorded his first ever "Hymns" album, something he had wanted to do for years, this was released in December 1996.  Charles' album "Good Time In the House" was released in 1997.  By far his best studio album ever is "Waiting for the Messiah, the title song was a hit single at number 17 on the Singing News Charts.  It was at a Gaither video taping that Babbie Mason asked Charles if he was the same Charles Johnson that her mother used to love to listen to, he was.

Now available are two new and exciting releases, "Jasper Walls", a CD and "A Nation Under God", a dynamic and inspiring music video that reminds us of the spiritual heritage of this country and calls us back to a renewed commitment to God.  The video includes awesome historical and scenic footage that will stir Patriotic embers into full flame and together with the Revivers music will cause viewers to join in praise to Almighty God.  All of these albums have National sales distribution and promotion through New Day Christian Distributors.

The current group consists of Charles Johnson, Francis Leggett, and Daryl Richmond.

Charles' Autobiography entitled "Another River to Cross" published by Destiny Image released in June 2002 has received a lot of positive compliments and support from his fans.  This book will make you cry, laugh, and shout.  It's full of Biblical teachings which you can apply to everyday situations, you will be thrilled at the story of "my grandmother" who was snatched from Africa and sold into slavery when she was only 10 years old, at the same time her twin was sold to another master, the two sisters did not see or hear from each other until they were miraculously reunited 100 years later.  Granny died in 1966 at about the age of 115.  In the book he related the wit and wisdom she poured into him as well as the stories behind his songs.

Charles Johnson is a very unassuming down to earth man.  He's not a very talkative artist.  If his songs are on the charts that's okay with him, if they're not, well that's okay with Charles as well.  He's not much into playing "the game", or the politics of it all.  Charles says "I know I'm doing what God wants me to do, and I know I'm doing it the way He wants me to do it.  God wants me to minister to the people His way.  I'm not a Quartet and I'm not the Traditional Southern Gospel group but as long as the people love what we do and lives are changed that's what it's all about".