Kayheriss

Kayla Johnson was born the oldest of three in Coffeyville Kansas to Joshlyn and Joshua Franklin Jr. She started her singing journey at the young age of 4 in a local community gospel choir where her mom was the founder and director. Kayla’s love for vocal arranging sparked her desire to become a teacher and director of choirs while continuing her own passion for singing. By her teenage years, her serious connection with gospel music garnered her the mentorship from many amazing leaders such as; the infamous Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, who was over the National COGIC convention choir, and James Cleveland, who was over the Gospel Workshop of America (GWA) choir. Kayla became submerged in the world of music. Her powerful voice and appetite for directing allowed doors to open for more opportunities while in high school where she, and her friend, started a gospel choir. Along with having their own choir, they were also able to travel with the school’s concert and show choirs.

 Continuing on her musical journey, while in college, she became one of the directors of the Delaware State College Gospel Choir, which later became the Delaware State University Gospel Choir. Through her experience and knowledge, she landed in leadership as the director of music for different venues for over 20 years. Presently, she is the director of the Worship Music and Arts department at The Resurrection Center located in Wilmington, Delaware. She is an ordained minister and is the Director of Music & Arts at the church where she has served over 10 years. Under her musical leadership, the church’s cathedral choir did their first live recording on Easter Sunday in 2013. The CD was later released in 2015.

 Kayla is married to Earl “BJ” Johnson Jr. and a mother of 4 children who are all heavily involved in the arts. In 2010, Kayla was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, which started to affect her mobility. Later she would be diagnosed with uterine cancer in 2014. During her treatments for cancer and her ongoing therapy for arthritis, she began giving birth to a whole new sense of writing and music. Through her writing emerged songs like, “Belongs” and “Nobody”, which comes from a place of gratitude to, and, the testimony of her faith in God for healing and sustaining her during her time of sickness. Her desire to share her message of faith and triumph has led her to pursue a solo album, which will later release in 2018. Kayla's understanding of music and her life’s journey continues to guide her as she embraces the expansion of her range and the challenges of a new venture.