Is hazel payne still alive

Janice Marie-Johnson (A Taste of Honey)

An engineer left the tape rolling during a pre-session warm-up, and recorded the bass break that afforded Janice Marie Johnson renown as the sultry slap and pop diva on the dance classic “Boogie Oogie Oogie”

“Boogie Oogie Oogie” https://youtu.be/PhD58dP9kq8

A versatile singer, composer, bassist, Janice anchored disco / contemporary R&B ensemble A Taste of Honey (1978 Best NewArtist Grammy) for a few platters and singles, most notably the aforementioned anthem and hits such as “Do It Good,” and “Sukiyaki.” Far from a one-trick disco pony, Janice and TOH were a dexterous collective, traversing soul, funk, traditional ballads, MOR, rock, and permutations thereof.

Raised in a musical family, Janice started her career as a jazz singer in her native Los Angeles.

She gravitated to the instrument as a college student – and was a natural. Given her dexterity on the instrument, Janice is the consummate song player – eve