Alumni Spotlight: Audri Johnson
We sat down with Grenada native Audri Johnson, better known as Lady Audri, who returned to her roots to share her journey from local talent to Grammy-Winning engineer. She made history receiving a Grammy for Best Roots Gospel Album as engineer and mixer of “The Urban Hymnal,” Tennessee State University’s Aristocrat of Bands album for the 65th annual grammy awards in February of 2023. This remarkable achievement deepened her connection to her hometown, where her musical journey began.
We sat down with Grenada native Audri Johnson, better known as Lady Audri, who returned to her roots to share her journey from local talent to Grammy-Winning engineer. She made history receiving a Grammy for Best Roots Gospel Album as engineer and mixer of “The Urban Hymnal,” Tennessee State University’s Aristocrat of Bands album for the 65th annual grammy awards in February of 2023. This remarkable achievement deepened her connection to her hometown, where her musical journey began.
Seeing her dad on a CD cover initially inspired her to start recording–he, along with his siblings and other family members, formed gospel groups Decisions & Saved by Grace. Johnson’s father grew up in Oakland, MS, where he became the drummer at their home church, Pilgrim’s Rest C.O.G.I.C., and later became the drum captain in the Coffeeville High School Marching Band. Her mother grew up in Grenada, where she sang in the choir at her dad’s church, Mt. Olive Pentecostal Holiness Church. Johnson credits both her parents’ singing talents for her love for music. Perhaps she was born to record.
Audri played trumpet while in the Grenada Marching Band. She credits the band directors and the band’s culture as an early influence, as she started recording music in the sixth grade–imitating popular music and honing her craft.
However, she struggled with the decision to pursue a music career. Johnson was enrolled as a nursing student for three years. She knew that she could have a secure job as a nurse just like her mother.
Then she took stock of her life, assessed her priorities and her passion for music. She made the leap and re-enrolled at Delta State University’s Delta Music Institute (DMI) in Cleveland, where she earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Entertainment Industry Studies with a Concentration of Entrepreneurship. Her family recognized the passion in her new path, and Audri felt like it would be a slap in the face to have so many musical talents and not use them for God’s glory.
After graduating, Audri became administrative assistant and was later promoted to studio manager at the DMI. During her time there, she began to develop her networking skills and engineering, as she was tasked with giving potential students and other guests a tour of the studios and engineering guest artists’ records. She took time after hours to become more familiar with the equipment. She says If you don’t have good work ethic, you’re not going to be a good person to work with. They will hire a less talented person.
After winning her first Grammy, she had the opportunity to work with Motown Gospel artist, Me’Kayla. Johnson engineered Me’Kayla’s Prelude EP.
Audri Johnson isn’t the first from Grenada to record with Motown. Eddie “Chank” Willis grew up in Grenada and recorded multiple hits as part of Motown’s house-band The Funk Brothers. Audri reminisced about writing a paper on Motown and was amazed that a person from Grenada could record with so many groups that changed the face of music across the nation.
Audri draws inspiration from the past, but she also leans on the mentors that have helped her along the way. Currently she records with a company, Tymple, owned by her mentor Sir the Baptist. They’ve just put out a new album, “The Baptist,” and Lady Audri is featured on the single One Hundred.
When she’s back in Grenada, Audri reflects on ways she can inspire children and improve her community. She hopes to one day create her own program that teaches kids how to record music.
For anyone, of any age, interested in recording, her number one piece of advice is to imitate what you hear and study the greats. Learn as much as you can about DAWs, or the digital audio workstations. If you’ve got music in your head, don’t be afraid to start. Grab a phone or tablet and get your hands on a free tool like Garage Band, and go have fun.
Listen to Audri's work at https://unitedmasters.com/m/the-baptist-1