About

MALACHAI JOHNS

Like most music industry folks, William Johns bka “Malachai” got his start as a musician. Beginning the study of classical guitar at six years old, he followed a winding musical road through his early teens playing in rock, punk and funk bands before finding his love in DC Go – Go music in high school. His percussive playing style allowed him the opportunity to play with some of the most iconic bands in the genre like Northeast Groovers, Optimystic Tribe, Backyard Band and The What Band. His college years (in Montana of all places) found him putting the axe down and moving behind the scenes. As the Assistant Director of the school's Concert Committee he helped to book and promote acts like Run DMC, Everclear, Chris Ledoux, Hootie & The Blowfish and comedians Chris Rock and Adam Sandler. He also held a weekly on – air spot and the position of Urban Music Director at the college/public radio station while DJ’ing twice a week at a local club, creating a themed Ladies Night that is still going strong 20 years later. A job with another local promoter opened his eyes to more niche circuits, writing press releases and filling rider requirements for acts like Widespread Panic, Medeski Martin and Wood, Joan Baez and Jimmy Cliff.

After a stint as Promotions Manager at HOT 97.5 KVEGas in Las Vegas and a production company signed to Universal Records in Los Angeles, Malachai returned home and began working for the iconic WPGC 95.5fm, at the time the #1 radio station in Washington, DC. In 2003 while working at the station, he began to execute the plan he had hatched in LA and assembled the ground breaking, original Go - Go band "Mambo Sauce" as manager and record label owner. He hand picked each member, co – wrote, produced and played guitar on their debut album “The Recipe” and booked and promoted over 200 shows for the band throughout the mid - Atlantic, Northeast, Southeast and Midwest. In 2007 and 2008 Mambo Sauce had two singles hit the Billboard Chart and a video in rotation on the MTV and BET Networks. Their single "Welcome to DC" is still used as the intro song for most DC sports teams including the Washington Wizards, Mystics, Nationals, Commanders and Capitals. The Wizards licensed the track for a TV spot promoting their spectacular 2017 season. Okplayer.com called “The Recipe”, “The best album I’ve heard all year” in 2009.

Johns separated from the group in 2009 and went on to manage Alt - Soul up and comer Nick Hakim and X - Factor finalist David Correy as well as co - writing and executive producing his EP "Urban Rock Odyssey".  

A few years of promoting successful weekly shows in the DC/Maryland area prompted a friend to suggest he apply as the Entertainment Manager for Maryland Live! Casino, a new 330,000 square foot casino opening between DC & Baltimore. In 2013, Malachai took over Entertainment for the casino, programming seven nights a week of live entertainment with a budget in excess of $2 Million. He created four successful theme nights, including a Go - Go Night (of course) and booked headliners like, Ed Sheeran, Lee Brice, Eli Young Band, Mint Condition, Macy Gray, Biz Markie, Salt & Pepa and many more. He served as an elected Governor for the DC Chapter of the The Recording Academy from 2011 - 2014.

In 2015 Johns returned to Los Angeles and in 2016, he began co - managing the career of his longtime friend and #Tidalrising artist Tabi Bonney.  He helped launch his first single release in 4 years, "Bang Bang" feat. Wiz Khalifa  and the 2018 EP “Le Bon Voyage” .  In 2017, he worked with The Empire Agency in Hollywood and in 2018 launched Allive Agency. In 2019, he launched an event listing site for fans of Go - Go music called GOGOTIX.CO and in 2020 started a weekly Youtube series called GOGOTALX.

In 2023, Johns produced the first official SXSW showcase solely focused on Go - Go Music, aptly titled “SXSW A Go - Go”. The event, garnered write ups in Billboard Magazine and The Washington City Paper. The showcase featured his newly created rotating all star go - go band Crank Caviar. A genre based cover project creating high quality go - go recordings and videos of popular songs (a la outfits like Scary Pockets and Postmodern Jukebox).