Johnnie & Joe were an American R&B vocal duo from The Bronx, New York, United States, who were best known for their 1957 hit "Over the Mountain; Across the Sea."
Johnnie Louise Richardson (June 29, 1935, Montgomery, Alabama - October 25, 1988, New York City)[1] and Joe Rivers (March 20, 1937, Charleston, South Carolina)[2] began singing together in 1957 and released several singles on Chess Records,[3] which were leased from J & S Records, to whom the duo were under contract.
Richardson was the daughter of the J & S label owner, Zelma "Zell" Sanders, who had been a touring member of The Hearts.
During the 1970s and '80s they performed in oldies concerts, and made a critically acclaimed album, Kingdom of Love, in 1982.
"Over the Mountain; Across the Sea," written by Rex Garvin, went to #3 on the R&B chart and #8 on the Billboard Hot 100,[5] and "I'll Be Spinning," written by Freddie Scott, went Top 10 R&B, both in 1957.