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Joseph Vere Everette Johns (28 November 1893 – 10 September 1966) "Vere Johns, journalist, dies at 73", Kingston Gleaner, 11 September 1966, pp. 1–2. was a journalist, impresario, radio personality, and actor, who helped to launch the careers of many Jamaican musicians through his popular talent contests.
He made a major contribution to Jamaican music with his "Vere John's Opportunity Knocks Talent Show" on RJR Radio and helped launch the careers of several major recording artists including Lloyd Charmers, Hortense Ellis, John Holt, Bob Andy, Desmond Dekker, The Wailers, Alton Ellis, Jackie Edwards, Dobby Dobson, Boris Gardiner, Laurel Aitken, and Millie Small.Larkin, Colin (1998), The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae, Virgin Books, , pp. 54, 94, 124, 256.Bradley, Lloyd (2000), This is Reggae Music, Grove Press, , pp. 19-21." Millie not so 'small' anymore ", Jamaica Gleaner, 15 October 2006, retrieved 2010-05-03 His talent contests began as theatre shows held in downtown Kingston venues such as The Majestic, Palace and Ambassador theatres,O'Brien Chang, Kevin & Chen, Wayne (1998), Reggae Routes, Temple University Press, , p. 31. with the winners judged by audience reaction, and going on to appear on his radio shows. Producers such as Clement "Coxsone" Dodd and Arthur "Duke" Reid scouted for talent at the shows, taking singers to record at Stanley Motta's studio to cut records to be played on their sound systems.Cooke, Mel (2010), " Lincoln traces Ambassador music role to England", Jamaica Gleaner, 2 March 2010, retrieved 2010-05-03. Lloyd Bradley, in his book This is Reggae Music, described Johns as "the most influential man in Jamaican music in the second half of the 1950s", a period in which indigenous Jamaican styles were coming to the fore. Johns, despite his antipathy towards Jamaica's , also provided exposure for Count Ossie's group of drummers after singer Marguerita Mahfood refused to appear on his show unless she was backed by Ossie's Mystic Revelation group; The group proved popular with the audience and went on to perform regularly in Kingston.Thomas, Polly & Vaitilingam, Adam (2003), The Rough Guide to Jamaica, Rough Guides, , p. 412.
Johns also worked as an actor, performing in Shakespeare plays and solo recitations, and taught acting.
Vere Johns died in Kingston, Jamaica on 10 September 1966.
In 2008, Johns was posthumously inducted into the Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates (JAVAA) Hall of Fame.Cooke, Mel (2008), " JAVAA opens Jamaica Music Hall of Fame" , Jamaica Gleaner, 16 November 2008, retrieved 2010-05-03. In 2012, former Minister of Culture Olivia Grange called for Johns to receive a posthumous honour in recognition of his contribution to Jamaican popular music.Walters, Basil (2012) " Vere Johns, forgotten man of Jamaican music: Opportunity lost", Jamaica Observer, 4 November 2012, retrieved 10 November 2012.
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