After his return to the Motor City, Johnson spent some time singing with a group called the Five Monarchs, but never recorded with them. Still hoping to achieve a major success in the music field, once again Johnson decided to form his own group, and so, the Four Sonics were born. At its inception the Four Sonics were made up of Bill Frazier (tenor lead), Steve Gaston (tenor), Eddie Daniels (baritone), and Jay Johnson (bass).
The group recorded for Andrew Harris at his "Super Sonic Sound" Studio, from which the group derived their Four Sonics name. They had two releases in 1968 on Harris' Sport label. The first of these was issued as Sport 110 You Don't Have to Say You Love Me (which Dusty Springfield also sang) backed with It Takes Two (featuring some nice bass work by Johnson). This release was to be quickly followed by Sport 111 The Greatest Love (written by Johnson along with Anita Watson and led by Bill Frazier) b/w Easier Said Than Done, led by Eddie Daniels.
The Four Sonics performed extensively and headlined many shows in the Detroit area. The original Four Sonics grew by adding another "Sonic", Johnny Dixon. But rather than re-naming the group "the Five Sonics", they chose the more creative name, "Four Sonics + 1". According to Johnson, Johnny Dixon had an enormous singing range, going from baritone to soprano. In 1968, as the Four Sonics + 1 , they recorded one single on the Sepia label, Tell Me You're Mine backed with Lost Without You. Although Johnson had formed the Four Sonics, there were some internal problems. As a result, there was also another release by the Four Sonics on Triple "B" at a time when Johnson was not singing with the group. The tunes on this release were Blue Velvet and Where Are You (with Dixon on lead)
Going into the '70s, there were more changes for the group. Dixon, Daniels, and Gaston departed, to be replaced by Vernon Williams (Satintones, Royal Holidays, and the Pyramids) and Sylvester Potts (Contours). Later, Bill Frazier left the group and was replaced by Gloria Sykes. This Four Sonics group issued one record on the JMC label, There's No Love and If It Wasn't for My Baby. Four Sonics records continue to be a staple in the diet of Northern soul collectors. Jay Johnson and Vernon Williams are still working together, writing, arranging, and performing as a duo. ~ Jim Dunn & Nikki Gustafson, Rovi