Fly Guy Tim Johnson Jr. Releases 90s-inspired Anthem

With undeniable charisma and a deep-rooted love for music, the multitalented Tim Johnson Jr is quickly carving out a space where nostalgia meets now. From Broadway beginnings as Young Simba in The Lion King to portraying Young Chris Rock on screen, his path has always been guided by passion, family, and faith. Now, with the infectious single “Fly Girl,” he’s delivering a danceable, 90s-inspired anthem that blends classic influences with a fresh, modern twist. We caught up with him to talk about musical inspirations, working alongside his dad, and the family-driven vision behind their independent label, City Boy Jr.

Welcome to Vents, Tim! 

“Fly Girl” has a vibrant, nostalgic feel—what inspired the 90s vibe, and how did you approach blending that with your modern sound?

I am a big fan of 90’s music! The music of that era is vibrant and makes you want to dance. So we added those classic elements to the production where the drums hit hard, a  syncopated guitar melody line, background vocals that feels like a crowd singing along, while adding a modern feel with the lyrics.

You co-wrote and produced this single with your father—what’s it like collaborating creatively with someone so close to you?

It’s amazing to create with my dad. The greatest collaborations can come from the person who knows you the best. My dad and I enjoy the same music and with every song we create, we want it to have a timeless feel.

You’ve mentioned icons like Michael Jackson, Babyface, and Luther Vandross as influences. How have they shaped your sound or approach to performance?

These are great entertainers that showed me whether you’re singing, dancing or song writing, you gotta give it your all. These are timeless artists who not only have had huge success but an amazing work ethic that is inspiring.

City Boy Jr. is your independent label—what motivated you to start it, and what vision do you and your dad share for its future?

My parents always have shared with my two siblings and I that it is important to invest in yourself. City Boy Jr Inc is that leap of faith. The vision is to continue to inspire people through music and entertainment.

What was the creative process behind “Fly Girl”? Can you walk us through how the song came together from idea to final track?

My dad created the track for “Fly Girl” a few years ago and one day we found it. I started writing and the lyrics just flowed, and then I laid down the vocals. Later my dad was like “Tim you gotta play some electric guitar on this.”

After the creation of the song, we started planning the music video. My family and friends often are involved with the creation process of my music videos. From my dad shooting the video, my brother making an outfit for me to wear, to my mom and sister arranging the set. It’s a family affair! We got to highlight Jossie Harris who was a Fly Girl Dancer in the 90’s sketch comedy show In Living Color and Golden Brooks (Saturdays, Girlfriends). These two played sisters in the video and there were also some other notable cameos in this music video. We had a great time!

You’ve had a dynamic career already—from Broadway to TV to music. How do you balance all these artistic outlets, and what keeps you grounded?

Trusting God’s plan and spending time with family are what ground me through everything. It’s a blessing to be able to do what you love and I don’t take that lightly. Life is a process that you can either fight against or enjoy…I choose to enjoy it.

“Fly Girl” is about instant attraction—was this track inspired by a specific moment or someone in your life?

This song is not about a specific moment. The song came to me more like a movie scene…if Fly Girl was a 90’s movie, this would be the title track.

Growing up in a musical household, when did you first realize music was more than just a hobby for you?

When I was 10 years old I played Young Simba in the Las Vegas production (Mandalay Bay) of the Disney musical, The Lion King. My whole family and I moved from Philadelphia to Las Vegas so I could follow my dream, which was huge for me. After the Lion king, my family and I prayed about it and decided to move to LA.

With your acting roles, especially as Young Chris Rock and Young Simba, how does performing on screen or stage influence your musical performances?

Acting and music are just different forms of communicating an idea. With acting I get to become a character and with music I get to share my own story. Being in The Lion King prepared me to perform at a high level consistently and voiceover allowed me to understand my voice in new ways that has inspired me to be more creative in the recording studio.

What message or feeling do you hope fans walk away with after listening to ‘Fly Girl’?

“Fly Girl” is a feel-good anthem all about a woman owning her confidence and knowing she’s fly. I just want fans to be able to play this one at cookouts, parties or whatever function it is and groove. Let’s make this the song of the summer!

Stream “Fly Girl” by Tim Johnson Jr on Spotify and other streaming platforms.

Watch the official “Fly Girl” video below, featuring original ‘90s “fly girl” Jossie Harris from In Living Color: