Gino's Story

 

Meet Gino Longino, a soulful crooner with a funky, high-energy stage presence. Born and raised in Atlanta, GA, Gino began singing in the church choir at just nine years old. He was deeply influenced by his father, the late Johnny Lee Longino Sr.—a soulful singer, painter, golfer, and church deacon—who instilled in him a strong musical foundation and a deep faith in God.

As he grew, Gino continued singing in school choirs and competing in local talent shows. His passion for music led him to write songs for his group, The Inspirations. By age 14, he had evolved into a dynamic performer, showcasing his talents in lead and background vocals, rapping, and dancing.

At 16, Gino went solo, singing hooks for local artists’ records. The Inspirations opened for a variety of acts, including The Platters and Rock Master Scott & The Dynamic Three. Gino also recruited and developed talent for On Top of the World Records—shoutout to the late, great Mr. Fox (ATL). He teamed up with two of Atlanta’s top producers, Sam Haygood of N Da Groove Productions and the late Alan “Grip” Smith (Platinum Producer), which took his songwriting to the next level.

Today, Gino composes, co-produces, and writes his own music, collaborating closely with Sam Haygood—a talented producer and keyboardist who has toured the world with artists like Toni Braxton, Silk, The S.O.S. Band, and more.

Over the past 25 years, Gino has performed with some of the most talented bands in the Southeast, including Decatur’s own Kasper and the 911 Band (10 years), the Michele Jons Band (corporate/wedding band), and Funk Factory 5. These experiences expanded his repertoire across multiple genres: Motown, Jazz, Country, Rock ’n’ Roll, Pop, Hip-Hop, R&B, Funk, Soul, Reggae, Southern Soul, Zydeco, and Trail Ride music. It’s no wonder so many call him Mr. Versatile.

In 2011, inspired to branch out, Gino formed his own band, Something for the Soul. Since then, he has shared the stage with legendary artists such as Meli’sa Morgan, Paul Anthony of Full Force, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, The S.O.S. Band, Keith Sweat, Gerald Levert, Eric Benét, Tamia, The Ohio Players, and Chubb Rock. Performing his music has been a dream come true for Gino, who believes he can touch hearts through melodic storytelling, groovy dance tracks, and intriguing wordplay.

Often singing about the ups and downs of dating, relationships, and that thing called love, Gino aims to make the world dance to songs like “Back It Up” and set the mood with tracks like “Flashback (3 AM)”. His full LP, N The Key of G, features 13 tracks, including “She Want It” (featuring Basco) and “It’s Official” (featuring Big Smoove).

So, sit back, unwind, and press play—let the music set the vibe. Sexy ladies, are you ready for The G of R&B? Gino Longino delivers a heart-throbbing soundtrack in N The Key of G. Ride with him now!