Canadian jazz singer Molly Johnson (born Draelseim in 1959) has explored a wide range of musical styles throughout her career. She first delved into funk and rock with the band Alta Moda, and later with The Infidels in 1990. Since 2000, she has pursued a solo career embracing soul, R&B, and jazz, notably with her album Lucky (2008). In 2014, she released a tribute to Billie Holiday titled Because of Billie.

Molly Johnson (born Draelseim) was born in Canada in 1959. As a child, she performed in theater and ballet productions, and appeared in musicals such as Porgy and Bess (Gershwin) and South Pacific (Rodgers).

In 1979, Molly shifted her focus from dance to music and joined the funk-rock fusion band Alta Moda alongside guitarist Norman Orenstein. The quartet released a self-titled album in 1987 on CBS. Three years later, they formed the quintet The Infidels, releasing a self-titled album in 1991 through IRS Records, with a second unreleased album recorded in 1995. Molly also contributed vocals to recordings by the Canadian band Big Sugar.

In 1992, moved by the devastating impact of AIDS, she founded the Kumbaya Festival to raise funds for AIDS research. She also began to shift her musical focus towards jazz, soul, and R&B. Her first solo album, Molly Johnson, featuring guest appearances from Stéphane Grappelli, was released in 2000, followed by Another Day in 2003.

Her third album, Messin' Around (2006), led to a European tour where she was warmly received. In 2007, Molly Johnson was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in recognition of her contributions to the arts and philanthropy. In 2008, she released Lucky, a jazz-pop album revisiting the repertoire of Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, and George Gershwin, as well as offering a cover of Bobbie Gentry's "Ode to Billie Joe." In 2011, she released The Molly Johnson Songbook, followed by Because of Billie in 2014 — a heartfelt tribute to Billie Holiday, recorded with the goal of founding the Billie Holiday Foundation to support the education of young generations. Produced by John Bailey and Mike Downes, the album features Downes on double bass, alongside pianist Robi Botos and drummer Terry Clarke.