Fresh off a Junofest performance and Juno nomination, Saanichton bluesman Bill Johnson will perform this weekend.
Thanks to an older brother’s music collection, the blues rang through Johnson’s childhood. While other kids read comics, Chuck Berry was his Superman. By the age of 15 he began a career as a professional guitarist studying and gigging in smoky bars.
Eventually superb bluesmen such as Donald Ray Johnson took notice and began to use Johnson on their recordings. Artists including the legendary Hubert Sumlin, Chess Record’s Cash McCall and Alligator Records’ Son Seals, began to call on him when they needed a guitar player.
Johnson’s most recent CD, Still Blue, was nominated for three Maple Blues Awards, a Western Canadian Music Award and a Juno. The Juno for best blues recording went to MonkeyJunk for “To Behold.”
Get a taste of the music, and Still Blue, online at billjohnsonblues.com.
Jesse Roper will open the show on May 19 in the Charlie White Theatre. Tickets are $25 available online at www.marywinspear.ca or by phone 250-656-0275.