Live Music Ct: Carrie Johnson

The local music entertainment landscape is getting a major upgrade with the emergence of Carrie Johnson.  This past spring, The Carrie Johnson Band finished in the Top Four at a major radio station contest.

Who is Carrie?  Carrie is a personable, sincere, and sassy; Singer, Songwriter, and Musician, all in one petite frame.  In the years following Carrie, her musical skills have leap frogged her to the top of Connecticut’s talent list.  A few of her songs from her most recent album, “Strength To Move” are strong enough to be getting national play – and should be!

Her musical talents were honed at Berklee College of Music.  Later, Carrie and her sister formed the band, “22 Brides”.  For close to a decade, they toured and played the East Coast, releasing 5 albums of original music.  The desires for motherhood ended this phase of her career.  This time off the circuit enabled Carrie to branch out with her talents – focus on songwriting, produce and release two solo albums, create a music publishing business and a children’s music program, teach private vocal and guitar lessons and put together The Carrie Johnson Band.

Having a family influenced Carrie, giving her exposure to more of life’s blessings…and struggles.  Translated; more writing material.  Her latest album, “Strength To Move” was released this past July.  There is a broad range of musical diversity in this album.  “Don’t Be Gone” is a song where Carrie’s inspiration came from the time when her father died.  The lyrics tell a tender loving story of watching someone you love, slip away.

“There’s The Door” is a hard edged musical arrangement that is best heard with the volume turned up. It’s OK to hit replay and see if there is one more click up on the volume….(no limits on that replay thing).  ”Double Dare” is an angelic song of her daughter’s battle to overcome cancer – then watch her grow up and move on – that part any parent can relate to.  (The last 1/3 of the song is sung by her daughter, Julia Davis).

These days, Carrie spends her time songwriting, performing 2-3 times a month with her band as well as a few solo acoustical gigs, teaching private vocal/guitar and songwriting sessions.  Four times a year, she is off to Nashville where she has gigs and recording sessions lined up before she hits town.  She has a relationship with several publishing companies and co-writes with Nashville songwriters.  While in Nashville, she always participates in song writer “rounds”, her favorite is at The Commodore Grill on West End Avenue.

Songwriter “rounds” are held in venues all over Nashville – usually 3-4 writer’s gather to perform on stage.  Each artist gets to introduce themselves, tell a brief story of the song and how or why it was written, then perform the song.  They take turns, with each performer playing three songs – sometimes these can turn into a jam session, when fellow musicians pick up the music, they play along or sing in the chorus.  Writer’s rounds are for the songwriter – often attended by writer’s who have had songs “cut” by a major artist.  This past month, Carrie introduced her first “Saturday Night Songwriter Circle” to Connecticut where they played to a full house and a standing ovation.  Songwriters can contact Carrie through her website to participate in future writer’s rounds.  She plans to organize an event every few months!

Aimee Mann, Bob Dylan, Sara Evans and Bonnie Raitt are just some of the artists that Carrie listens to and loves.  Also, traditional pop, blues, country and bluegrass music fuel her style for memorable melodies and thought provoking lyrics.

Q:        Carrie, who do you emulate on stage with your guitar playing style?

A:         “I’ve been told I have a strum like Pete Townsend and Dick Dale!

I am considered to be a strong rhythm player!”

Q:        How do you go about getting a song “cut” (recorded) by a major country artist?

A:         “Well, it has to start with a great song and a great recording of that song.  Bottom line – it’s always about the song.  Beyond that, there are MANY publishing companies in Nashville – you make appointments, you make friends, you pitch your material, you knock on doors, you keep knocking on doors and then you hope that a contact is made and someone is going to like your song.  It takes a lot of tenacity – certainly not for the faint of heart!”

When Carrie hits the stage and is accompanied with her band, she is flanked by:

Len Bobinski – Bass; Dennis Cotton –Drums; David Zucker – Keyboards; Dave Martin – Lead Guitar and Carrie Johnson – Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Songwriter

Dennis Cotton says; “The measure of a truly great song is if it can stand alone – NOT with a band, but played solo with a guitar or piano”…..”That’s our Carrie”.

As the first song unfolds, you will see Carrie playing rhythm guitar like Pete Townsend, singing strong vocals like Pat Benatar and performing her songs that seem like that they could have been written by any of the great songwriters.

What’s next for Carrie? Right now promoting “Strength To Move” and producing videos to accompany the new album!  But, Carrie is always writing and creating – whether it’s for her next album or co-writing and producing younger artists or performing live with her band!  Carrie is continually adding new material to her BMI catalog where publishers can review her material for licensing and media.

Website: http://www.carriejohnsonmusic.com/fr_home.cfm

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Carrie-Johnson/130834235170?ref=ts

Purchase Music: http://www.carriejohnsonmusic.com/fr_home.cfm , and go to store.

“Carrie Johnson is one of those captivating artists who sweeps you off your feet with her effortless unstoppable talent, transporting lyrics, and infectious spirit. Her music is a generous gift with impact, passion and depth. I am especially fond of her live shows … she is a rare gem.” – Michelle Rhea Caplinger, Senior Executive Director The Recording Academy, Atlanta

. . . .Carrie On!

Wayne C. Kilburn                    7-31-2011