All the Joans, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Joan Armatrading, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Billie Holiday, Edith Piaf, Van Morrison , Willie Nelson, Harry Neilsen, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Dori Previn, Marilyn Monroe, Dolly Parton , Mr Davis, my Welsh headmaster @ Primary School who taught us from "The Community Songbook", my grandparents, singing on car journeys with my family when we were kids - songs learned from the radio and basically everyone I have ever listened to from unaccompanied in tiny folk clubs to live shows in giant stadiums to learning nursery rhymes on mothers knee to teaching them to my own child and to recordings by people like Alan Lomax and George Martin. Bless you all!
Sounds Like
" Honest songs ... delicate , ethereal " – Wells Journal / " … a beautiful c.d. ‘Learning to Walk’ showcasing her pure as cut glass vocals" - The Cornish Guardian / " … warm, engaging performance" – The Western Morning News / "A lovely collection of songs..sung with sincerity and feeling" - C.D.Baby
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Soulful, poignant and delicate are just some of the words being used to describe the music of West country-based singer/songwriter Diana Johnstone. Born in Plymouth, Devon, Diana began singing and playing guitar in her late teens at the famous Folk Cottage in Mitchell, Cornwall, performing alongside Mike Silver, Clive Palmer and Ralph McTell. There she met and subsequently married multi-instrumentalist, Davey Johnstone (Magna Carta, Noel Murphy, Joan Armatrading.)
In 1972, Davey was asked to join the Elton John band just as the Rocket Mans career was heading into the stratosphere. For Davey, Diana and their son Tam the next few years would be spent in a whirlwind of whistle stop tours and incredible celebrity encounters: Groucho Marx at the Beverly Hills hotel, Stevie Wonder ..boards aboard the Starship (Eltons private plane), Gracie Fields, John Lennon During this time, Davey recorded a solo album for Eltons Rocket Records label with legendary record producer Gus Dudgeon at the helm. The album, Smiling Face (now remastered and released on Sound City records) features three songs co-written by Diana. She also sings lead vocals on the track A Lovely Day (as featured in playwright Willie Russells Daughters of Albion - Yorkshire TV, 1977.)
When Diana and Davey divorced in the mid-1970s, Diana took up a career in film and TV set design (working with director Nic Roeg and actor Tony Curtis among others), before coming back to music in the late 1990s. On moving to the Bath area she began writing and performing her own material again. Her unique style of playing combined with her thoughtful lyrics and mesmerizing voice has already attracted a keen following. This, along with her well-received live performances has ensured that Diana Johnstone is definitely one to watch among the new breed of innovative female singer/songwriters.
Dianas debut CD, Learning to Walk is available now.
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After you've finished here, you may like to hear this folk-carol on myspace... Poem 230 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (see my blog for details): CHRISTMAS SUNG SIMPLY
As gospellers have said, Beneath signalling skies, On land dusty to tread, A trough in a stable Was the strawy first-bed Of a divine baby - The forgiving Godhead.
A season for new hope - There then and here now; The yuletide of goodwill - There then and here now.
In respect of this chance, Beneath bright or dark skies, Faith's the star that we glance Attending Christ's churches And trying to enhance, With singing and ritual, Our God-loving stance.
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 162 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): TEES TO TYNE: FIRST IMPRESSIONS - SUMMER 2001
Where traditions are not so rare; Sea, country and works scent the air; A multitude of monuments, Planted tubs and patterned pavements.
The longish pedestrian malls; The remnants of defensive walls; Historic buildings are a gauge Of the respect for heritage.
Wheat, rape and pines in the fields; Estuaries guarded by shields; Long sandy beaches and wide scenes; Romantic-ruin go-betweens.
Rivers in parts licked by trees, Or fringed by boat clubs, wharfs, gantries, And crossed by practical delights - Varied spans, forming pleasing sights.
Fine churches headed at Durham; Football kits ad infinitum; Kept castles - one for study; Masonry behind masonry.
And, with moulding-works out that way, It’s somewhere for a longer stay..?
Lovely to hear you again on Sunday at Bristol Fest. Can you believe the sound police came up and told me that your performance was louder than the main stage??? Bonkers, anyhow, have uploaded a load of pics of you and your sax player to http://picasaweb.google.com/MalcolmShipp67/BristolFestivalSunday# let me know if you need prints as they are also on a print site!
Hi Diana - really enjoyed your performance at the Village Pump Folk Club last evening - you have beautiful delivery. Also thanks for your kind comments. Hope to hear you again before too long and I shall try to make it to your even more local club sometime. Best wishes Guy
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