Whenever you read or hear about the music of Johnsmith, certain watchwords always come up, regardless of the source. Words like uplifting, or integrity, heart, or soul. His songs and voice go straight to the heart, because that’s where they come from.
John was born into a rural eastern Iowa, large Irish Catholic family of ten kids. Pursuing a life of music has led him far from his small town roots. After a short college stint in southern California, a couple years on an organic hippie farm in Iowa, and a few years in Colorado, he now resides along the upper Mississippi in western Wisconsin.
Over two decades of performing festivals, concert halls, coffeehouses, colleges, and house concerts, along with a half dozen acclaimed CDs, Johnsmith has built a solid fan base in the US and abroad.
After a few inspiring solo tours to Ireland, John now leads tours to the Emerald Isle a few times a year bringing small groups of fans and friends touring castles and fishing villages by day, and sharing music with the locals in pubs by night.
He’s a past winner of the New Folk competition at the Kerrville Folk Festival, and has taught songwriting there, as well as the Swannanoa Gathering, the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival, and the Big Sur CA Esalen Institute. He was recently featured on the elite “New Dimensions” program on NPR.
“Break Me Open” his most recent CD, features some of the finest players in acoustic music today: Darrell Scott, Tim O’Brien, Stuart Duncan, Byron House, Kenny Malone, Andrea Zonn, former ‘Runaway’ duo partner Dan Sebranek, native American chants and flute cameos by Bill Miller, and harmony vocals by Suzi Ragsdale, Sally Barris, and John’s daughter Elisi Smith-Waller.
This CD portrays John’s earthy brand of spirituality and finds him stretching his songwriting wings expressing the harder sides of life and love. From the poetic ‘Back to the Mystery’, to the touching tribute ‘Cold, Cold Ground’, to the honest ’Messy Thing’. The disc also includes masterful covers written by friends Darrell Scott (“Love’s Not Through With Me Yet”) and L.J. Booth (“Box Elder”).
Johnsmith has walked down the roads that made him whole, and when he brings that onstage, he connects with folks. He calls himself a blue collar songwriter, banging out his tunes along the back roads one show at a time.
Someone’s voice is not just an instrument; it’s more like the sound of their soul. It’s a connection thing that moves us. As a solo performer Johnsmith totally opens up and bares his genuine self on stage. Night after night, CD after CD, he brings it all on full heart. Fellow songwriter Buddy Mondlock best sums it up:
" I feel like every time one of Johnsmith’s songs gets heard a little healing happens to the world."
THANKS FOR THE FRIENDSHIP & SUPPORT, MUCH APPREICATED, STOP BY WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE AND GIVE A LISTEN AND LEAVE A COMMENT ON YOUR THOUGHTS..............
PEACE, LOVE & HAPPINESS, MICHAEL ps--I'm the one with the beard
It is a pleasure to have you as my new MySpace friend… I find your MySpace page, your talent and your enthusiasm for music pleason’ to many… I welcome you’re other MySpace friends to visit my MySpace page that I’ve dedicated to my admiration of many talented guitar playing musicians of many styles… Stop by check it out and leave a comment if you like… Thanks Ken…
I am starting a new Myspace page titled "Creativity Heals" a place for Artists of all disciplines to post their Event information and other newsworthy events and stories for fellow musicians to read and learn from. I hope you will join this page.
Would be a pleassure to have you take part in this great experience.
Pretty happy I stumbled on to one of your songs playing on a local radio station that's run by the public here in St. Louis, MO. I may not look like the acoustic type man, but some of you work has influenced my own on my personal website man. I enjoy the other songs also on your profile. You're very good at what you do. My acoustic work has kinda gotten pushed to the side, cause I joined a rock band. But I introduced them to one of your songs around a bonfire at an after party one night. Ole' Scotch Pine is my favorite song so far. Hope to hear back from you dude. Peace.
John Thanks for the add..Good to hear from u.. Again congrats on the new CD and hope you come back to De Witt and put on another show.. Looking forward to it.. I am attaching a picture of these 2 hot chicks I think you might know... God Bless. Hope to see you soon.
Ciao,Johnsmith Thank you for the add and the friendship. you are very good, I like your stupendous music a lot,and stupendous voice. compliments ..really. you are one of my prefeitis I feel great admiration for you, talk to you soon, and all of my best wishes to always listen to your good music. all the best.. from italy..and good week end neal
Hi Johnsmith, I'm just stopping in for a very long overdue visit and serious listen. I love your music!! I do hope our paths cross somewhere, sometime. I'll bet you've got some great stories!! Your songs are just amazing!!!! Beautiful, deep and real.
Hi John, Just sending good thoughts your way for a very happy Thanksgiving holiday. I hope you were able to get together with the whole family. JP came home from school and will try his best to fill up on Mexican food before heading back to Cleveland on Saturday. So, TX this Spring? See you then. Hugs, Janet
Dear John, Just wanted you to know that I applied the lessons you taught me at Esalen. I was fighting a cold before my last show, but I carried on. My throat was coated with slippery elm bark tea; I connected with the audience by delivering the songs with eye contact; and I collaborated with Annie playing fiddle and singing harmonies. It was exhilarating!! Thank you sharing your wisdom about being a songwriting trobadour. Happy Thanksgiving. xxoo, Sweet Joyce Ann
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