Robert Johnson - Guitar/Vocals
The Johnson Boys:
Dwight Johnson Jr. - Bass Guitar
Tony Macaluso - Lead Guitar
Dana Fasano - Drums
Jonathan Andrews - Banjo
Love Songs:
Sarah Purser - Piano/Vocals
Guest Appearances:
Eric Brewer - Harmonica, Lead guitar/African drum
Frank Mackey - African drums
Laurel Elmore - Back up vocals
Colin Bartoe - Back Up vocals/African drum
Gene! Mundae, Iain and Renee - Back Up vocals for such songs as Beulah Mae and Rainy Day
Influences
Sushi. It just taste so good!
Jeff Buckley, The Cure, Radiohead, Willie Dixon, Counting Crows, The Gypsy Kings, Tori Amos, Ben Harper, Jarabe de Palo, Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, Ani D, Regina Spektor and Billy Joel. The train rides; the stiff drinks; the calmness of the siesta; the overnight street sweepers; the intertwined plazas and the women of Spain. The beaches; the long winding roads of the north; the laid back nature of her landscape and it's effect on those that inhabit her, and the sunsets of Southern California. The towering jungle of concrete; the pulsing throngs of people; the screeching of the subways; the long train rides upstate; the Hudson valley and the beautiful women of New York. The overwhelming green; the never-ending of trees and water; the unforgiving heat; the sugarwhite beauty of her shorelines; the constant flux of people; and the everlasting skies of Florida. The depth of her rich soil; the penetrating heat; the inundation of sounds, smells, and people that make up the village of Alagbado. And her ability to leave you in wonderment and awe and wanting more. (but not in that order)
Sounds Like
A deep passionate kiss on the side of the road before ending the night.
Robert Johnson started his travels very early in his life. His father, a Navy man, moved his family to a new place every few years until they settled in a small town in the panhandle of Florida. This is where Johnson's musical roots started to grow. There, he joined his church choir, started singing in school, and picked up the guitar for the first time. He began exploring the blues in his teen years and became the front man and songwriter for the band Blue Union. Playing the blues became a staple in Johnson's music. He was later influenced by the flamenco music of Madrid, Spain, where he lived and studied during his college years. He then traveled to New York for a brief period, and ultimately ended up back in Florida- this time in Orlando, where he finished his studies at the University of Central Florida.
In the fall of 2004, Johnson recorded his first demo: "San Francisco Can Wait," in Los Angeles with Jason Young (Dirty Champions, Dig This) and then traveled across the country for the next year playing in small clubs, bars, and open mics. Upon returning to Orlando (where he currently resides) Johnson began to work on his next collaborative project with Thaddeus Ressler, a classically trained Cellist from Chicago. This spawned: Robert and The Emotional Scars, and the production of "The Demo," an Ep showcasing the works created from this collaboration.
Robert and The Emotional Scars spent the first half of 2006 playing in and around Orlando. Some highlights were: The Emergenza Music festival; playing live on the radio for 91.5 WPRK; and having three songs showcased and being interviewed for The Scene on 95.7 The Hog, out of Daytona. The Song "Useless" was published on the Hurricane Healing vol. 4 cd, benefitting hurricane Katrina Victims.
Once "The Demo" is out, a small tour of Florida and the Southeast will ensue, before heading into the studio to record Robert's first full length album, "All She Took." Look forward to hearing that album sometime early next year.
May 3rd 2007
I haven't recorded anything in a year. But I have been working on putting shows together, trying to promote my fellow musicians in Orlando and abroad. I hope to soon work on some recordings. I've been writing a lot. Have some new music I hope for all to enjoy. I am very grateful to all that have embraced my music and have been kind enough to share it with others. It warms my heart to know that people "get it" and sing along. Tatame, Dandelion Cafe, and Orlando Brewing were the first places to listen and understand the importance of promoting original music. I am very grateful that Orlando has outlets/venues like these. It makes living and performing here, at least to me, much more enjoyable. Make sure you support your local scene. Whatever that scene may be (except cover band type of bullshit, that just annoys me).
November 1st 2007
The only real risk in life is dying without ever doing the things you always dreamed of. I don't want to die unfulfilled. The recording process has begun. The Acoustic Orlando Music Festival planning has started. Backpacking in Europe with Marianne will happen and touring in the Summer of 2008 with the Macaluso/Fasano duo, Arms Harbor, Ashton Morris, Raffa and Rainer, and Rachel Goodrich would be a dream come true.
June 16th 2008
I've started working on a new album. An album of love songs. I'll be mainly working with a pianist, cellist, and percussionist. It's going to be quite the adventure and I look forward to the journey.
As far as coming to the Brewery, we have soft plans to attend, but it sort of depends on my posse as they are not all beer drinkers, so it will depend on who wants to go. I'd love to see some sweet Mr. Robert picking and drink a good beer while I'm doing it, so I will campaign for it certainly.
The Brewery? 8:30? Jon & I should be able to make that.. when are you done? We should go bowling afterwards or something.. we haven't hung out in a long time! ;DRe
Useless really demonstrates your ability to cover many different kinds of moods in your compositions. I'm really impressed by how these live recordings have come out. You've definately shown your your ability to grow over the years and with more potential at that.
By the way, I have a new phone and need your # again so we can play phonetag and the like.
i'm doing alright. excited about the shows this weekend. i was bummed that i kinda flaked on the audobon market last saturday. this weekend will be better!
haha i'll make sure to let her know! i don't know how much time she puts into it at the moment, i think she just recently made it. first paid photo gig?!?... exciting, i've decided i want to follow my love of photography more! i bought a sweet ass dslr and i'm taking a class that starts tomorrow! also going to be shadowing a photographer at a engagement shoot in la jolla. we'll see how it all goes!! =0)
Hi there Mr. Johnson! I had Bula Mae (sp?) stuck in my head the other day! Anyway I hope you had a fun 4th and I wanted to tell you to check out a friend of mine, we went to highschool together and she went to theater school at NYU, she should be under my recent friends. Her name is Ande Alvarez and she's a singer =0). She has a personal profile and one for her music.
Hello We're NEN GROUP and we love your music. There is nothing to say but Congratulations! to your musicians and you. We wish you the very best and we hope you visit our country someday, it's a beautiful country. Jazz is the best. NEN GROUP
Denver's good...decided on not going back to school yet. But I'm leaving for Europe tomorrow!! So that's exciting. Glad things are working out for you! Miss you and your music....
i know, it's starting to sound really good. i'm glad we recorded tonight... tomorrow we should really focus on shakespeare. i love making music with you, friend.
