Rockin' Johnny Burgin - Guitar / Vocals,
Sho Komiya - Bass,
Rick Kreher - Rhythm Guitar,
Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith - -Drums,
Martin Lange - Harp,
Influences
Hip Linkchain, Big Smokey Smothers, Mighty Joe Young, Jimmy Dawkins, Fenton Robinson, Earl Hooker, Willie James Lyons, Luther Guitar Jr. Johnson, Jimmy Johnson, Bobby King, Taildragger, Jimmy Burns, Billy Flynn, Lurrie Bell, Magic Sam, Otis Rush, Johnny B. Moore, Buddy Guy, Elmore James, Syl Johnson, Eddie Taylor, Hubert Sumlin, Django Rheinhardt etc.
We can now rejoice as the young Modern King of the westside blues guitar has finally re-emerged after an 8 year hiatus!
Rockin' Johnny (Burgin) moved to Chicago to attend the University of Chicago in the late 1980's, but began playing blues in all the black clubs in town, backing Taildragger, Big Smokey Smothers and many other characters.
Eventually, Rockin' Johnny and the Lazy Boyz (with the tremendously talented Martin Lange on harp) became basically the modern equivalent of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Except, in this writer's humble opinion, Johnny was a far more-accomplished west side slinger than Bloomfield. In the 1990's there was no one who worked more, or harder, or played more varied or deeper west side Chicago blues in town.
Throughout the 90's Johnny was a highly in-demand session player (not unlike Robert Jr. Lockwood in his heyday) on some great recordings for Delmark and other labels, as well as being an admired hero to many budding young guitarists on the scene.
Unfortunately, a few years ago he mysteriously vanished from the Windy City and fell into obscurity, one guesses, to raise a family. The gap he left in the blues world still had not been filled.... that is until this past January 2009 when he suddenly re-emerged to re-claim his title as the Modern King of the West Side Chicago Blues Guitar!
Come join us on Saturday, June 13, 2009 for Rockin' Johnny's long-awaited, official comeback show at Reggie's Music Joint (2105 S. State Street, Chicago IL) A must see!
Check out the lineup (which also includes Eddie C. Campbell, Johnny B. Moore, Taildragger, Jesse Fortune and Los Angeles guitar man Cadillac Zack) at http://www.reggieslive.com/musicjoint
Ciao,Johnny Thank you for the add and the friendship. you are very good, I like your stupendous music a lot, Band, and stupendous voice. compliments ..really. you are one of my prefeitis, I feel great admiration for you, be really one whom is worth rather a lot! I hope to listen soon to you, in italy .. talk to you soon, and all of my best wishes to always listen to your good music all the best.. from italy.. and good life.. every day neal
Johnny's return to the West Side with the one and only Tail Dragger! This Saturday, Feb 14, 9pm @ Rooster's (Bossman's brother's place) 4501 W Madison (Madison & Kostner)
I am always blessed that someone took the time to teach me the difference between Westside and Southside blues, and teach me eveything he knew about Django Reinheart.
Thanks for the add--Happiness and peace are very difficult to find.If you find it you are lucky. Maybe his fans should feel lucky to have heard him and grant him the possibility of his having found his happiness and peace.
I heard from Johnny two years ago. He called me at work. Believe me, it was a strange call. I hope he was calling just to say hey. He sounded as if he was happy with his life, and being a daddy.
The one thing I don't think he knew is how many people enjoyed his musical abilities.
I miss my friend.
