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Johnny Harper

JOHNNY HARPER is an acclaimed singer, guitarist, and songwriter who divides his time between Northern California and New Orleans. Well known for leading his own rocking bands and for his work with other celebrated artists, Johnny is also a powerful

Songs

•   Jay Gould's Daughter
•   Loafin' on the Water
•   Work With What You Got

solo performer, as this performance will show. His solo sets bring together an amazingly wide range of American roots music styles, all of which he knows in depth. Cur-ville listeners can expect to hear songs in the deep blues tradition of Robert Johnson, obscure old-time country classics, traditional folk ballads and Woody Guthrie songs, surprising numbers by Bob Dylan and The Band, funky New Orleans R&B and rockabilly, and much more, including Johnny's powerful original songs. On most of this material, Johnny accompanies himself in a complex, finger-picked electric guitar style; some numbers get an acoustic treatment. Johnny is also a born storyteller whose comments on the music are by turns moving and highly entertaining.

In California, Johnny has been known for many years for performing New Orleans R&B styles (Professor Longhair, Allen Toussaint, Earl King, Meters, Fats Domino, etc.) with his bands Johnny Harper’s Carnival and Hot Links. He is also a veteran performer of other American roots music styles -- blues and gospel, rock and country, Cajun and zydeco, traditional and contemporary folk music, and more. Johnny’s songwriting clearly reflects his deep roots in American folk traditions, and also draws on the socially and spiritually conscious folk-rock songwriting tradition of artists such as Guthrie, Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen.

In addition to leading his own bands and performing on his own, Johnny has worked with numerous other well-known artists. He recently toured as lead guitarist with Maria Muldaur and her Red Hot Bluesiana Band, and for a number of years he has worked as guitarist with the legendary blues and folk singer Barbara Dane. He has performed on lead guitar with such Louisiana music legends as blues pianist Katie Webster, Cajun fiddler Michael Doucet, zydeco star Queen Ida, and R&B masters such as Willie Tee, Clarence “Bon Ton” Garlow, Ernie K-Doe, and Joe Krown. He has also worked, on stage and/or in the studio, with many prominent Bay Area country and folk musicians, including Laurie Lewis, David Gans, David Grisman, Kathy Kallick, Darol Anger, and Bobby Black. He is also known as a music scholar and historian, and as a guitar teacher.

Johnny's exciting guitar work, compelling vocals, and absorbing storytelling will make this a truly memorable evening.