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Bios
Short Bio
Bio
In the beginning
Feeding off the applause for his performances at family gatherings, jjohnie formed his first band at the age of 13 playing covers and originals at friend’s parties where he once shared the stage with Harry Connick, Jr.
Later in high school he went on to form The Socials where Phil Anselmo was the lead singer before he quit to go on to form his own band, Pantera (Metal Magic). As jjohnie described his departure, “It was a classic mic drop moment, he said, ‘Fck this New Wave bullsht! I quit!’ after only the second rehearsal!”.
Stepping up
With stepping up to the mic for the first time the band went on to garner great local success fueled by their single being featured on WTUL (Tulane’s college radio) which was produced by mentor Vance DeGeneres (The Cold, Cowboy Mouth, House of Shock and The Daily Show).
As most high school bands do, the band broke up but jjohnie went on to form Voices of Winter with one of his bandmates and became the principal songwriter and lead singer. The fan base continued to grow drawing large crowds at gigs at high school gyms as well as legendary New Orleans venues such as Tipitina’s and Jimmy’s.
Getting traction
After a family crisis jjohnie moved to Columbus, Oh. where he reformed the band with a new lineup and sound.
The band garnered an even bigger audience selling out the very first show. jjohnie recalls, “It was surreal to see a packed room with almost as many people outside peering in the windows to get glimpse!”. They continued to move to bigger rooms and eventually regularly headlining the legendary Newport Music Hall with openers such as Ocean Blue (Sire records) and Watershed (Epic records).
Second Act resurgence
After a 20-year hiatus to focus on supporting his family jjohnie is now embarking on the next chapter of his musical journey. Urged by his wife and children, inspired by the resurgence nostalgia of 80’s New Wave, and enabled by technological advancements in recording at his fingertips, jjohnie has been working on recording and producing his upcoming EP from his home studio in Columbus. “I remember hearing bands like The Killers and Interpol thinking this is what I used to write back in the 80’s. It gave me the confidence and courage to pursue my dreams. It’s never too late!”. His sound is soaked in the heritage of the New Orleans’ New Wave music scene of the 80’s that’s evolved to a sonic journey of the echoes of his youth through the lens of his future.
It was a classic mic drop moment, Anselmo said, ‘F*ck this New Wave bullsh*t! I quit!’ after only the second rehearsal!
It was surreal to see a packed room with almost as many people outside peering in the windows to get glimpse!
I remember hearing bands like The Killers and Interpol thinking this is what I used to write back in the 80’s. It gave me the confidence and courage to pursue my dreams. It’s never too late!
Way to Shangri-La
Can you hear me
Come to me
Running faster gaining speed
I can hear you
Here I come
Voices echo to me
Running but getting nowhere
Flying with my feet on the ground
Carrying a bag of nothing that’s bringing me down
Can you hear me
Come to me
Voices are getting louder
I’m deafened by the silence I hear
Walking a little faster toward the voice in my head
Feeling my gravity weaken
My body getting lighter each step
Wings like angels sprouting as I’m reaching the ledge
Can you hear me
Come to me
Running faster
Gaining speed
I can hear you
Here I come
Voices echo to me
Here I’m standing
Staring at the my feet at the ledge
Summoning the courage I need to take the leap
Voices continue to haunt me
The wind in my wing is too strong
Gravity’s forgiveness frees me and I’m on my way
Can you hear me
Come to me
Running faster to me
Shangri-La
Shangri-La
I’m on my way to find my Shangri-La
Shangri-La
Shangri-La
I’m on my way to find my Shangri-La
Shangri-La
Shangri-La
I’m on my way to find my Shangri-La
Shangri-La
Shangri-La
I’m on my way to find my Shangri-La
Shangri-La
Shangri-La
I’m on my way to find my Shangri-La
Shangri-La
Shangri-La
I’m on my way to find my Shangri-La
So what
I’m blind
But I see
All the things you do to me
I’m numb
But I feel
All the pain that your causing me
Your breaking me
Your breaking me
I’m walking on the rope you set
I’m looking straight to not forget
The air up here is warm and sweet
I feel the shivers to my feet
My head is clear my eyes are shut
The fuse is lit I’m looking up
At stars to reach from way down here
Shooting through the atmosphere
Riding on this ride to long
So move
Move.
Fast as you have to move
Run
Run
Far as you have to run
To find the place you can’t replace
So what are you going to do
without me
Hey
I want you
I want you to know I care
Hey
I need you
I need you but your not there
Riding on this ride too long
Your breaking me
So move
Move.
Fast as you have to move
Run
Run
Far as you have to run
To find the place you can’t replace
So what are you going to do
without me
So fly
Fly
High as you want to fly
To find the place you can’t replace
So what am I gonna do
without you
Without you
Without you
Without you
In my house
I’ve lived in my house forever
There are places I’ve never spent
Though the sun is seeping through my windows
There are corners she’s never met
It’s time of me to journey
To open doors I’ve kept locked up
To face the unknown
Now I’m staring at the door I must open
To make myself feel fine
I keep wondering what’s in store for me
On my journey
In my house
The first door wasn’t that easy
But still I came out alive
My attic with all of its flowers
Is begging for me to step inside
A deep breath feeds my courage
I reach for the door that awaits me
In my house
Now I’m staring at the door I must open
To make myself feel fine
I keep wondering what’s in store for me
On my journey
In my house
I’ve lived inside my house so long
Thinking there was something wrong
All wrapped in fear
Oh now unlocking all my doors
Now I think I’ll stay
Until the end of time
Corners she’s never met
In my house
In my house
On the verge
Wake up! Wake up!
They found us here, they want to take what we hold dear.
You grab the cash I’ve got the guns let’s leave all our troubles behind.
You hold my hand without a word follow my lead into a world – a crowded room without view.
At least we’ve got each other…and what more do we need? Mmmm hmmm
You drive the car I’ll guide us there.
Pretend to smile without a care.
Two roads diverge in yellow woods – take the one less traveled.
And our hearts are beating fast as flashing lights go blaring past.
It’s not the scene for faint of heart but this isn’t anything new.
Come on speed up! We’re almost there – the road that leads to anywhere.
It’s up ahead just past the bridge that crosses the river of tears.
And when we get there this I swear no more mistakes that you can’t bear.
And offer up the prayers to God if he takes us where we’re going.
I’m tired of waiting for you.
Come on and move it along.
I remember walking in the night one day when we…
Starlight star bright how we wish on you tonight to help us see we’re on the verge!
Do with me what you will.
Will with me what you want.
We’re not alone!
I remember walking in the night one day when we…
I remember walking in the night one day when we…
I remember…
Starlight star bright!
.. walking in the night one day when we…
Starlight star bright!
I remember walking in the night one day when we…
Starlight star bright!
How we wish on you tonight to help us see we’re on the verge!
Starlight star bright!
Close My Eyes
Running and laughing no care in the world
Hoping and praying I’m not overheard
Turn the light away and let me be alone
Kicking up pieces that turn into stone
Picking up pieces better left alone
So I can fly away
Cause I’m carrying the weight of the world on my spine
Staring at the mountains I have left to climb
Look up Look up
But I can’t look down
So close my eyes
Biting and scratching at the heart piercing sound
My secret’s been exposed
I stand before myself
Look at me now I’m flying so high
Hurdles behind me and you ask me why
I let myself be free
To feel the strength in me
Cause I’m carrying the weight of the world on my spine
Staring at the mountains I have left to climb
Look up Look up
But I can’t look down
So close my eyes
Find your strength and take it
Shine that rock and throw it
See how far you’ll make it fly
Staring at the mountains I have left to climb
Look up Look up
But I can’t look down
So close my eyes
Staring at the mountains I have left to climb
It’s what you make it
And go and take it
You’ll make it fly
Grace
Falling! Falling!
Sometimes I need a friend
Who I can turn to.
Sometimes I need a smile
So I can smile too.
If I run
Until tomorrow calls my name.
And if I call out will you be close enough to hear me when I sing
That I’m falling from my grace
On to heaven’s door
Is that such a bad place
For you to join me
Sometimes I use the sun
As a thousand drops that shower me.
Sometimes I use the clouds
As a tree that bears its fruit for me.
So I try
To reach as high as I can reach
And if I call out will you be there to lift me high enough of to see.
That I’m falling from my grace
on to heaven’s door.
Cause I’m falling from my grace
on to heaven’s door.
Simple answers unrehearsed
Take a deep breath so you can sing for me
Sing for me. Sing for me. Sing for me. Sing for me.
Sing for me. Sing for me. Sing for me. Sing for me.
All the seasons left unchanged
All the leaves that yet remain
Is there an answer I can give to you?
Cause I’m falling from my grace
On to heaven’s door.
Cause I’m falling from my grace
On to heaven’s door.
Falling! Falling!
Cause I’m falling! Falling!