|
|
|
|
 |
|
The Music of
James "Calvin" Johnson
Read the Audience Reviews
Calvin James
Rock n' Roll, Rhythm n' Blues
By Diane Ingram
Long before names like Minnesota Barking Ducks, Big Walter Smith, the Senders and Lamont Cranston began to woo baby boomers and bikers to the same local clubs, the Twin Cities blues scene thrived on the sounds of The Durados, Mojo Buford, Jake Jewel, and Eddie Lovejoy. These local icons inspired and mentored up and coming musicians in the early ‘60s. Blues standards were peppered throughout the set lists of the big three bands of that era…the Accents, the Avanties and the Stompin’ Underbeats. One look back in the archives of WDGY - AM radio and you’ll find the Accents first hit, Howlin’ for My Darlin’, has the distinctive blues harp of Muddy Waters' alumni Mojo Buford. Not to be outdone the Underbeats’ Jim Johnson headed into the studio and laid down the tracks for the Muddy Waters standard Love to You, his powerful guitar licks wailing out the message while bassist, Doni Larson, set the pace.
Followers of the Underbeats grew up dancing. They filled upper Midwest ballrooms and clubs - the Marigold, the Medina, Bel Rae, the Prom Center, Mr. Lucky’s, Danceland - to capacity. The music may have been rock n’ roll to most of them, but a crop of young listeners were studying the style of these players and researching the names of the songwriters on those record labels. Beyond Chuck Berry and Fats Domino, they were being introduced to Muddy and Willie Dixon and Howlin' Wolf.
As popular music evolved into progressive rock Johnson and Larson moved to Los Angeles and, under their new name, Gypsy, became the house band at Whisky A-Go-Go. In the early 70’s they returned to the Twin Cities, using the Midwest as home base while touring with the Guess Who.
When Gypsy broke up in the mid-70s, Jim Johnson returned to Los Angeles and continued to write music and perform. His versatility is evident when you read his credits. The Fifth Dimension recorded his melodic Magic in My Life. Ray Charles recorded his R&B signature Too Hard to Love You. Johnson’s country style Money Side of Town is found in the music track of Universal Studio’s movie, Slapshot - the Paul Newman movie about the failing hockey team. While writing he continued to perform and record with his own bands, the L.A. Steamers, The Heaters, and the Calvin James Band. He also did studio work and toured with Eagles member Randy Meisner, Ovid Stevens, and Stan Kipper as the Silverados Band.
So what does all this have to do with the current music scene in the Twin Cities? Well, Jim Johnson is back in town and he has resurfaced with a fabulous group of seasoned musicians who have been playing the blues for the last 40 years. The band - Calvin James and Bad Influence - is made up of Johnson (lead guitar and vocals), Doni Larson (his original bass player from the Underbeats), Bruce Pedalty (keys and vocals -Accents, Senders) and Glenn Graham (Cornbread Harris). Rotating drummers include Stan Kipper (New Primitives), Edgar Murphy (Whitesidewalls), Craig Gallas (Joe Juliano Band) and Don "Pockets" Robertson (Willie Murphy Band).
In a recent interview for the Midwest Music Tribute Page, Johnson had this to say about the sound he is striving for with Calvin James and Bad Influence: “It’s the stuff I do best...blues, rock and roll, rhythm and blues...that’s the music I like. We’re going to be doing my originals and some covers that folks have never heard...or that they’ve forgotten...or songs that I do different...you know, traditional songs”.
As superb as Calvin is on vocals and guitar, his real talent is as a
songwriter. The new CD Calvin James - It Ain't Over features eight
of his original songs. It Ain't Over for Calvin James...he's just coming
into his own!
Web Design and © 2003 Vito Rococo Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
