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MIKE JOHNSON
Country Music's No.1 Black Yodeler
Recording for Roughshod Records since 1987
1996 Traditional Music Association "Songwriter" Nominee
1997 Traditional Music Association "Publication" Nominee
(Top-Rail Chatter Independent Country Music Magazine)
1998 Traditional Music Association "Male Artist" Nominee
2002 Inducted into America's Old-Time Country Music Hall of Fame
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Mike Johnson is Country Music's No. 1 Black Yodeler. While there have been other Black Yodelers, like the Mississippi Sheiks, Herb Jeffries, Stoney Edwards, Slim Gaillard and McDonald Craig, none have demonstrated the unique versatility in combining the Jimmie Rodgers and Swiss yodeling styles as Mike. This, along with being the most publicized, recorded, and consistently performing Black Yodeler firmly established him as such. Born 13 June 1946 to Margaret and Joseph Johnson, this Altar Boy, Eagle Scout, Camp Counselor, and Red Cross Senior Lifesaver, attended and graduated from Catholic Grade [1961]and High [1965]Schools. In September 1965 he enlisted in the US Navy and served two Vietnam tours [1967-69] attached to the USS Constellation, CVA-64, Task Force 77.
After his discharge he worked as a Motorcycle Courier, Park Police Officer, and Driving Instructor, to mention a few. Trucking, first with Newlon's Transfer[1981-1996] of Arlington Virginia, would prove most beneficial in firmly establishing him on the independent Country Music circuit! Mike's Operations Manager, trucking mentor, and friend, Butch Newlon, passed away on 29 April 2004.
In 1982 Country Boy Eddie introduced Mike to his Birmingham, Alabama TV viewers as "sounding like Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, and Jimmie Rodgers all rolled into one!
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Mike with his Southern Truck, a GMC 318-V8 Detroit, in 1987 in Killeen, Texas.
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As a boy Mike devoured books and movies about hunters, trappers and wild animals. Boy Scout Troop 380 provided his first doorway to adventures that he would later reflect in his drawings, books and songs; like in these 1970s photos of Mike.
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Performing in bars and honky tonks since the mid-1960s, he did his first recording session in 1981 at Jim Maxwell's Globe Recording Studio on Dickerson Road, Nashville. He recorded 5 songs in a 2-hour session from which came his first 45 rpm single, KING OF THE FISH & PLEASE DON'T SQUEEZE THE CHARMIN. Lawrence Record Shop, 409 Broadway, Nashville, was the first retailer to carry the new single and they have been carrying Mike's releases ever since!
When Globe left Nashville in 1982 Maxwell sent Mike to his friend Jim Stanton at Champ Recording Studio on Church Street. There Mike recorded and mentored under the legendary founder of Rich-R-Tone Records until Jim's untimely death in 1989. "Jim taught me how the Country Music Industry thought and worked..." Mike says.
Mike has since penned over 1200 songs, including over 100 yodeling songs. In 1982 he formed Pata del Lobo Music Publishing. In 1987 he formed Roughshod Records and You & Me Publishing. In 1995 he created the Top-Rail Chatter Country Music Magazine, which ceased publication in December 2004. His discography consists of two out-of-print 45rpms; 4 cassette albums; 4 cassette singles; 8 CD albums; 11 CD singles, and 4 Videos. He also has Posters, a Songbook, T-Shirts, and a Photo Belt Buckle.
Mike's song "DID YOU HUG YOUR MOTHER TODAY?" was the most requested song for 3-weeks surrounding Mother's Day on Big John Baldry's Michigan Jamboree-WBYW- Raido Show in 1994, making it his first Radio Hit. Mike is featured in Pamela E. Foster's1998 definitive Best Seller on African American involvement in Country Music, "My Country The African Diaspora's Country Music Heritage" and her 2000 follow-up book, "My Country Too, The Other Black Music." [Borders Books] Mike's song "HANK SANG MOSTLY SAD SONG" debuted on Dustin Hunt's 2003 CD Album, "THE MAN, THE MUSIC, THE LEGEND, A Tribute To Hank."
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Mike's Yodeling Friends: 1. Yodeling McDonald Craig of Linden, Tn, the only Black Yodeler to win 1st. Place at an Annual [1978] Jimmie Rodgers Yodeling Champonship in Meridian, Mississippi. With friend Ed Bullard of Tupelo, Ok. 2. Janet McBride, The Yodeling Queen at the 1999 Sonny Rodgers Yodelers Paradise Show. 3. Sonny Rodgers [Cousin of Jimmie Rodgers] Joyce Leonard, next in line for yodelingCrown, & Tom Wills [Cousin of Bob Wills] at the 2000 Sonny Rodgers Yodeler's Paradise Show.
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In November 2003 everything came to an abrupt halt when 3-neck vertebrae collapsed on his spinal cord and ended his 20 year trucking career. Surgery was performed in January 2004 and on 27September 2004, he received another devastating blow with the passing of his Mother following a valiant 2-year bout with brain tumors. She had turned 75 on 4 June 2004. We THANK YOU all for your cards and emails of condolences.
Mike's first post-surgery performance was on 7 May 2005 at New York's Bowery Poetry Club where he participated in Bart Plantenga's Yodel Lecture with Yodelers Randy Erwin and Lynn Book. Bart's 2004 Best Seller and most definitive study "Yodel-Ay-Eee-Ooo The Secret History Of Yodeling Around The World," traces yodelings origins to many world-wide cultures. Mike is one of the 18 World Famous Yodelers on Bart's 2006 "Rough Guide To Yodel" CD, released by the World Music Network in London, singing his "Yeah I'm A Cowboy" . He will also be included in Bart's forth coming book, "Yodel In Hi-Fi."
"Mike Johnson * Yodeling 40 Years" a 2-disc CD featuring 50 yodeling songs written by Mike Johnson, released on 30 January 2007. This CD, his "Black Yodel No.1"CD, "Did You Hug Your Mother Today?" CD, his Yodel Song Archives [114 songs written by Mike] and related material, are now part of the Library of Congress' Recorded Sound Reference Divison's permanent collection.
Mike's trucking career is over, but not his music! There's still plently of that left in him!
Vaya con Dios Amigoes!
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Mike's Hall of Fame Induction
Copyright 2003 Roughshod Records
This page rebuilt 1 June 2004
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Mike Johnson was a also a "wild-child," a term often applied to Roger "King of the Road" Miller. You can share some of Mike's 1960s exploits through eight fast-paced and exciting stories in "El Latigo, A Little Known Legend of the Tijuana Jail and other Stories."
Go to Roughshod Records for Mike Johnson Music, DVDs, and other stuff.
OTHER INTERESTING SITES: Visit the Legendary Mark Brine at www.markbrine.com Janet McBride Queen of the Yodelers Terry Smith National Traditional Country Music Association Hillbilly Music Twangtown USA Talent On Display
Roughshod Records, P.O. Box 100933, Arlington, Va. 22210.
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