We first encountered Jeremiah Johnson as he performed a solo set at an International Blues Challenge back in the ’90’s. We immediately offered him a booking at The Big Easy. For years, Jeremiah held a place on TBE’s roster, until his move back home to St. Louis. This is what he’s been up to since:
“In a review of the November 2010 release 9th & Russell, one music critic stated “everything here is 1st class: musicianship, singing, production, artwork, and especially the songs”. Johnson’s music was backed both by his own band and the Sliders. The latter are a horn section consisting of Jim Rosse (trumpet) and Stuart Williams (saxophone). Long-term performers on the St. Louis blues and R&B circuit, they have played in Johnnie Johnson‘s own band and toured with Little Feat and Bob Weir. In 2011, their joint follow-up effort, Brand Spank’n Blue, was released on CD Baby.
“In 2014, film maker Gary Glenn filmed a Johnson concert as the basis of his docu-concert film named Ride the Blues. In 2015, Johnson played at the Bonita Blues Festival in Bonita Springs, Florida.
“Johnson’s 2015 release, Grind, spent a number of weeks on the Billboard Blues Albums Chart, with a peak position of No. 8. The album was produced by Devon Allman, and featured Yonrico Scott as guest drummer.
“Johnson’s 2016 release, Blues Heart Attack, spent five weeks in the top 15 and peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Blues Chart. The album was produced by Jason McIntire and Jeremiah Johnson at Sawhorse Studios in St Louis, Missouri. Many of the songs and the album spent more than half the year in the top of the radio charts according to the Roots Music Report.
“Ruf Records released Johnson’s 2018 album, Straitjacket.
“Ruf Records released Johnson’s 2020 album, Heavens to Betsy. It debuted at No. 3 and later moved up to the No. 1 position on the Billboard Blues Chart. Reviews of Heavens to Betsy included, “…magnificent” about covers the whole of “Heaven’s To Betsy” in one word. Like they’ve dusted off the all American rock n roll songbook and given it a spruce up. Good heavens, this is a cracker.” – Maximum Volume”
Jeremiah Johnson appears Friday, November 18th.