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Biography
Victor Johnson- Award winning writer, musician, performer and producer from the Pacific Northwest specializing in traditional styles of acoustic music and storytelling for kids and families.
Victor Johnson
Bringing American Roots music to all the kids of the world.
Acoustic music for kids and families that will please the ear, soothe the heart, stimulate the imagination, get toes tapping, hands clapping, feet dancing and faces smiling. Everyone is in the band. Come on down and have yourself a good time.
Raised by folk and blues revivalists of the 60's, Victor grew up listening to the music of Woody Guthrie, Leadbelly, John Hurt and Rev. Gary Davis. “We used to live in this house where all kinds of people would come over and make music in our living room. The music would go late into the night. I would sneak out of my room, make a bed in the hallway and listen to the music coming through the heating vent like radio. My shows are like it was when I was a kid. People getting together having fun making music, singing, dancing or just enjoying being in the middle of it all.”
In 2003 Victor started focusing on music for kids that the whole family could enjoy. Since then he has become one of the premier family acts in the Pacific Northwest and has a growing international reputation for making cool kid music.
Victor’s music has appeared in Nick Jr., Parenting, Blues Revue and Curious Parent magazines as well as NPR and children’s radio shows nationwide. He has won several awards including 2 Parents’ Choice Silver Awards for his Country Blues for Kids and Kid at Heart CDs. Victor has also been featured on Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Art Beat television series and appears on Putumayo Kids 2006 Folk Playground CD. Ireland’s premier Chip company Tayto Crisps, has chosen to use Victor’s version of “This little light of mine” for their new t.v. ,radio and movie theater ads.
Victor performs extensively in the Pacific Northwest at festivals, schools, libraries and hospitals as a solo, duo or with a full acoustic band with some of the Northwest’s best musicians. Mandolin, steel guitar, clarinet and fiddle and string bass can sometimes be heard in the family band accompanying Victor’s guitar playing.
For Booking:
541-298-7031
booking@victorjohnson.com
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Noteworthy Performances
- Putumayo Presents Folk Playground 2006 West Coast Tour
- Children's
Discovery Museum, San Jose Ca.
- Oakland
Zoo, Oakland Ca.
- Mariuccia
Iaconi Book Imports San Francisco, Ca.
- Bay
Area Discovery Museum, Sausalito Ca.
- Washington
Park Zoo Portland, Or
- Cannon Beach Concert Sandcastle weekend
2006
- Traditions Family Christmas Concert Sunriver Resort 2006
- Sisters
Folk Festival- Family stage headliner 2005, 2006
- Bite of Oregon-
Family stage 2004, 2005, 2006
- Telluride Mountain Film Festival 2005,
2006
- Alberta Art Hop 2006
- International Blues Challenge Memphis Tn.
2004
- Les Schwab Amphitheater Sunday Music Series Bend Or 2004
- Washington
Park Zoo- Family Farm Grand Opening Portland Or. 2004
- Waterfront
Blues Festival Portland Or. 2002 2003
- Day out with Thomas the Train
Hood River Or 2003
- Vela Windsurf Resort- Los Barrilles Baja Mexico
2003
Opener for:
Kevin Burke (Ireland)
Bruce Cockburn
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
B.J. Thomas
Rory Block
Savoy Brown
Laura Love
Small Potatoes
Acoustic Guitar Summit
Preston Reed
Performed with on stage:
Ruthie Foster
Moe Dixon
Joe Craven
Tony Marcus
Carlinho Pandeiro de Ouro (Brasil)
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Selected quotes from CD's and performances
"Nice playing!" (Country Blues For Kids)
Pat Donohue- House guitarist and songwriter for A Prairie Home
Companion
"Victor Johnson is one of the most inspiring up and coming
guitarists I've heard..... He's dedicated to the craft."
Terry Robb -Guitarist and Producer of twelve John Fahey records.
"It's indeed amazing the quality of sound he can
get with just a voice and one guitar"
Rodger Nichols -The Dalles Chronicle.
"Victor has a great bluesy delivery. A pleasure to listen
to..." "Fingerpicking in the best Mississippi John Hurt
tradition and then some."
Mark Hanson - Accent on Music.com, Frets Magazine
"Victor is a wonderful songwriter"
Rich Prezziosso - Small Potatoes
"Johnson's rich vocals are cream on a very delightful cake.
He has definitely found his voice on this recording."
( Country Blues For Kids)
Mark Gibson- The Dalles Chronicle
"I love your playing it's great to clean house by"
Cari- Boring Or
"Amazingly cool! The kids love it, good for jam out time,
or bedtime! Local Music hero does it right.
Good tunes, mom and dad dig it also. Weve got a three year old
and a nine year old and they both like it."
Ron O. The Dalles, Or.
"Great for young and old...the gingerbread man is a # 1hit
with my four year old.
Our family really enjoys this CD, these old favorites get your foot
tapping and your body moving whether you are four or forty. My four
year especially likes the story of the ginger-bread man. As an adult
I love the great acoustic guitar, and the new twist on old favorites.
This is a CD that both parents and kids can agree on."
Sue J. Hood River, Or
"Fun music for the whole family! Country Blues for Kids
is a fun CD that the whole family will enjoy. it's not just for
kids!"
Theresa B- San Diego, Ca
VICTOR JOHNSON: country blues for kids
"Looking for something for the kids' stockings that won't
come back to haunt you later? Looking for something that you won't
be sick of by December 26th? This country and folky blues albums
for kids will fit the bill. Just ignore the child-friendly lyrics
and it might as well be one of your own albums; it's that good,
that mature and "real music"-sounding. With warm but
gruff vocals and a light but bluesy delivery, Victor Johnson's "Country
Blues For Kids" is a simple, easy click away from shopping
list perfection."
CD Baby
Kids who have never heard of Leadbelly or Mississippi John Hurt
will be getting thier first taste of an important piece of their
musical heritage when they encounter this album. They won't know
that, however, because they'll be having too much fun listening
and singing along. Many of the thirteen songs in this up-tempo
collection of blues tunes will be familliar to most adults and
many children. Some are traditional: "Frog Went a Courting," "Wheels
on the Bus," and "Old Macdonald." Some notably "Baby
Beluga"-are more closely associated with other performers.
Two are original: "Mrs. Butterworth," (think syrup) and "Everything
is Gonna Be Allright" a lighter-than-air ditty that is as
comforting as a blankie at bedtime. Johnson's smoky voice is accompanied
by simple strummed, plucked, and patted guitar riffs. In a world
of electronically produced music, the sound of fingers on strings
makes listening to this album a truly intimate experience.
Kristi Jemtegaard ©2004 Parents' Choice
Victor Johnson has created Country
Blues for Kids (P-POP 003), which includes numbers such as "You
Are My Sunshine," "Froggy Went a-Courtin'," and
the Rev. Gary Davis' "Candyman" in addition to surprisingly
bearable readings of "Old MacDonald" and "Baby Beluga." The
Oregon guitarist's fingerpicking is fast-paced, melodic, and precise,
his singing engaging. This is one children's album that won't drive
parents mad with repeated listening, and it just might set youngsters
on the right musical track.
Blues Revue Magazine 5-04
Johnson fashions a warm and earthy introduction to country blues-from "Frog
Went a Courtin' " and "Old MacDonald" to original
tunes- that's upbeat enough to hook kids. His rendition of "You
Are My Sunshine" shines.
Parenting Magazine's "Parenting Pick" for music ages 3-5 6-2004
Suelain Moy
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