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A Little Country, A Little Rock ‘n Roll John Johnson is old-school country. Some might even call it Outlaw Country. // B Y K A R I N FA B R Y- C U S H E N B E R Y
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Photo courtesy of John Johnson
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orn and raised in Wildwood, John Johnson’s family has been in the area for generations. John says that he lived in the 352 when it was the 904. His musical influences run the gamut, and country is a favorite, but you won’t find any Luke Bryan or Blake Shelton in John’s iTunes library. Instead, you’d likely find everything from Staind to Merle Haggard. “I’ve done something kind of cowboyish my whole life,” John says. “I grew up on a farm with cattle and horses.” In IT’S IMPORTANT TO ME high school and college, he was competitive in THAT PEOPLE ENJOY THE rodeo, and he has also SHOW AND HAVE A GOOD worked as a farrier. taught me quite a bit.” No matter what he TIME. I LOVE MUSIC, AND The COVID pandemic was doing, though, put the live music scene I LOVE TO SHARE GOOD John’s love of good on hold for a while, but music has been a MUSIC WITH THE CROWD. it’s slowly making a constant. He was the comeback, and John’s kind of kid who could belt out songs in the car and sat in his bedroom calendar is booking up once again. Most recently he’s performed in Ocala at Gator Joe’s with the tape recorder poised on record and pause to catch his favorite tune. John jokes that and Eaton’s Beach. While performing John says it’s just him and It wasn’t until his college roommate, a talented his rhythm guitar. His biggest fan, Beverly, his musician himself, told him music could help wife of 26 years, is usually nearby. him meet girls that he began to take it more “I mostly perform country and Southern rock,” seriously. Now it’s his full-time job. John has performed gigs throughout Florida John says. “I enjoy interacting with the crowds, and the Southeast, and he’s mostly self-taught. and I take requests. I might perform Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Eagles, Bob Seger, some classic “My dad can play a bit, and he showed me a country, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings. I play few chords when I was 9 or 10,” he says. “Then songs from way back when to current hits.” a few more. I don’t read a note of music. I have John’s choice of country music isn’t the made a lot of friends over the years who have
stylized pop you’ll find on popular radio today. Some of his favorites include Cody Jinx and Tyler Childress. “I like intelligent songwriting,” he says. “A lot of what I listen to is very big where radio stations have the freedom to play more artists.” Even though John has been performing for years, he admits he still gets a bit anxious before a gig. “It’s important to me that people enjoy the show and have a good time,” he says. “I love music, and I love to share good music with the crowd.” John Johnson // Upcoming Ocala Shows: Oct. 9 at Horse & Hounds, Oct. 10 at Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar, Oct. 18 at Gator Joe’s, Oct. 25 at Eaton’s Beach, Oct. 30 at Gator Joe’s // Find him on Facebook and Instagram at John Johnson Music.