10/17 Johnny Rawls Band

https://johnnyrawlsblues.com/

Johnny Rawls is a soul blues legend.  In fact, the term “soul blues” was invented to describe his music. With a career spanning more than 50 years, he’s done it all.  He’s an internationally recognized recording artist, music producer, and songwriter who tours extensively throughout North America and overseas, despite his age of 72.

The Blues Music Awards, Blues Blast Awards, Living Blues Awards, and the W. C. Handy Awards have all acknowledged Johnny with multiple awards and nominations, including Soul Blues Album of the Year and Soul Blues Artist of the Year. Living Blues Magazine described him as a “soul-blues renaissance man” when he was featured on the cover in 2002. 

Born in Columbia, Mississippi in 1951, Johnny grew up in Purvis (near Hattiesburg) and Gulfport.  Johnny’s interest in music began in early childhood. He started out playing clarinet in the school band when he was in 5th grade.  Over the next couple of years, he graduated to saxophone, trumpet and other instruments.  Johnny became interested in guitar when he heard his grandfather playing one Christmas morning and by age 13 was playing guitar seriously.  Johnny’s high school band teacher had a professional band that backed touring soul artists and asked Johnny to join his band as a saxophone player. This began Johnny’s professional career, and at age 15, he was backing artists including ZZ Hill, Little Johnny Taylor, Joe Tex, and The Sweet Inspirations on their tours in the Southeast.  

In 1985, Johnny began touring as a solo artist and made his first solo recording.  A prolific songwriter, hundreds of Johnny’s songs have been recorded. He has released more than 15 albums since his debut solo album, Here We Go, in 1996 on JSP Records.  In the late 1990’s Johnny worked as an arranger and record producer for JSP.  Johnny has released albums under various labels, including JSP, Catfood Records, Third Street Cigar Records, and his own label Deep South Soul, which he created in 2002.

The Blues Music Awards (and its predecessor, the W.C. Handy Awards) frequently recognize Johnny’s work. To date, ten of Johnny’s albums have been nominated for Soul Blues Album of the Year, with “I’m Still Around” winning in 2019 and “Ace of Spades” winning in 2010. Johnny has been nominated for Soul Blues Male Artist eleven times, and received one nomination for Song of the Year.  

A true “road warrior,” Johnny tours extensively throughout the US, and internationally, playing approximately 200 dates every year. He’s performed at major blues festivals, including the Chicago Blues Festival and the Waterfront Blues Festival multiple times. Whether he’s playing in a small intimate club or at a large blues festival, Johnny always delivers a high-energy show to the delight of audiences everywhere.

Don't miss this show! For dinner reservations, please call 941-475-7501.

$7 Cash Cover (Pay at the Door) helps pay for the band.