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Red Johnson Biography
Six A M on a cold
winters morning in northern Minnesota, seems like a strange time for a six or seven year
old kid to be getting out of bed and putting his feet on the cold linoleum floor of an
unheated upstairs bedroom, just to listen to a live radio show out of Fargo, North Dakota
by a Guy and his Guitar who called himself, "The Texas Ranger" and who would
sing mostly western songs with a few popular country songs mixed in, but it was enough to
spark a life long love for music that would only amplify as the years wore on.
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| I was a kid who would try to be the
first to get the "Sears" catalog when it came in the mail and would go directly
to the music pages and dream of one day having one of those beautiful
"Silvertone" guitars for my very own. But I had lots of time to dream because it
wouldn't be until my 10th birthday, that a calf would be born and my Dad would give it to
me for my birthday present, and that is when my dream began to take shape, and for the
next two years I would nurture him until he became a full grown steer, and when I sold him
I got a check for $118.00 and the very next day I ordered one of those beautys from the
Sears Roebuck Catalog, and it was never to leave my side through out my teen and courting
years and into the Military where I learned to play a little better from the Southern boys
I would buddy up with who also played guitars. They would call me the "Minnesota
Hillbilly". After my discharge from the service I began playing professionaly and
still do. |
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Songwriting has always been a passion of mine, having written my first song
when I was twelve. Sometimes I'm asked where a certain song came from, I guess that was
the way I felt on the day I wrote it. I write most of my own material in a blend of modern
and traditional country.I
married my high school sweetheart Flo in Detriot Lakes, Minnesota where we both graduated
in 1950, and have two children, and now make our home in Champlin, Minnesota, a city just
north of Minneapolis.
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In 1964, along with Bud Auge, I wrote
and recorded "There's A Grand Ol Opry Show Playing Somewhere" on a small label
(Hep) I was part owner of, and the song was picked up by Capitol Records and eventually
ended up in "The World Of Country Music" album Capitol released. About the same
time Dave Dudley who is a friend of mine, released a song called "Six Days On The
Road" and He and I and Bud Auge,(The Violet and A Rose) wrote a song called
"Taxi Cab Driver" and Dave recorded it in His Six Days album for Mercury
Records. <--- Capitols add in
Cashbox Magazine. |
I publish my own material through "Count Music BMI" and do
most of my recording at Cedardale Studios, in Mora, Minnesota. where they are produced,
arranged, and Recorded by John Voit & Terry Nord.I currently have three cds they are, "My Collection, Veterans Day and A
Good Ol Country Song" also a tape on each.
At present I am the Music Director for the Minnesota
Good Sam Club, which is an organization for campers and we have two four day rallys each
year with 400+ rigs in attendance.
I am retired and spend my winters in the Rio Grande
Valley of South Texas, where I perform for the retirees, throughout the winter months.
I am doing what I always dreamed of doing but never
had time during my working years, and that is writing, recording and performing for the
people I love, My Fans and most of them are Friends.
Red Johnson |
 | Current Projects
Minnesota Good Sam Club
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Good Sam International Samboree, Madison Wi.
Jam Session In The Parking Lot
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I am currently involved with the
"Minnesota Good Sam Club" as
music coordinator. Which means I
scout out special music for our
two state rallies we have each
year. We usually have about 400
campers and we do jam sessions
and sing-alongs and put on the
Sunday service, with a 50 plus
voice choir. |
I have comleted the recording a new CD and tape called, "Veterans Day". The song is a salute to all who have kept our
country free. My feeling is the veterans are a forgotten group of people who deserve more
attention than they are currently getting. The song has been released world wide on
"Glorytrain Records" along with a gospel song called "Gods Great
Meadowland", both of which are included on my new CD and tape.Whew,
I’ll bet you're glad that's over! |
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