Mike Johnson (yodeler)

Mike Johnson (born 1946) is an American country music yodeler, singer, and songwriter living in Arlington, Virginia. Also known as Country Music's No.1 Black Yodeler, and Black Yodel No.1.

Mike Johnson
Born1946
Instrument(s)Yodeling, guitar
Years active1966–present
LabelsRoughshod Records and You and Me Records

Raised in a Catholic family in Washington, DC, Johnson began yodeling in the 1950s, influenced by the music of Jimmie Rodgers, Gene Autry, and Roy Rogers, and imitating the "Tarzan yell" of actor Johnny Weissmuller.[1] Johnson enlisted in the US Navy in 1965 and served two Vietnam tours from 1967 to 1969 on the USS Constellation CVA-64. Later he became a truck driver,[2] in September 1981. From his first professional recording session at Globe Recording Studio in April 1981 in Nashville, he released his first 45rpm single "King of the Fish."[3] Johnson founded Pata del Lobo Music publishing in 1982, and Roughshod Records and You and Me Records in 1987.[3] Johnson has since released 2 45rpm vinyls, 11 cassettes, and 61 CDs.

Awards and recognition
  • Inducted into America's Old-Time Country Music Hall Of Fame by The National Traditional Country Music Association at the 27th Annual Old-Time Country Music Festival, in Avoca, Iowa, September 2002[4][5]
  • 114 of his yodels were acquired by the Library of Congress' Recorded Sound Reference Center's permanent music collection in April 2007
  • received Lifetime Achievement Award from National Traditional Country Music Association in August 2016 at 41st Annual Old Time Country Music Festival, LeMars, Iowa.[6]

Johnson received a 2017 Legendary Honky Tonk CD of the Year Award from the National Traditional Country Music Association at their 2017 Old Time Country Music Festival in LeMars, Iowa.Johnson received a 2017 Legendary Honky Tonk CD of the Year Award from the National Traditional Country Music Association at their 2017 Old Time Country Music Festival in LeMars, Iowa.

Works

Discography
  • King of the Fish (single 1981)
  • Hooked on Rodeo (single 1985)
  • Did You Hug Your Mother Today? (single 1994)
  • Black Yodel No.1, The Song, The Songwriter (1999)
  • Dig You Hug Your Mother Today? (1999)
  • Doggone It I've Written A Sad Song Again (2014)
  • Mike Johnson Yodeling 40 Years (2006)

Compilations
  • Rough Guide to Yodel (2006)[7]

Books
  • Johnson, Mike (13 December 2012). I Just Wanted to Be a Songwriter: A Mike Johnson Music Anthology. MAJJ Productions. ISBN 978-0-615-75114-6.

References
  1. Brace, Eric (1996-10-11). "A Local Yodel". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2015-07-11.
  2. Passages: The Cultural Magazine of Pro Helvetia. Pro Helvetia. 2006. p. 52.
  3. Bart Plantenga (8 February 2013). Yodel in Hi-Fi: From Kitsch Folk to Contemporary Electronica. University of Wisconsin Pres. pp. 30–31. ISBN 978-0-299-29053-5.
  4. Mike Johnson Live! DVD Series: Mike Johnson's Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame Induction. 2010-09-04. Retrieved 2015-07-03 – via YouTube.
  5. "National Traditional Country Music Assn". Ntcma.net. Retrieved 2015-07-11.
  6. Mike Johnson Lifetime Achievement & James Adelsberger Instrumental CD of the Year – 2016. 2016-09-26 – via YouTube.
  7. Plantenga, Bart (22 September 2006). "Why it's time we learned to love yodelling". The Guardian. Retrieved 2015-07-11.
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