Johnny J. Blair
Encyclopedia
Johnny J. Blair is an American singer-songwriter. His influences range from Ray Davies
, Brian Wilson
, Smokey Robinson
, David Bowie
and Elvis Costello
to Stravinsky, Gershwin, and Boyce and Hart
. He is known for his innovative brand of pop, a fast-paced mix of old-school soul, psychedelia, punk/new wave, and the melodicism of classical, gospel, jazz, and world beat. Spotlight Magazine dubbed him "the Harry Houdini of rock 'n' roll" for his "escape from typecasts."
Blair's artistic vocabulary is influenced by The Bible, classic comedy (Charlie Chaplin, Marx Brothers) the poetry of T.S. Eliot, and the writings of Raymond Chandler, Graham Greene, and John Steinbeck. Common subjects are metropolitan allegories, apocalyptic justice, surreal road trips, and offbeat nostalgia.
Blair's concert set includes originals joined to covers from glam rock to Motown to show tunes to spirituals. Besides making music for comic books and documentaries, he has collaborated with and produced a variety of artists.
He is currently the touring bassist for former Monkee Davy Jones
.
His most recent album is Grateful, released by Wampus Multimedia in 2007.
Care Package (EP), 1983
Door in the Water (full length), 1986, reissued 1988
Johnny J Blair, a.k.a. "The Green Album" (full length), 1987
Yellow House (full length), 1988
Love Love Alone (single), Produced by Dan Reilly, 1989
Suspension Britches in San Francisco (Works 1989 1991) (full length), 1991
She's Not Some Animal (single), 1997
Fire (full length), 2000, reissued 2006 on Foldback Records/Wampus Multimedia
Exotic Animals & Beaches of Pennsylvania (limited edition maxi-EO), 2001
Snapshots (full length), 2002
After Hours: a Tribute to the Music of Lou Reed (full length) cover version of "Sunday Morning," backed by members of The Badlees, 2003
Treadmarks (Wampus Multimedia) (full length), 2005
Word2Soul Project (full length), 2006
Grateful (Foldback Records/Wampus Multimedia) (full length), 2007
Ray Davies
Ray Davies, CBE is an English rock musician. He is best known as lead singer and songwriter for the Kinks, which he led with his younger brother, Dave...
, Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
, Smokey Robinson
Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
, David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
and Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
to Stravinsky, Gershwin, and Boyce and Hart
Boyce and Hart
Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart were a prolific songwriting duo, best known for the songs they wrote for The Monkees.-Early years:Hart's father was a church minister and he himself served in the Army after leaving high school, Upon discharge,...
. He is known for his innovative brand of pop, a fast-paced mix of old-school soul, psychedelia, punk/new wave, and the melodicism of classical, gospel, jazz, and world beat. Spotlight Magazine dubbed him "the Harry Houdini of rock 'n' roll" for his "escape from typecasts."
Blair's artistic vocabulary is influenced by The Bible, classic comedy (Charlie Chaplin, Marx Brothers) the poetry of T.S. Eliot, and the writings of Raymond Chandler, Graham Greene, and John Steinbeck. Common subjects are metropolitan allegories, apocalyptic justice, surreal road trips, and offbeat nostalgia.
Blair's concert set includes originals joined to covers from glam rock to Motown to show tunes to spirituals. Besides making music for comic books and documentaries, he has collaborated with and produced a variety of artists.
He is currently the touring bassist for former Monkee Davy Jones
Davy Jones (actor)
David Thomas "Davy" Jones is an English rock singer-songwriter and actor best known as a member of the Monkees.-Early life:...
.
His most recent album is Grateful, released by Wampus Multimedia in 2007.
Selected discography
Dancin’ So Hard (single) Produced by Rick Anderson (The Tubes), 1980Care Package (EP), 1983
Door in the Water (full length), 1986, reissued 1988
Johnny J Blair, a.k.a. "The Green Album" (full length), 1987
Yellow House (full length), 1988
Love Love Alone (single), Produced by Dan Reilly, 1989
Suspension Britches in San Francisco (Works 1989 1991) (full length), 1991
She's Not Some Animal (single), 1997
Fire (full length), 2000, reissued 2006 on Foldback Records/Wampus Multimedia
Exotic Animals & Beaches of Pennsylvania (limited edition maxi-EO), 2001
Snapshots (full length), 2002
After Hours: a Tribute to the Music of Lou Reed (full length) cover version of "Sunday Morning," backed by members of The Badlees, 2003
Treadmarks (Wampus Multimedia) (full length), 2005
Word2Soul Project (full length), 2006
Grateful (Foldback Records/Wampus Multimedia) (full length), 2007