The Johnstons
Encyclopedia
The Johnstons were an Irish
close-harmony folk
band, originally founded in Slane
, County Meath
, Ireland
, consisting of Adrienne, Lucy and Michael Johnston. They began performing in the early 1960s in Slane.
They signed to Pye Records
in 1965 and recorded
Ewan MacColl
's "The Travelling People", a major hit
for them. They added Mick Moloney
, then becoming a major figure in the Irish music scene, and Paul Brady
, while Michael Johnston departed. They continued recording to great success in Ireland, then signed to Transatlantic Records
in London
, released a UK
album called The Johnstons in 1968. This was followed by two albums released on the same day, the traditional The Barleycorn and more contemporary Give a Damn.
With the loss of Lucy Johnston, the remaining Johnstons moved to London, touring and appearing on British
television and radio. They also toured the Netherlands
, Scandinavia
and Germany
, then had a minor hit in the United States
with a rendition of "Both Sides Now
", by Joni Mitchell
. In the US, they played at the 1971 Philadelphia Folk Festival
, and performing at the Gerde's Folk City
, and with Bonnie Raitt
in Tuft's College, Boston; they were also the first band to open at the Bottom Line
nightclub in New York
.
Moloney departed in 1971. They recorded a few more albums with limited success, then broke up in 1973. The Johnstons had a reunion concert in Canada in 1976, but never performed again. Adrienne Johnston died under mysterious circumstances on May 27, 1981 (age 35) in the US.
Irish Independent Dec. 16, 1989: strongly implies that she was a victim of domestic violence. She apparently died in a fall at home but the death was ruled as accidental, the medical examiner expressed "concerns about this case" to a family member. The article portrays Adrienne's husband, Chris McCloud, as controlling and opportunistic.
During the last half-dozen years of Adrienne's life, her friends and family were unable to get in touch with her to let her know of the deaths of her parents and other relatives.
Music of Ireland
Irish Music is the generic term for music that has been created in various genres on the island of Ireland.The indigenous music of the island is termed Irish traditional music. It has remained vibrant through the 20th, and into the 21st century, despite globalizing cultural forces...
close-harmony folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
band, originally founded in Slane
Slane
Slane is a village in County Meath, in Ireland. The village stands on a steep hillside on the left bank of the River Boyne at the intersection of the N2 and the N51 . In 2006 Slane's population was 1,099, having grown from 823 in 2002. The population of the village and the surrounding rural area...
, County Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, consisting of Adrienne, Lucy and Michael Johnston. They began performing in the early 1960s in Slane.
They signed to Pye Records
Pye Records
Pye Records was a British record label. In its first incarnation, perhaps Pye's best known artists were Lonnie Donegan , Petula Clark , The Searchers , The Kinks , Sandie Shaw and Brotherhood of Man...
in 1965 and recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
Ewan MacColl
Ewan MacColl
Ewan MacColl was an English folk singer, songwriter, socialist, actor, poet, playwright, and record producer. He was married to theatre director Joan Littlewood, and later to American folksinger Peggy Seeger. He collaborated with Littlewood in the theatre and with Seeger in folk music...
's "The Travelling People", a major hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
for them. They added Mick Moloney
Mick Moloney
Michael "Mick" Moloney is a traditional Irish musician and scholar. Born in Limerick, County Limerick, he was an important figure on the Dublin folk-song revival in the 1960s. In 1973, he moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
, then becoming a major figure in the Irish music scene, and Paul Brady
Paul Brady
Paul Joseph Brady is an Irish singer-songwriter, whose work straddles folk and pop. He was interested in a wide variety of music from an early age...
, while Michael Johnston departed. They continued recording to great success in Ireland, then signed to Transatlantic Records
Transatlantic Records
Transatlantic Records was a British independent record label. It was established in 1961. It started began primarily as an importer of American folk, blues and jazz records - by many of the artists who influenced the burgeoning British folk and blues boom. Within a couple of years, the company had...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, released a UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
album called The Johnstons in 1968. This was followed by two albums released on the same day, the traditional The Barleycorn and more contemporary Give a Damn.
With the loss of Lucy Johnston, the remaining Johnstons moved to London, touring and appearing on British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television and radio. They also toured the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, then had a minor hit in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with a rendition of "Both Sides Now
Both Sides Now (song)
"Both Sides, Now" is a single by Joni Mitchell. Her recording first appeared on the album Clouds, released in 1969. She re-recorded the song in a jazz style for the album of the same name, released in 2000....
", by Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell, CC is a Canadian musician, singer songwriter, and painter. Mitchell began singing in small nightclubs in her native Saskatchewan and Western Canada and then busking in the streets and dives of Toronto...
. In the US, they played at the 1971 Philadelphia Folk Festival
Philadelphia Folk Festival
The Philadelphia Folk Festival is an annual folk music festival near Schwenksville, Pennsylvania in the vicinity of Philadelphia. Begun in 1962, the four-day festival is sponsored by the non-profit Philadelphia Folksong Society. The event hosts contemporary and traditional artists in genres...
, and performing at the Gerde's Folk City
Gerde's Folk City
Gerdes Folk City was a music venue in the West Village in New York City. Initially opened as a restaurant called Gerdes, by owner Mike Porco, it eventually began to present occasional incidental music. It was located at 11 West 4th Street , having moved in 1970 to 130 West 3rd Street before finally...
, and with Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
in Tuft's College, Boston; they were also the first band to open at the Bottom Line
Bottom Line
The Bottom Line was a music venue at 15 West Fourth Street between Mercer Street and Greene Street in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City...
nightclub in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Moloney departed in 1971. They recorded a few more albums with limited success, then broke up in 1973. The Johnstons had a reunion concert in Canada in 1976, but never performed again. Adrienne Johnston died under mysterious circumstances on May 27, 1981 (age 35) in the US.
Death of Adrienne Johnston
Adrienne Johnston, the lead singer in The Johnstons, died in 1981. She is buried in a cemetery in Slane, Co. Meath. Her gravestone says that she died 27 May 1981 (age 35). The official verdict was accident, but many believe she was murdered.Irish Independent Dec. 16, 1989: strongly implies that she was a victim of domestic violence. She apparently died in a fall at home but the death was ruled as accidental, the medical examiner expressed "concerns about this case" to a family member. The article portrays Adrienne's husband, Chris McCloud, as controlling and opportunistic.
During the last half-dozen years of Adrienne's life, her friends and family were unable to get in touch with her to let her know of the deaths of her parents and other relatives.