Today we’d like to introduce you to Eddie Johnson.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Hey ya’ll, my name is Eddie Johnson and I am a 20 year old Nashville recording artist and songwriter who was born and raised in Baltimore County, Maryland. My love for country music started at a very young age, but I didn’t consider it as a career until my grandfather passed away. Growing up, I would watch and listen to him pick away on his guitar and I was enraptured by the sound. Country music has always been such an important part of my life and I can remember as a very young child still in my car seat riding around with my dad and grandfather listening to the greats of the genre. When my grandfather passed away in 2019 shortly after receiving an unexpected leukemia diagnosis, I started playing the guitar and singing in his honor. His favorite artist was Johnny Cash and his favorite song Folsom Prison Blues, which is why I always perform that song at all of my gigs.
I first picked up the guitar at age 16, and started performing at local open mic events. By age 17, I began performing at a variety of venues all around the area and out of state. In addition to Maryland, I’ve performed in West Virginia, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. I learned a lot during that period, such as how to interact with an audience and how to be an entertainer. At age 18, I was given the amazing opportunity to travel down to Nashville Tennessee and record at Curb Studios on Music Row under the watchful eye of Mr Julian King, a well seasoned producer who over the years has worked with some of the biggest names in the country music business, produced over 100 number 1 hits, and even won a Grammy Award for his work on Faith Hill’s Breathe album.
Recording in Nashville taught me a lot about what goes on behind the scenes, and seeing all the number 1 records on the walls of the studio motivated me even more to work hard to succeed. In Nashville, I was very blessed to have had some of the finest session musicians in the country playing on my recordings. They included the legendary Brent Mason on electric guitar, Jimmie Lee Sloas on bass guitar, Joel Key on acoustic guitar, Aubrey Haynie on fiddle, Lonnie Wilson on drums, Scotty Sanders on pedal steel guitar, and Mike Rojas on piano/keyboard. Recording with them exposed me to some of the top tier talents in country music recording and it allowed me to see and be a part of what today’s biggest country music artists experience when they are recording in the studios. At only 18 years of age when I recorded in Nashville, I’m pretty sure that I became a part of a very small group of musicians who’ve had a similar experience at such a young age.
While down the road I will likely relocate to the Nashville area, my goal is to be one of the handful of artists whose work has put Maryland on the map for country music. One of the most important things for me with my music is its authenticity and its ability to tell a story. I believe the best songs that will always find their way to the people who appreciate them are the true ones with well thought out lyrics and instrumentation.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have definitely been a few bumps in the road along the way. For me the most challenging struggle to overcome has always been self doubt because I am such a perfectionist. No matter how talented of an artist you might be, when you put your ideas and songs out there in front of everyone there will always be someone with a negative opinion or comment and sometimes that opinion or comment will embed itself into your head. I’ve learned the key to moving passed that negativity is turning it into motivation to be an even better musician. I feel that all of my experiences, even the negative ones, have helped develop me into the artist I am today. Everyone is bound to have negative experiences or outcomes in life, and I think that at the end of the day as long as you learn something from them and you turn them into something positive going forward, they become nothing more than another block that was used in building the foundation of both who you are as an artist and as a person.
The best way I have found to combat self doubt is to be sure of my music, who I am as a person, and to have the unconditional support of my family. While both of my parents have been there for me, my father especially has supported me in every imaginable way, and I recognize that I wouldn’t be this far along in my career without him and his help. That’s why the song – Don’t Meet Your Heroes which I recorded in Nashville is such a special song for me because my dad is my hero. When we filmed the official music video for that song, which by the way is available on YouTube, my dad was actually in the video which was awesome. By him being in the video, both he and our relationship have now been memorialized and 50 years down the road I’ll be able to look back on those memories with a smile.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I think what sets me apart from others is what I’ve accomplished so far at my age and my style which is based upon a foundation of classic country music, instead of pop country. It helps define who I am as an artist, and it aligns perfectly with other young musicians such as Zach Top and John Foster who are at the forefront of the battle to bring back that classic country sound. I too hope to be someone who helps return that classic sound to country music where it belongs. My deep baritone voice for which I frequently receive compliments, also helps set me apart from others. Many people when they hear me sing can’t believe that I’m only 20 years old, instead believing that I’m in my late twenties or early thirties. Even with those compliments and accolades, I think it’s very important to remain humble and to never forget from where it was you came and never forget those people and businesses who helped you out along the way. When I achieve my ultimate goal of becoming a touring country music artist, it is my intention that when I’m back in my hometown to drop in unannounced at those venues that gave me a chance when I was coming up, play a few songs, and interact with their clientele. I feel it’s the least I can do to show my appreciation to those who supported me when I was just starting out.
With my song writing I’m steadfast in my belief that all of my songs must tell a story and not simply be just a bunch of an errant rhyming words or catchy phrases. Alan Jackson and his storytelling abilities come to mind as the type of songwriter that I try to emulate.
As for what I’m most proud of, to this point it would likely be the fact that the very first song that I recorded in Nashville and chose as my first release – I Reckon, has made it to the number 1 song on multiple independent radio station charts. On one particular large independent radio station’s Top 200 Chart, it remained in the number 1 position for consecutive weeks. Moreover, despite it being released back in February it still receives significant airplay and it continues to chart.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I like best about Baltimore is the mixture of ideas and culture especially in the music scene. I’ve met so many interesting musicians from all walks of life and all of the varied perspectives and personalities keep things fresh. My least favorite things are the exorbitant taxes, the traffic, and the poor road conditions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Eddiejohnsonmusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eddiejohnson_music?igsh=bXBteWRydG94YjJ2&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1J2optsxMx/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@eddiejohnson_music?si=Bpb82mpZyCit5FVY
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@eddie.johnson.mus?_t=ZP-90O11lmySJL&_r=1
