| Member of Award Winning Bluegrass Band "The Grascals" has family
ties in Knott County Jamie Johnson, a member of the Grascals ' was
born and raised in Indiana, but moved to Nashville, TN. at the end
of the 1990's to pursue his musical career. He helped to found the
Wildwood Valley Boys at the beginning of the decade in Milan, IN.,
but he first drew attention to his soaring tenor voice as a member
of The Boys From Indiana, with whom he performed in the •md-1990's.
Stints with local bluegrass and country bands followed before he
returned to the Wildwood Valley Boys , making his recording debut on
their "I'm A Believer" in 2000. Following his move to Nashville, he began to find success as a songwriter- he co-wrote the title cut of Bobby Osborne's "Where I Come From"(2002) and as a singer, making his Opry debut as a member of Gail Davies' band, joining the Sidemen in 2001, and contributing leads and harmonies to "Bluegrass-The Little Grasscals: Nashville's Superpickers". He has enjoyed further songwriting success with cuts by the Grascals, including the title track to " Long List of Heartaches", the Lonesome River Band and bluegrass-country singer/ songwriter Ronnie Bowman. The Grascals emerged as a band in 2004. They have two Grammy-nominated releases, "The Grascals"(2005) and "Long List of Heartaches" (2006). In a remarkable feat, they moved in just one year from winning the International Bluegrass Music Association's " Emerging Artist of the Year" award (2005) to earning It's top "Entertainer of the Year" song (2006). They also captured a "Song of the Year " trophy for "Me and John and Paul" in 2005. The Grascals embody a profound grasp of and familiarity with country and bluegrass tradition that made them a natural choice for Dolly Parton to turn to for recording and tour support in 2004. Jamie is the son of Paul and Gail Johnson of Milan, IN. Paul was born in Knott County, the son of Irene (Childers) Johnson and the late Milford Johnson. Jamie's great grandparents were the late Melvin Johnson and Ellen (Watts) Johnson, and Estill Childers and Dorothy Reynolds) Childers, all of Knott County. Jamie still has many relatives living in Knott Co. and area, including great uncles Sheldon, Johnny, and Jesse Childers and their families. The Grascals will be performing in Prestonsburg, Ky. At the "Cradle of Bluegrass " show at Jenny Wiley State Resort on April 28,2007. For ticket information, call 800-3254142. You can check out the Grascals at www.Grascals.com |
Submitted by Loren Calhoun