Johnsmith

Johnsmith emerged as a folk singer and songwriter from a household of ten children in Dewitt, Iowa. Guitar lessons began at age 19 and soon sparked songwriting that evolved into a touring routine of more than 150 shows each year. Victory in the New Folk competition at the Kerrville Folk Festival preceded additional songwriting prizes at the Telluride, Rocky Mountain Folks, and Falcon Ridge Folk Festivals. His first album, Hole in the Clouds, appeared via self-release in 1998 and was succeeded by To the Four Directions in 2000, Traveler in 2002, and Kickin' This Stone in 2004. Two duo projects with Dan Sebranek, titled Runaway and No Turning Back, were recorded alongside his participation in Smith & Mayer, whose release was In the Blend. Break Me Open, his fifth solo album, came out on April 18, 2006.