Biography
Born on 11 December 1939 in Liverpool, England, Johnson served as lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the country Merseybeat outfit Sonny Webb And The Cascades during the early 1960s. That group evolved into the Hillsiders, long recognised as Britain’s premier country act and responsible for sessions alongside Bobby Bare and George Hamilton IV. Johnson departed the lineup in 1975 and promptly assembled Kenny Johnson And Northwind, an ensemble that has held a reputation among Merseyside’s finest for decades. His impassioned singing gains added force from Bobby Arnold’s forceful electric guitar work. The band concentrates on contemporary country material, much of it penned by Johnson, while still mounting occasional oldies performances under the Sonny Webb And The Cascades name. Among his compositions, ‘Today’ remains a staple request on local airwaves and at Merseyside wedding receptions. Although Johnson records at a deliberate pace, the album Summer Nights contained sixteen original pieces and no filler tracks. Traces of John Fogerty and John Anderson surface throughout the set, yet Johnson’s distinctive voice emerges clearly, notably on the poignant ‘Old Hutte Lane’, which recounts his Merseyside upbringing. He also contributes material to West Virginia and oversaw production of Julie Finney’s Something Called Love. His regular BBC Radio Merseyside programme continues to draw the largest audience of any regional country broadcast.
Singles
