Michael Johnson (1944-2017): A Requiem

 

I recently learned that one of my favorite singer-songwriters — Michael Johnson – passed away on June 25, 2017 at the age of 72. A classical guitarist by training, Johnson’s musical heyday was more than three decades ago. He is best remembered for a number of hits he had from the late 1970s through the mid-1980s in the soft rock and country genres, among them “Bluer Than Blue” (1978), “This Night Won’t Last Forever” (1979), “Give Me Wings” (1986) and “The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder” (1987).

Prior to his ventures into soft rock and country, Johnson performed as a folk artist, signing on with the Chad Mitchell Trio in 1967 along with then-upcoming artists David Boise and John Denver (the group was subsequently renamed Denver, Boise, and Johnson). Here is Johnson signing lead vocals on “Both Sides, Now” with Boise and Denver:

This is Johnson’s late ’70s hit “This Night Won’t Last Forever”:

And here is Johnson giving his last television performance four years ago, singing “I’ll Always Love You” on a morning show in the Philippines (starts just past the three-minute mark):

Another of Johnson’s songs — “I Can’t Get To You From Here” (1981) — will get a post of its own next month. One of Johnson’s frequent collaborators, fellow singer-songwriter Hugh Prestwood, once wrote a tune with the line, “Even if the whole world has forgotten, the song remembers when.” Indeed, if I could list all the memories Johnson’s oeuvre evokes, we’d be here all night long.

Godspeed, Michael. And thank you.

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  1. Trink Coolidge
    Trink
    @Trink

    I didn’t know this music.  It’s beautiful.   You’ve created another fan. May he rest in peace.

    • #1
  2. Mike LaRoche Inactive
    Mike LaRoche
    @MikeLaRoche

    Trink (View Comment):
    I didn’t know this music. It’s beautiful. You’ve created another fan. May he rest in peace.

    Glad you like it, Trink!  He was an amazing talent.

    • #2
  3. EDISONPARKS Member
    EDISONPARKS
    @user_54742

    Michael Johnson’s songs are permanently logged into my long term music memory having grown up with these songs on the radio.

    … I was unaware of Michael Johnson, I had always just assumed this music was another England Dan and John Ford Coley tune ….

    Thanks for giving proper credit to the artist .

    • #3
  4. Kay of MT Inactive
    Kay of MT
    @KayofMT

    Thank you Mike for posting these.

    • #4
  5. KiminWI Member
    KiminWI
    @KiminWI

    He was also a sweet, kind soul. He played the college bar where I worked in Mankato. A pretty big get for our little basement bar. It was a lovely performance and he was warm and kind to all if us.

    • #5
  6. Randy Weivoda Moderator
    Randy Weivoda
    @RandyWeivoda

    Nice article, Mike.  I hadn’t heard that he died.  If you don’t mind, I’d like to add a couple of my favorite Michael Johnson songs.

    https://youtu.be/-GsLLhNG3F8

    • #6
  7. PW Member
    PW
    @TempTime

    Thanks for posting the links.  Good music after a long work day.

    • #7
  8. Max Ledoux Coolidge
    Max Ledoux
    @Max

    I’m promoting this for 4PM ET. Comments won’t work until then.

    • #8
  9. Nanda Panjandrum Member
    Nanda Panjandrum
    @

    Amazing how an artist’s work can impact our lives and hearts…A wonderful tribute, @mikelaroche, thank you!

    • #9
  10. Mike LaRoche Inactive
    Mike LaRoche
    @MikeLaRoche

    Nanda Panjandrum (View Comment):
    Amazing how an artist’s work can impact our lives and hearts…A wonderful tribute, @mikelaroche, thank you!

    You’re welcome, Nanda! Glad you like it.

    • #10
  11. Mike LaRoche Inactive
    Mike LaRoche
    @MikeLaRoche

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):
    Nice article, Mike. I hadn’t heard that he died. If you don’t mind, I’d like to add a couple of my favorite Michael Johnson songs.

    Great stuff, Randy. This is my favorite from Johnson’s country period:

    • #11
  12. Randy Weivoda Moderator
    Randy Weivoda
    @RandyWeivoda

    Mike LaRoche (View Comment):

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):
    Nice article, Mike. I hadn’t heard that he died. If you don’t mind, I’d like to add a couple of my favorite Michael Johnson songs.

    Great stuff, Randy. This is my favorite from Johnson’s country period:

    I’ve always liked that song too, and the video is just beautiful.  Thanks, Mike.

    • #12
  13. Jimmy Carter Member
    Jimmy Carter
    @JimmyCarter

    Mike LaRoche: Indeed, if I could list all the memories Johnson’s oeuvre evokes….

    Boy, You ain’t kidding.

    Good post.

    R.I.P.

    Bluer than bluuuuue….

    • #13
  14. Mike LaRoche Inactive
    Mike LaRoche
    @MikeLaRoche

    Here’s a nice write-up about Michael Johnson in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

    • #14
  15. Kay of MT Inactive
    Kay of MT
    @KayofMT

    Mike LaRoche (View Comment):
    Here’s a nice write-up about Michael Johnson in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

    Very nice write-up. So wonderful they found each other.

    • #15
  16. Mike LaRoche Inactive
    Mike LaRoche
    @MikeLaRoche

    Kay of MT (View Comment):

    Mike LaRoche (View Comment):
    Here’s a nice write-up about Michael Johnson in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

    Very nice write-up. So wonderful they found each other.

    Yes, and after forty years had passed! Here’s an article about their reunion.

    • #16
  17. Mike LaRoche Inactive
    Mike LaRoche
    @MikeLaRoche

    This brings back a memory from fifteen years ago, driving down US Highway 77 to South Padre Island with an ex-girlfriend. She really loved this tune:

    https://youtu.be/L-t0X3i2qbI

    • #17
  18. Mike LaRoche Inactive
    Mike LaRoche
    @MikeLaRoche

    And here is Johnson performing with his long-lost daughter five years ago:

    • #18
  19. Matt Bartle Member
    Matt Bartle
    @MattBartle

    Mike LaRoche: Hugh Prestwood, once wrote a tune with the line, “Even if the whole world has forgotten, the song remembers when.”

    Since you brought it up, I love this song as done by Trisha Yearwood:

     

    • #19
  20. Fresch Fisch Coolidge
    Fresch Fisch
    @FreschFisch

    My wife and I had tickets to see him at the Dakota in Minneapolis a few months ago. The show was canceled because of illness.

    I’d never seen him live and was looking forward to it.

    May eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let the perpetual light shine upon him.

    • #20
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