DESCRIPTION
Gene Johnson Biography by Eugene Chadbourne
Gene Johnson has managed to straddle the obviously connected planets of bluegrass and commercial country & western, sexing up the former with a tenor vocal style so commanding that it has garnered him studio jobs for artists such as Kenny Rogers. In such instances, he has been told to leave his little mandolin case at home and just come in and sing. As for the mandolin, his mastery of the instrument and fresh picking style have helped to legitimize the efforts of Johnson's best-known band affiliation, Diamond Rio.

Johnson joined up with Diamond Rio in 1987; prior to that, he had been working at Opryland as a member of the Tennessee River Boys. Growing up in Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania, Johnson seems to have left an impression as being permanently attached to his mandolin. He is remembered as already performing at local square dances when he was only four years old. A strong interest in vintage country and bluegrass took root at an age when most of his friends were busy fondling G.I. Joe action figures, but Johnson was also almost equally interested in various folk and blues styles.

He names Arlo Guthrie as a major influence in the same list that, needless to say, is topped with bluegrass messiahs Flatt & Scruggs. His first prominent musical alliance was with J.D. Crowe & the New South, a group from Kentucky that helped to pioneer the progressive bluegrass sound often called newgrass. Crowe's lineup was full of talent including multi-instrumentalist and singer Ricky Skaggs and guitarist, singer, and songwriter Keith Whitley. Johnson was eventually a participant in a 1994 tribute to Whitley. He is not the same Gene Johnson who played reeds in jazz and Latin jazz bands beginning in the '20s.

CONDITION
VINYL: VG++
COVER: VG++

Stock images used. 

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RELEASE DETAILS
Format: Album
Pressing Year: 1981
Pressing Country: US
Label: Adelphi Records

TRACKLISTING
A1        Always True
A2        All I Gotta Do
A3        Still In Love With You
A4        Don't Say You Love Me
A5        Lonely Girl
B1        Just Good Friends
B2        Tow The Line
B3        No Bout Adout It
B4        Back In My Arms Again
B5        Hard To Handle

Please note
B3 is spelt as on jacket, record lists track as "No Doubt About It".