Wanda Johnson: News

Hit TV show "Army Wives" episode #EP302 will air Sunday June 14 on the LIfetime channel. Our song "Finally Home" from "Call Me Miss Wanda" (2003; Wanda's first album) will be heard as (so we are told) "Roxy dances at the bar Viola took her to". Check it out at
www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/shows/army-wives/music

Thanks again to Didier Tricard and the entire staff of the Jazz Club Lionel Hampton for welcoming us this past week April 21-25. And to our audience...a special BIG merci beaucoup! We hope to see you in France sometime again soon.

Please check out the 18 shows on the calendar.

Just confirmed: ""Finally Home"" from Wanda's first CD "Call Me Miss Wanda" is going to be used in an upcoming episode (June, 2009) of the hit TV show "'Army Wives'on the Lifetime channel. We will post the episode and date when known.

We're back at MacauSoul (Macau SAR, China) this Thurs 19 through Sun 29 - Shrimp City Slim trio (Silent Eddie on guitar; LaMont on drums; SCS on piano) with special attraction Juke Joint Johnny (harmonica).
Check him out at:
www.myspace.com/jukeharp
Should be fun. Thanks again to David Hartung for the amazing photos!

A tragic but historic happening: Mimi's Cafe (now, after three weeks, under ownership as The Boathouse) burned this morning...still being investigated though no foul play suspected. First venue for Wanda trying out her original songs in (was it?) 2002. We will never forget you, Mimi & Mo!

Devin Grant was there and dug it. Check out his review:
www.charleston.net/news/2009/Feb/19/erwin_wanda_johnson_shine_during_blues_b72158/

Twoj Blues magazine (Chorzow, Poland; the Living Blues magazine of Poland) has released the results of their 9th annual Readers' Poll.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
(International Category):
#2 Wanda Johnson: Hold What You Got
(#1 was Buddy Guy: Skin Deep)

FEMALE VOCALIST
(International Category)
#1 Wanda Johnson
(#2 Koko Taylor, #3 Sharrie Williams)

PIANIST (Int'l Category)
#2 Shrimp City Slim (Gary Erwin)
(#1 Honey Piazza)

NEW ARTIST DEBUT
(International Category)
#2 Wanda Johnson
(#1 Homemade Jamz)

NEW ARTIST DEBUT (Poland)
#1 Blues Doctors (our backing band in Poland)

Thank you, POLAND!

Due to a BLIZZARD of spam, we've had to disable our Guestbook. If you want to reach us, please go through the normal channels. Thanks!

The tour in Poland was great from every angle.

Check out Wanda on the cover of "Twoj Blues", the nine-year old glossy blues magazine of Poland. www.delta.art.pl and click on 'Twoj Blues'. Great article with interview by Tim Holek.

We are 10 shows into the 17-show tour now and working our way up into the Northeast of Poland. Crowds have been great; played the legendary Jazz & Blues Festival of Bialystok last night; an audience of perhaps 1000 in the Cultural Center. Our tour concludes November 30 in Warsaw. Hope to see you at a show soon, here or Stateside! Love, Wanda & Shrimp

November 10-December 1 for 17 shows. See you back in the Carolinas in December.

Wanda will be the subject of a feature article (interview by Scott Bock with vintage photos) in the next edition of Living Blues, America's venerable blues magazine. Needless to say, we're very excited! If you don't already subscribe, this would be a great time to do so! www.livingblues.com

For full details on the 12th annual Carolina Downhome Blues Festival, Oct 2-4, Camden, SC, please visit www.bluesbash.com/camden
We will see you there!

For the third year, "SoCo" will be name sponsor of the Lowcountry Blues Bash (19th annual), February 6-15, 2009, in Charleston, SC. Wanda Johnson & Shrimp City Slim will perform their traditional shows at the Mills House hotel on Fri-Sat Feb 13-14. More info to come!

Frm the CD "Hold What You Got"...in position No. 26 as of July 27, on the Roadhouse Blues & Boogie Top 40. "Allergic to Mink" (also from 'Hold') "bubbling under" the Top 40.

Wanda knocked 'em out in Cognac, France this weekend July 26-27 at Cognac Blues Passions. Noted blues journalist Jocelyn Richez said in his report on Le Chain du Blues (French-language blues email list): "Pour moi, la revelation du festival fut Wanda Johnson accompagne par le groupe de Shrimp City Slim...dont j'ai beaucoup aime la prestation du dimanche; sa voix, son repertoire original..."
(For me, the revelation of the festival was Wanda Johnson backed up by the band of Shrimp City Slim. I really loved her show on Sunday, her voice, her original repertoire...).

Thanks to Michel, Joel, Noelle, Laure, Eric & Coco and everyone else on the festival team...what a great time!

15 shows - please click on 'Calendar' for locations.

Thanks to interviewer Scott Bock and editor Jacques Perin of Soul Bag!
www.soulbag.presse.fr

"Thank you for all the prayers, calls, cards, and other expressions of condolences that were poured out upon me and my family after the death of my father, Jake Johnson. Please continue to prayer for me, my mother, and my sisters as we walk through this time of grieving. My daddy was a Godly, humble, and wise man who was greatly loved by his family and community. I know that God loved him best of all. Again, my sincere thanks."
-Wanda Johnson