"Dropping Names" inching up the Beach/Shag charts - May 14, 2008
Up to position #13 this week on the Roadhouse Top 40... www.beachshag.com
Oh yeah!
Oh yeah!
Wanda Johnson: News
Tickets selling for "Bad Case of the Blues" - May 2, 2008
Tickets are selling steadily for" Bad Case of the Blues: The Voice of Wanda Johnson", Wanda's 4-concert series on the Piccolo Spoleto festival in Charleston, May 24-June 7.. You can purchase in advance at www.piccolospoleto.com
HOWEVER tickets WILL be available at the gate for all shows.
HOWEVER tickets WILL be available at the gate for all shows.
Blues Revue loves "Hold What You Got" - May 1, 2008
In the latest BR (June/July 2008, Kenny Neal on cover), Thomas Cullen III calls "Hold What You Got": "A triumpant low-key gem that's simultaneously tough & tender." www.bluesrevue.com
"Hold" now in stock at Judy's House of Oldies - April 22, 2008
Myrtle Beach's premier shag/beach record shop has a fresh supply of "Hold What You Got": Judy's House of Oldies, 300 Main St., N. Myrtle Beach, SC 29582 tel: 843-249-8649. Just in time for "S.O.S." (Shaggin' on the Strand)!
Tim Holek reviews "Hold" in Southwest Blues (Dallas, TX) and Twoj Blues (Poland) - April 16, 2008
"Wanda Johnson may well be on her way to becoming the new voice of soul and blues. Overall, "Hold What You Got" reflects a mature and strong-willed woman. Johnson's full potential is yet to come. When it does, she'll be one of the great vocalists of our generation.
The entire review can be found at
http://www.southwestblues.com/reviews/2008/cd-03-08wanda-johnson.htm
The entire review can be found at
http://www.southwestblues.com/reviews/2008/cd-03-08wanda-johnson.htm
More beach/shag action for "Hold" tracks - April 14, 2008
"Dropping Names" charting at #9 on Roadhouse chart (please see www.beachshag.com) with "Allergic to Mink" bubbling under.
Thanks to Fess' John Hook & crew!
Thanks to Fess' John Hook & crew!
Shag/beach music action for "Hold What You Got" - April 8, 2008
Not that it's a surprise, but "Hold" is getting action on the shag/beach circuit. I guess, living here on the Carolina coast, we were bound to slip a few danceable numbers in!
Charleston-based deejays Walter Upchurch and Betty Brown are spinning "Hold" at JB Pivots Beach Club, Harriett Grady-Thomas's great nightspot on Highway 17 South in Charleston. And Judy's House of Oldies in North Myrtle Beach has stocked the CD.
Noted South Carolina shag radio kingpin Mike Little has written a nice review saying, "'Allergic to Mink' just may be the key song on the 14-cut release. However, you will want to pay close attention to "Wheel Your Love to Me"...This girl's going places!" Full review at
http://jackcrumpton.tripod.com/beachmusic45/id580.html
Charleston-based deejays Walter Upchurch and Betty Brown are spinning "Hold" at JB Pivots Beach Club, Harriett Grady-Thomas's great nightspot on Highway 17 South in Charleston. And Judy's House of Oldies in North Myrtle Beach has stocked the CD.
Noted South Carolina shag radio kingpin Mike Little has written a nice review saying, "'Allergic to Mink' just may be the key song on the 14-cut release. However, you will want to pay close attention to "Wheel Your Love to Me"...This girl's going places!" Full review at
http://jackcrumpton.tripod.com/beachmusic45/id580.html
"Hold" gets great review in Living Blues - April 2, 2008
Dave Ruthenberg, in Living Blues (#195, just out), waxes enthusiastic about "Hold What You Got" - saying, "South Carolina native Wanda Johnson is a hidden treasure that deserves to be unearthed and her latest, "Hold What You Got", may just bring her talent to light...the results are stunning...this could well be the album that propels (her) further on the road to stardom." www.livingblues.com
"Hold" applauded in new Soul Bag magazine (France) - March 24, 2008
Issue #190, March, 2008: review giving "Hold What You Got" the highest ranking possible - Le Pied...essentially 5 stars! Essentially..."essential"!
"Dropping Names" from "Hold" is also on the 13-song CD sampler given away free in this issue of Soul Bag. Merci!
www.soulbag.presse.fr
"Dropping Names" from "Hold" is also on the 13-song CD sampler given away free in this issue of Soul Bag. Merci!
www.soulbag.presse.fr
Wanda & Shrimp City Slim to play LIVE on Michael Feldman's "Whad'ya Know?" (National Public Radio) - March 19, 2008
LIVE from Clemson University, Saturday, April 5, 11 am-1 pm. Probably two songs. Check your local NPR listings.
Tracks from "Hold What You Got" now on XM Satellite Radio - March 8, 2008
Thanks to Bill Wax & "Bluesville" (Station 74) on XM Satellite Radio for the first spins today of "Give Your Face a Rest", "Move On", and the title track from Wanda's new CD "Hold What You Got". If you haven't subscribed to XM yet, this is THE source for great blues on your radio! Please request these songs at www.xmfan.com
Wanda song on French blues sampler CD - February 18, 2008
Venerable French blues magazine Soul Bag (Paris) has chosen "Dropping Names" from Wanda's CD "Hold What You Got", to be included on a blues sampler CD sent to 2500 subscribers with their next issue.
World (radio) premiere today for "Hold What You Got" - January 28, 2008
The airplay has begun. Aired this morning: the title track on the "Andy Thomas Show" on WQSC 1340 AM Charleston, SC.
"Hold What You Got" (new CD) on-line sales - December 30, 2007
We should have them for you - about the end of January - at
www.cdbaby.com or of course the live shows.
www.cdbaby.com or of course the live shows.
Studio work completed for new CD - December 22, 2007
Engineer Steve Green & producer Gary Erwin finished mixing and mastering Wanda's new 14-song CD "Hold What You Got" last night at Island Sounds, Johns Island, SC. If you liked Wanda's first two albums, we are confident you will love "Hold What You Got", slated for release at the 18th annual Southern Comfort Lowcountry Blues Bash in Charleston, SC, February 8. The CD will be available at www.cdbaby.com and www.amazon.com as well.
Going into the studio - November 22, 2007
In mid-December, Wanda goes into the studio with the Shrimp City Slim band (SCS, keys; Silent Eddie Phillips, guitar; LaMont Garner, drums; Jerome Griffin, bass; Mike "Mr. Big" Kincaid, saxes, plus guest harmonica, brass, and b/u vox) to cut her new CD.
The CD, as yet untitled, will feature five new songs by Wanda, one by her sister Pat, and eight by SCS. Release is scheduled for February, 2008, to coincide with the 18th annual Lowcountry Blues Bash in Charleston. www.bluesbash.com
A real mixed bag of material, we think you will like it! More news later...
The CD, as yet untitled, will feature five new songs by Wanda, one by her sister Pat, and eight by SCS. Release is scheduled for February, 2008, to coincide with the 18th annual Lowcountry Blues Bash in Charleston. www.bluesbash.com
A real mixed bag of material, we think you will like it! More news later...
More raves from Chicago - November 19, 2007
Blues Beat (Western NY Blues Society, Buffalo, NY), Fall 2007 has an exhaustive report on the 24th annual Chicago Blues Festival, featuring a nice pic of Wanda and raves from a number of reviewers, including veteran Euro blues journalist Andrez Matysik of TWOJ Blues Magazine (Poland) who commented:
"Wanda Johnson. I first saw her name in Tim Holek's review of the 2006 Pocono Blues Festival. He wrote she was his discovery of the year. After her Saturday show at the Front Porch stage, I consider her my own discovery of all eight Chicago Blues Festivals I have seen so far."
Join the Blues Society of Western NY at PO Box 129, Kenmore Branch, Buffalo, NY 14217. A great group of people and an excellent blues advocacy!
"Wanda Johnson. I first saw her name in Tim Holek's review of the 2006 Pocono Blues Festival. He wrote she was his discovery of the year. After her Saturday show at the Front Porch stage, I consider her my own discovery of all eight Chicago Blues Festivals I have seen so far."
Join the Blues Society of Western NY at PO Box 129, Kenmore Branch, Buffalo, NY 14217. A great group of people and an excellent blues advocacy!
Accolades from 2007 Chicago Blues Festival - November 4, 2007
Well-known freelance blues journalist Tim Holek was there at Wanda's June 9 gig at the 24th annual Chicago Blues Festival and opined:
"Wanda Johnson's music is the freshest sound you are going to hear on the circuit right now...reminiscent of a young Irma Thomas, Wanda Johnson is on her way to becoming one of the great vocalists of our generation."
Tim's review/article appeared in the September edition of "Southwest Blues News" and is now available in its entirety on-line at
www.bluesartstudio.com/NeueSeiten/The%20Twenty-Fourth%20Annual%20Chicago%20Blues%20Festival.html
"Wanda Johnson's music is the freshest sound you are going to hear on the circuit right now...reminiscent of a young Irma Thomas, Wanda Johnson is on her way to becoming one of the great vocalists of our generation."
Tim's review/article appeared in the September edition of "Southwest Blues News" and is now available in its entirety on-line at
www.bluesartstudio.com/NeueSeiten/The%20Twenty-Fourth%20Annual%20Chicago%20Blues%20Festival.html
Wanda on Educational Television this week - October 10, 2007
Both programs airing Thursday, October 11, on all stations of South Carolina ETV:
9 pm: "Juke Joints & Honky Tonk" on Carolina Stores - this is a rerun of a program about SC roots music and where it is performed. Joe Diffie (country), Drink Small (blues), and Wanda Johnson with Shrimp City Slim, among others.
10 pm: "A Song for Pumpkin Brown" on Southern Lens - this is the short film that Wanda plays in, as Ruthie, a singer/clubowner.
Check it out!
9 pm: "Juke Joints & Honky Tonk" on Carolina Stores - this is a rerun of a program about SC roots music and where it is performed. Joe Diffie (country), Drink Small (blues), and Wanda Johnson with Shrimp City Slim, among others.
10 pm: "A Song for Pumpkin Brown" on Southern Lens - this is the short film that Wanda plays in, as Ruthie, a singer/clubowner.
Check it out!