Justin Johnson: An American Master
A true master’s musicianship holds true to influences, yet follows spirit and heart first, setting aside rules and forging new and inspired art. Maybelle Carter did this, as did Django Reinhardt, Hank Williams, and Jimmie Rodgers. But in our modern world, profound musical originality is rare, and fewer still hold strong to tradition, while moving on to create distinctive new music. If, in this marketed world of overstimulation and oversaturation, you are seeking an artist with distinguishing musicianship and artistry, I recommend you listen to: Justin Johnson.

When I first heard Justin, I was amazed. His technique is studied and focused, but still achieves previously unaccomplished inimitable ingenuity. He does this through a lately unstudied and somewhat forgotten method: honesty. Even though it may seem a familiar pathway, listen carefully…the music of Justin Johnson sets new destinations. You may hear the guitar style here of the old masters, the sounds of a wailing blues guitar, the tones of an ancient arch-top Gibson, the perfect sounds coming from a rare mandolin made in the early 1920’s, but there is more: and Justin will take you there.
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I am blessed to have discovered Justin Johnson and ask that you join me, take in the music, take in the very soul of America… It is all here, and it comes from the only honest place it could: the heart.
-JOHN CARTER CASH, PRODUCER

Justin Johnson brings to life old favorites as well as new material, with a twist all his own.
​Paying homage to the old, with the flair of the stars!!
His music is timeless, yet fresh, with tastes of blues, folk, country, and rock. There is absolutely something for everyone on If Walls Could Talk.
-CHUCK TURNER, PRODUCER

I’ve been attracted to music for as long as I can remember. When I was growing up, if there was an instrument around the house, I would be banging on it. From an old beat up, one-string Stella guitar (my first guitar), to the piano, trumpet, and euphonium… I would write songs and force out melodies as best I could. When I picked up a 6-string for the first time, I immediately knew that the guitar was the instrument that would become my voice. I played it every minute I could. I woke up early to play it, ate with it, played it into the night, and then fell asleep with it. I learned songs by taping them on the radio.. remember tape!?.. and then trying to figure them out by ear. I saved any money I could scrounge to buy Tablature books and, later, DVDs taught by the players I admired. I ended up studying Jazz guitar in school, but the best education I ever got was on stage. At one point, I was performing regularly in 6 bands at the same time, from Bluegrass and Big Band, to Reggae and Psychedelic Rock groups. I like the feeling of learning to swim by jumping into the deep end. It’s always the fastest way to find out what you’ve got.
- JUSTIN JOHNSON

Those guys all said it much better than I ever could have done, with the added bonus that they actually know what they're talking apout.

Check out some of Justin's YouTube videos too, like this one of him playing a 3-string shovel.