Soul Blues Legend Johnny Rawls will be in Sarasota/Bradenton in February
Johnny Rawls is a soul blues legend. In fact, the term “soul blues” was invented to describe his music. With a career spanning more than 50 years, he’s done it all. He’s an internationally recognized recording artist, music producer, and songwriter who tours extensively throughout North America and overseas. The Blues Music Awards, Blues Blast Awards, Living Blues Awards, and the W. C. Handy Awards have all acknowledged Johnny with multiple awards and nominations, including Soul Blues Album of the Year and Soul Blues Artist of the Year. Living Blues Magazine described him as a “soul-blues renaissance man” when he was featured on the cover in 2002. Johnny is honored to be mentioned on two markers along the Mississippi Blues Trail – one in Hattiesburg, MS, marking the Hi-Hat Club, and another in Rocklin ME marking the migration of blues from Mississippi to Maine.
In the 1980’s, after playing as a side man and band director for several Nationally known blues bands, Johnny began touring as a solo artist and made his first solo recording. A prolific songwriter, hundreds of Johnny’s songs have been recorded. He has released more than fifteen albums since his debut solo album, Here We Go, in 1996. He has performed all over the world, and even on the open seas during the Blues Cruise. Mark your calendar now for his dates, and make sure to get reservations early because Rawls and his band sell out rapidly. We’ll let you know if dates are added to this schedule:
2/1/2024 ENGLEWOODS ON DEARBORN 6 to 9 pm in the courtyard ENGLEWOOD, FL
2/3/2024 JR’S OLD PACKING HOUSE CAFE 7 to 10 pm SARASOTA, FL
2/4/2024 COTTONMOUTH SOUL KITCHEN Sunday Brunch BRADENTON, FL
2/14/2024 BRADFORDVILLE BLUES CLUB Famous Roadhouse TALLAHASSEE, FL
2/18/2024 JACK’S Downtown Blues Club FORT MYERS, FL
2/24/2024 LITTLE BAR The Best Kept Secret near Marco Island GOODLAND, FL
Johnny Rawls is one of the few singer/songwriters we’ve seen who can get a crowd up and dancing, even at outdoor events. It’s a show-stopping performance!
Photo from Beth Hammer