Folksinger Michael Johnathon

“Take the inventiveness of Bob Dylan, the melodic voice of John Denver, add the showmanship of Garrison Keillor … and that’s Michael Johnathon.” – Bob Spear – Publisher, HEARTLAND REVIEW

My Tribute to Pete .

To acknowledge the great work, music and influence of Pete & Toshi Seeger, I now add the banjo to my signature. Read why click here

Coming March 2023, Michael’s 20th album release, Garden of Silence

It starts with a song about the day Van Gogh passed away and concludes with a tribute to folksingers everywhere. On the journey between those two musical bookends are songs about Thoreau (Winter Song) the spirit of the front porch (Front Porch Symphony) Narcissism (Narcissistic Blues) dancing with your lover (September Eve) a tribute to Pete Seeger (Seeger Mashup) and the banjo-driven instrumental about the fragrant scent of earth following a rain fall (Petrichor) He composed ten of the eleven songs and produced all, his Martin guitar and long neck banjo are dominant throughout textured with string quartets, Gazebo horn sections, piano and more.

READ a new article about how Michael is helping reshape and change the world of music & art click here

_
_

Visit the 2023 ART GALLERY of original oil paintings CLICK HERE

_MJ_
_

_
_

MJ’s Bio
Among the throngs of artists in the music world, few have elevated “dreaming” to such a high art form as folksinger Michael Johnathon. He recently won the prestigious Milner Award of the Arts in 2020, presented by Governor Andy Beshear in Kentucky.  The Painter a tribute the Vincent Van Gogh, is his 17th album release. Cosmic Banlo, released earlier this year, is a celebration of the long neck banjo. His 19th album, AFTERBURN: Folk at Arena Level was released the end of May 2022.
_
This past March, Michael organized the collection of over 1,000 musical instruments that were distributed FREE of charge to folks in Mayfield, Dawson Springs and Owensboro that had their homes and live decimated by the massive tornados.
_
Michael created the worldwide organization of SongFarmers, with nearly 100 active chapters from Australia, across America and Ireland as an alternative for musicians struggling with a changing music world. Their 6th National Gathering of SongFarmers will happen at the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame the last week of April. On April 30, WoodSongs will be inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame with a huge exhibite featuring the histry of the show and include the original, autographed stage sign used on over 1000 broadcast taping.
_
 He is a touring songwriter, author of six published books, the screenwriter for the upcoming Caney Creek motion picture, playwright of the Walden Play performed in 42 countries, composer of the opera, Woody: For the People, organizer of the national association of front porch musicians called SongFarmers, the full symphony performances of SONGS OF RURAL AMERICA and as the creator and host of the live audience broadcast of the WoodSongs Old Time Radio Hour with a radio audience of over two million listeners each week on 500 public radio stations, public television coast-to-coast, American Forces Radio Network in 173 nations and now on the RFD-TV Network nationwide.

(read the long form bio)

READ about the Milner Award click here

Visit our websites:  WoodSongs.com  WaldenPlay.com WoodyGuthrieOpera.com  SongFarmers.org

_

The WOODSONGS 176-page Book & CD series 1-5 plus Mousie HiWay are now available as eBOOK.

Visit KOBO.com and put “WoodSongs” in the search bar

_

NEW! Available now, order your copy today!

WoodSongs 5: A Folksingers Compendium & Van Gogh Reader

The next volume in the popular WoodSongs Book & CD Series. 176 pages, full color plus the Painter CD album. MEDIA Review copies available in September. Hard copy and digital/Kindle versions available: ORDER now click here

“The WoodSongs 5 book is for the “creatives,” those who birth into reality what the mind says does not exist. They are the poets, painters, dreamers and time travelers, world-wanderers and highway vagabonds, rail riders and drifters. They dream what is unseen so others can appreciate what has been created. They are 5-string politicians, 6-string therapists, banjo barristers, acoustic lovers and penny-pinching peacemakers … because those who sing together can not fight. They are still there. Still writing, searching, singing, trying to get this world in tune.”

FREE for all new and renewing WoodSongs Partners!

READ THE EARLY REVIEWS: CLICK HERE

Coming January 2022_
_
_ 

_

11 song studio album available now!

ORDER NOW from Amazon click here
 
ORDER NOW from Barnes&Noble Booksellers click here
 
ORDER NOW The new album THE PAINTER is available as a FULL DIGITAL DOWNLOAD or HARD COPY CDs click here
 
_
BUY AN ORIGINAL PAINTING  (a fund raiser for WoodSongs) CLICK HERE
_
 
MICHAEL JOHNATHON receives the prestigious Milner Award for the Arts click here

_
_

 
_
 
_
 
DAZED & CONFUZED At a time of great unrest in America and around the world, with protests and riot, dismantling of symbols and statues of the past and the hurt they cause, see the dramatic and powerful message of The Statue music video CLICK HERE
 
 
 
 
_
_
 
Order the 3 CD pak – the new GARDEN OF SILENCE, THE PAINTER plus the SONGS OF RURAL AMERICA symphony concert album. All three for $25 post paid (USA)new “Legacy” album and get the “Songs of Rural America” symphony CD for FREE … $20 post paid in the USA
Garden-Painter-SORA
_
_
 

 _

_
_
_
_
Order the new “Legacy” album and get the “Songs of Rural America” symphony CD for FREE … $20 post paid in the USA

 

LEGACY Sets



LEGACY is an epic journey through the modern world of music, from Pete Seeger to the modern day collapse of the record industry. Songs on the album include a total remake of Dylan’s ROLLING STONE, a banjo version of BLUE SKIES, originals like THE COIN, WINTER ROSE, the beautiful RAIN and the 9-minute opus title song. Put on your seat belts and hear the LEGACY single: CLICK HERE
_
INTERNATIONAL (outside the USA) ORDERS CLICK HERE
_
See our fancy ORDER FORM CLICK HERE
_
NEW! Get FIVE COMPLETE ALBUMS on one amazing bamboo USB Guitar drive, perfect for all devises. This contains the full album of songs to all five albums listed. Order today!
_
_
ALL ORDERS: Send a check payable to PoetMan Records to PO Box 200, Lexington, KY 40588 … call with a credit card 859-255-5700 … or use the PayPal button below (send to radio@woodsongs.com)
_
_
_
 

Available Now in a 3 CD Special

Dazed & Confuzed

Studio album click here
 
_
_
_
__See our fancy ORDER FORM CLICK HERE
_
 
 

WoodSongs 4 Book & CD

ORDER NOW! 176-page book and full album, CLICK HERE

_
 _
_
_
_
_
_
 
 
 
_
_

Songs of Rural America – full album

Performed with The Ohio Valley Symphony as seen on national TV DETAILS CLICK HERE

__<%2