Robb Johnson

Infobox musical artist
Name = Robb Johnson


Img_capt = Robb Johnson performing in Faversham in November 2007.
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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Robb Jenner Johnson
Alias =
Born = birth date and age|1955|12|25
Died =
Origin = Hounslow flagicon|ENG
Instrument = Vocals
Guitar
Genre = Folk
Occupation = Singer-songwriter
Years_active =
Label = Irregular Records
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.robbjohnson.co.uk robbjohnson.com]
Notable_instruments =

Robb Jenner Johnson (born Hounslow, 25 December 1955)cite book |last=Gregory |first=Andy |title=The International Who's Who in Popular Music 2002 |isbn=1-8574-3161-8 |date=2002 |publisher=Routledge |pages=pp261–262] cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:kxfyxqw0ldte~T1|title=Robb Johnson : Biography|publisher=AllMusic.com|accessdate=2008-07-17] is a British musician and songwriter, who has been called "one of the last genuinely political songwriters", and is known for his mix of political satire and wit. He has his own record label, Irregular Records,cite web|url=http://www.folkworld.de/30/e/robb.html|title=Songs from the European Urban Experience: Robb Johnson and the Irregular Records Label|publisher=FolkWorld|accessdate=2008-07-17] and has released more than 25 albums either solo or in several collaborations.

Biography

Johnson began his musical career playing in folk clubs in the 1970s and ran a folk club at Sussex University, before forming a band called Grubstreet, which split up in 1983. Two years later he made his first solo album, setting up his own label on which to release it, before forming an agitprop group, The Ministry of Humour, with Mark Shilcock and Graham Barnes. After the break-up of this act and a failed attempt at forming a new electric band, he returned to performing solo and also formed a duo with female singer Pip Collings.

In 1997 he composed the song cycle "Gentle Men", based on the experiences of his grandfathers in the First World War. The song cycle was recorded by Johnson in collaboration with Roy Bailey,cite book |last=Broughton |first=Simon|coauthors=Mark Ellingham, Richard Trillo |title=World Music: The Rough Guide|isbn=1-8582-8635-2 |date=1999 |publisher=Rough Guides |pages=p29] and performed at the commemorative Passendale Peace Concert. [cite web|url=http://www.folkmusic.net/htmfiles/inart403.htm|title=Roy Bailey|publisher=The Living Tradition|accessdate=2008-07-17] He remains active and has released at least one album each year since 2000 as well as playing regular gigs, benefits and political events. In 2006 he was a special guest at the BBC's "Folk Britannia" concert at the Barbican Centre. [cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/music/features/folk-concert1.shtml|title=Folk Britannia|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-07-17]

Discography

Albums

Johnson has to date released 31 albums.cite web|url=http://www.irregularrecords.co.uk/robb/catalogue/index.html|publisher=Irregular Records|accessdate=2008-07-17|title=Robb Johnson – Catalogue] cite web|url=http://www.irregularrecords.co.uk/robb/news/index.html|publisher=Irregular Records|accessdate=2008-07-17|title=Latest news]
*"In Amongst The Rain" (1985) [cite web|url=http://www.nightcafe.co.uk/robb_j.html|publisher=Folk on Tap |title=The Irregular World of ROBB JOHNSON|accessdate=2008-07-17]
*"Songs for the New Jerusalem" (1987)
*"Skewed, Slewed, Stewed & Awkward" (1987)
*"Small Town World" (1989)
*"Overnight" (1991) "(Robb Johnson and Pip Collings)"
*"Tourists and Casualties" (1993) "(The Johnson-Collings Band)"
*"This Is the UK Talking" (1994)
*"Heart's Desire" (1994) "(Robb Johnson and Pip Collings)"
*"Lack of Jolly Ploughboy" (1995) "(Robb Johnson and Pip Collings)"
*"Lavender Blues" (1995, six-track mini-album)
*"Interesting Times" (1995) "(The Robb Johnson Band)"
*"The Night Café" (1995)
*"Hell’s Kitchen" (1996) "(The Robb Johnson Roots Band)"
*"Overnight" (1996, solo re-recording of tracks from the 1991 album of the same name and "Tourists and Casualties")
*"Invisible People" (1997)
*"Gentle Men" (1997) "(Roy Bailey, Vera Coomans, Robb Johnson, & Koen De Cauter & The Golden Serenaders)"
*"Yeah Yeah Yeah: So Far So Good 1991-1998" (1998) "(The Robb Johnson Band)"
*"The Big Wheel" (1999)
*"Margaret Thatcher: My Part in Her Downfall" (2000)
*"21st Century Blues" (2001) "(Robb Johnson, Miranda Sykes and Saskia Tomkins)"
*"The Triumph of Hope Over Experience" (2002)
*"Maximum Respect" (2002)
*"Clockwork Music" (2003)
*"Friday Night in Brentford" (2003)
*"Tony Blair: My Part in His Downfall" (2004)
*"A Beginner's Guide" (2005)
*"Metro" (2005)
*"Saturday Night at The Fire Station" (2006) "(Robb Johnson & The Irregulars)"
*"All That Way For This" (2007) "(Robb Johnson & The Irregulars)"
*"Love & Death & Politics: The Basement Edition" (2008, limited edition of 100 copies) "(Robb Johnson & The Irregulars)"
*"Love & Death & Politics" (2008, re-recording) "(Robb Johnson & The Irregulars)"

ingles

*"The Animals Song" (1986)
*"The Herald of Free Enterprise" (1988)
*"Wasted Years" (1991)
*"Living in the Rubbish" (1991) "(Robb Johnson and Pip Collings)"
*"Saturday Afternoon Red Army" (1995)

Personal life

Johnson married Meeta Kanabar on 22 August 1992. The couple have two sons, Hari (born 1998) and Arvin (born 1999). He is a vegan and has contributed to vegan causes. [cite web|url=http://www.vegancampaigns.org.uk/festival/timetable.htm|title=London Vegan Festival|publisher=Vegan Campaigns|accessdate=2008-07-17] He is a supporter of Brentford F.C. and has performed fund-raising concerts for the club. [cite web|url=http://www.brentfordfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10421~360090,00.html|publisher=Brentford F.C.|title=Robb Johnson returns|accessdate=2008-07-17|date=2004-11-17]

References

External links

* [http://www.robbjohnson.co.uk Robb Johnson Official website]
* [http://www.irregularrecords.co.uk Robb Johnson's Irregular Records website]