"Paints blues riffs as radically as Picasso, he pushes blues to experimental and quirky heights." - SOUTHLAND BLUES MAGAZINE "A triple threat, touch, timing and taste... evocative with a rare, strong, subtle, earthy, great touch!" - S. CA BLUES SOCIETY "Seldom have we heard an artist so firmly rooted in the genre yet so riding on the edge of inventive and creative twists within." - BARRELHOUSE BLUES "An exceptional blues talent with a unique guitar-style and an infectious energy." - AMERICAN BLUES NEWS "A highly unusual blues-rock six stringer." - BLUES REVIEW "A new landscape of the blues painted by a true one of a kind Artist" - BLUES UNDERGROUND NETWORK "All the factors that elevate the average blues player to above average greatness!" - ABN |
"An extreme blues talent...a traditional style of blues music with Johnny's own experimental style of blues guitar". - CROSSROADS BLUES SOCIETY You can hear the pain and passion and love in every single note of Johnny Childs. - WASSER PRAWDA A songwriter with an unusual flair for exciting arrangements, rhythms and dynamics." - ROOTS AND BLUES MAGAZINE "New York City's Premier Electric Blues guitarist" - VILLAGE VOICE "A transcendent bluesman and captivating performer...He becomes part of the guitar when he plays" - TIME OUT NEW YORK "A refreshingly unique, energetic and unorthodox style of guitar playing" - J BLAKE |
REVIEWS/INTERVIEWS
Blues Blast Magazine - CD/DVD Review
Johnny Childs’ is a driven man. He is driven by his aspirations but also by his demons. While I am certainly not a psychologist, I have managed people at a variety of levels for close to 40 years and have lived in over a dozen places. His energy and focus on becoming a successful bluesman is phenomenal; some would call it obsessive. This new CD and biographical DVD sheds much on his moxie, mojo, and motivation. Read More...
Johnny Childs’ is a driven man. He is driven by his aspirations but also by his demons. While I am certainly not a psychologist, I have managed people at a variety of levels for close to 40 years and have lived in over a dozen places. His energy and focus on becoming a successful bluesman is phenomenal; some would call it obsessive. This new CD and biographical DVD sheds much on his moxie, mojo, and motivation. Read More...
American Blues News - CD Review
"Johnny Childs gives fans something to GROOVE to."
What makes for a great bluesman? What is that special formula; the blend of factors that elevates the average blues player to above average greatness? Is it talent? Is it soul? What about life experience, hunger and determination? The fact of the matter is that a combination of any of these qualities has the ability to result in some fine blues music, but what about those rare occasions when all of these qualities come together in one artist? Well, if you’re looking for a contemporary example, you need not look any further than Johnny Childs. Read More...
"Johnny Childs gives fans something to GROOVE to."
What makes for a great bluesman? What is that special formula; the blend of factors that elevates the average blues player to above average greatness? Is it talent? Is it soul? What about life experience, hunger and determination? The fact of the matter is that a combination of any of these qualities has the ability to result in some fine blues music, but what about those rare occasions when all of these qualities come together in one artist? Well, if you’re looking for a contemporary example, you need not look any further than Johnny Childs. Read More...
Southland Blues - Cover Story
A few years ago, Alligator Records president, Bruce Iglauer, was interviewed about the current sad state that the modern blues business was (and still is) in. "What we need to happen right now [to reinvigorate the blues world and bring in new fans] is for a major crossover artist to emerge, either someone from the present group of artists, or somebody new coming up." Having recently heard about this exciting new artist in Southern California, I began listening to Johnny Childs' debut CD, The Truth Read More...
A few years ago, Alligator Records president, Bruce Iglauer, was interviewed about the current sad state that the modern blues business was (and still is) in. "What we need to happen right now [to reinvigorate the blues world and bring in new fans] is for a major crossover artist to emerge, either someone from the present group of artists, or somebody new coming up." Having recently heard about this exciting new artist in Southern California, I began listening to Johnny Childs' debut CD, The Truth Read More...
Rootstime - Groove CD Review
When the top producer, Blues Hall of Fame member and Grammy Award winner Bruce Bromberg flys to New York City to produce your 3rd CD, you're obviously doing something right. Something we can fully agree on after listening to "Groove", the latest work of this idiosyncratic blues guitarist from New York. The strongest asset of this CD is his originality, and in just about every area. This is blues, but so different in approach than what normally drifts down to our office. Read More...
When the top producer, Blues Hall of Fame member and Grammy Award winner Bruce Bromberg flys to New York City to produce your 3rd CD, you're obviously doing something right. Something we can fully agree on after listening to "Groove", the latest work of this idiosyncratic blues guitarist from New York. The strongest asset of this CD is his originality, and in just about every area. This is blues, but so different in approach than what normally drifts down to our office. Read More...
Wasser-Prawda Magazine - Interview
_"Johnny Childs: Do Not Ignore him!"
Johnny Childs is a very active person. He published his truly remarkable album "Groove" in 2011. In 2010 he had finished the film "The Junkman's Son" after nine years of intensely working on it. This movie tells the most amusing story of a bluesman, who tries to find his way into the music business. The strip accompanies him through the six months before his 30th Birthday. By that day, his self imposed deadline, Read More...
_"Johnny Childs: Do Not Ignore him!"
Johnny Childs is a very active person. He published his truly remarkable album "Groove" in 2011. In 2010 he had finished the film "The Junkman's Son" after nine years of intensely working on it. This movie tells the most amusing story of a bluesman, who tries to find his way into the music business. The strip accompanies him through the six months before his 30th Birthday. By that day, his self imposed deadline, Read More...
American Blues Scene - Interview
"International Blues Music Day"
New York City bluesman Johnny Childs is eager to tell anyone who will listen why he initiated the grassroots movement to establish an International Blues Music Day. Johnny envisions a day on which blues societies all over the world schedule festivals and events celebrating the genre, and in which the origins of blues music will receive the homage to which they are due. Johnny knows a thing or two about the blues – his latest CD Groove is Read More...
"International Blues Music Day"
New York City bluesman Johnny Childs is eager to tell anyone who will listen why he initiated the grassroots movement to establish an International Blues Music Day. Johnny envisions a day on which blues societies all over the world schedule festivals and events celebrating the genre, and in which the origins of blues music will receive the homage to which they are due. Johnny knows a thing or two about the blues – his latest CD Groove is Read More...
Crossroads Blues Society - CD Review
Combine extreme talent, perseverance, the drive to land a record deal, a love for the blues and you have captured the persona of the solid bluesman, Johnny Childs. "Groove" Child's long awaited cd runs the gamut from Chicago blues style music to R&B influenced tunes. Joining Childs to round out his blues band are Cliff Schmitt on bass, drummer Michael Bram and piantist/organist Dave Keys. "Groove" combines a traditional style of blues music with Johnny's own experimental style of blues guitar. Read More...
Combine extreme talent, perseverance, the drive to land a record deal, a love for the blues and you have captured the persona of the solid bluesman, Johnny Childs. "Groove" Child's long awaited cd runs the gamut from Chicago blues style music to R&B influenced tunes. Joining Childs to round out his blues band are Cliff Schmitt on bass, drummer Michael Bram and piantist/organist Dave Keys. "Groove" combines a traditional style of blues music with Johnny's own experimental style of blues guitar. Read More...
Blues Underground Network - CD Review
"A life story that needs to be seen to be believed", is what one reviewer of Johnny Childs latest release, has said about this, not only exceptional, but also very unique talent. That part of the review was in reference to a documentary movie that Johnny Childs produced called "The Junkman's Son", which was originally titled, "Blues Before Sunrise". This movie shows the amazing never give up, despite what life throws at you attitude, that Johnny Childs has molded around his love of the blues and his willingness to take the blues beyond it's conventional borders, with the end product of his most recent journey being his great new Album, Read More...
"A life story that needs to be seen to be believed", is what one reviewer of Johnny Childs latest release, has said about this, not only exceptional, but also very unique talent. That part of the review was in reference to a documentary movie that Johnny Childs produced called "The Junkman's Son", which was originally titled, "Blues Before Sunrise". This movie shows the amazing never give up, despite what life throws at you attitude, that Johnny Childs has molded around his love of the blues and his willingness to take the blues beyond it's conventional borders, with the end product of his most recent journey being his great new Album, Read More...
WASSER PRAWDA MAGAZINE - CD REVIEW
A guitar - sharp as a knife - it comes from the neighbourhood of Buddy Guy and Jimi Hendrix. A grooving and thumping rhythm section - and a whole lot of passion. "Groove" by Johnny Childs is a great work of guitar-blues. What makes a good blues-number? Is it the the technical skill of the artist, the correct references to the history? Or is it the passion of the bluesman, his devotion to a music rarely heard in "AAA" radio.
You can hear pain, passion and love in every single note of Johnny Childs. You just have to think, where you heard such a sound before. Your looking instantly for the matching drawers. Yeah - maybe it's like Buddy Guy - his sharpness and virtuosity. But to make things clear: We haven't heard such a guitarist come along in a very long time.
And we have a rhythm section with the best grooves for his songs. And his vocals deliver the material strongly throughout, with great feel, passion and subtlety. "Groove" is a more than accurate title for this album. The groove that gets you from the start and doesn't let go til the end. We have blues, boogie, shuffle - all the good old stuff. But when Johnny Childs sings songs like "Junkman's Son" you can also hear the influences from his Jewish family. And that makes this album even more fascinating. Groove is Highly Recommended.
A guitar - sharp as a knife - it comes from the neighbourhood of Buddy Guy and Jimi Hendrix. A grooving and thumping rhythm section - and a whole lot of passion. "Groove" by Johnny Childs is a great work of guitar-blues. What makes a good blues-number? Is it the the technical skill of the artist, the correct references to the history? Or is it the passion of the bluesman, his devotion to a music rarely heard in "AAA" radio.
You can hear pain, passion and love in every single note of Johnny Childs. You just have to think, where you heard such a sound before. Your looking instantly for the matching drawers. Yeah - maybe it's like Buddy Guy - his sharpness and virtuosity. But to make things clear: We haven't heard such a guitarist come along in a very long time.
And we have a rhythm section with the best grooves for his songs. And his vocals deliver the material strongly throughout, with great feel, passion and subtlety. "Groove" is a more than accurate title for this album. The groove that gets you from the start and doesn't let go til the end. We have blues, boogie, shuffle - all the good old stuff. But when Johnny Childs sings songs like "Junkman's Son" you can also hear the influences from his Jewish family. And that makes this album even more fascinating. Groove is Highly Recommended.
Barrelhouse Blues - CD Review
This CD is totally refreshing! Simple instrumentation and production coupled with Johnny Childs unique phrasing are a winning combination. Seldom have we heard an artist so firmly rooted in the genre yet so riding on the edge of inventive and creative twists within. Songs like "Don't Quit The Man" explode with energy and swing relentlessly - and all the while Johnny's phrasing explores undiscovered sonic and rhythmic terrain. Riffs like that on "I'm A Ram" burrow into your consciousness and won't let go - but oh, so tasty!
For tone, touch, technique and fun factor, dial in this CD and your entertainment and listening pleasure is assured. Highly recommended.
This CD is totally refreshing! Simple instrumentation and production coupled with Johnny Childs unique phrasing are a winning combination. Seldom have we heard an artist so firmly rooted in the genre yet so riding on the edge of inventive and creative twists within. Songs like "Don't Quit The Man" explode with energy and swing relentlessly - and all the while Johnny's phrasing explores undiscovered sonic and rhythmic terrain. Riffs like that on "I'm A Ram" burrow into your consciousness and won't let go - but oh, so tasty!
For tone, touch, technique and fun factor, dial in this CD and your entertainment and listening pleasure is assured. Highly recommended.
Bman's Blues Report - Interview
"International Blues Music Day" On August 17, 2011 an online petition was launched on Facebook advocating for an International Blues Music Day. Within a few months the group reached thousands of members from around the world, comprising of blues fans, supporters, musicians, promoters and the general public. A formula is now being worked out to choose a date to declare and start celebrating an International Blues Music Day. The Petition was the brainchild of blues musician Johnny Childs from NYC.
Read More...
"International Blues Music Day" On August 17, 2011 an online petition was launched on Facebook advocating for an International Blues Music Day. Within a few months the group reached thousands of members from around the world, comprising of blues fans, supporters, musicians, promoters and the general public. A formula is now being worked out to choose a date to declare and start celebrating an International Blues Music Day. The Petition was the brainchild of blues musician Johnny Childs from NYC.
Read More...
Radio Interviews
Music on the Couch
Host: Vinny Marini
Johnny Childs takes a seat on the couch and talks about his new CD Groove, his film The Junkman's Son, The Blues Music Awards, his goals as President of NYC Blues Society, and leading the drive on Facebook to create an International Blues Music Day. Interview begins at: 48:00 minute mark
Click to Listen
Host: Vinny Marini
Johnny Childs takes a seat on the couch and talks about his new CD Groove, his film The Junkman's Son, The Blues Music Awards, his goals as President of NYC Blues Society, and leading the drive on Facebook to create an International Blues Music Day. Interview begins at: 48:00 minute mark
Click to Listen
Blues in the Grooves
Host: Nikki Armstrong
Johnny Childs discusses his latest CD, his recent founding of The NYC Blues Society, and the upcoming mega-blues revue concert he's producing in NYC; "The Six String Showdown". Click to Listen
Host: Nikki Armstrong
Johnny Childs discusses his latest CD, his recent founding of The NYC Blues Society, and the upcoming mega-blues revue concert he's producing in NYC; "The Six String Showdown". Click to Listen
The Blues Doctor
Host: Dr. Bob
Johnny Childs discusses his initiative to declare an International Blues Music Day, it's viral impact online and what he hopes a successful outcome can accomplish.
Click to Listen
Host: Dr. Bob
Johnny Childs discusses his initiative to declare an International Blues Music Day, it's viral impact online and what he hopes a successful outcome can accomplish.
Click to Listen
Music on the Couch
Host: Vinny Marini
The Petition to Declare A Blues Music Day was begun by Johnny Childs, musician and President of the NY City Blues Society. The facebook group has grown to over 5,000 members in one short month. Johnny joined me to discuss the cause and what YOU can do to make this a reality.Interview begins at: 93:00 minute mark
Click to listen
Host: Vinny Marini
The Petition to Declare A Blues Music Day was begun by Johnny Childs, musician and President of the NY City Blues Society. The facebook group has grown to over 5,000 members in one short month. Johnny joined me to discuss the cause and what YOU can do to make this a reality.Interview begins at: 93:00 minute mark
Click to listen
Check out the WALL OF QUOTES