MICHAEL JOHNSTON & ANDY MAIZE perform their song, "Hello Beautiful", at Stephanie Perl-McPhee’s book launch, April 1, 2008:
"...purely Canadian in all the best ways. Michael Johnston has finally succeeded in uniting our great land — at least musically." - CHART
"Delicately beautiful..." - the Toronto Sun
"Unabashedly entertaining" - the Peterborough Examiner
"**** a treasure trove of time-defying tunes" - Metro
"The illegimate son of Burt Bacharach and Randy Newman...sweet, uplifting, fresh and original." - En Route
A passionate performer, gifted songwriter, and dynamic keyboardist, Toronto, Ontario-based Johnston is a major talent on the Canadian scene, gaining tremendous acclaim from critics and his growing fanbase. In addition to his blossoming solo career, Johnston has toured and recorded with legendary Canadian group Skydiggers as their keyboardist/vocalist since 2006. Skydiggers will release a new album in 2008, including songs co-written by Johnston.
Michael has co-written songs with Chris Difford (Squeeze), Stephen Fearing (Blackie and the Rodeo Kings), Andy Maize and Josh Finlayson (Skydiggers), Dave Clark (Rheostatics), Cindy Church (Quartette), Saidah Baba Talibah (Jully Black), Lewis Melville, Peter Cash (The Cash Brothers) and Suzie Vinnick, as well as with renown Scottish artists Karine Polwart, Emma Pollock (The Delgados), King Creosote, Future Pilot AKA (The Soup Dragons) and Kim Edgar.
Johnston’s 2005 full-length solo debut - Curious Heart - was produced with drummer Don Kerr (Ron Sexsmith). Built around the piano, the album’s 14 songs are a mix of exquisite melodies, rootsy ballads, and spirited vocal harmonies. Johnstons soulful, intricate and quintessentially Canadian songs create engaging moods and enduring images. Curious Heart was built by some of Canada’s finest, including Lewis Melville, Maury Lafoy (Jann Arden), Reid Jamieson, Don Rooke (Mary Margaret O’Hara), Oh Susanna, and Andy Maize.
Michael has accompanied a who’s-who of the Canadian scene including The Wailin’ Jennys, Lynn Miles, Oh Susanna, Dave Clark (Rheostatics), Kevin Hearn (Barenaked Ladies), Keri Latimer (Nathan), Serena Ryder, and Bob Wiseman.
Johnston grew up an only child in Peterborough, Ontario. After studying Music and English at the University of Guelph, he moved to Toronto in 1999, where he became certified as an English as a second language teacher. He took three months off performing, taught ESL in Bratislava, Slovakia and traveled throughout Europe. He returned to Canada with a suitcase full of new songs, and moved to Winnipeg on Valentines Day of 2003.
Michael has performed at venues across North America including the Shelter Valley Folk Festival (2007), the North American Folk Alliance Conference (2006), Hillside, Mariposa, Stewart Park and Peterborough Folk Festivals (2005) and NXNE (2005).
After moving from Winnipeg to Montreal and then settling in Toronto in 2006, Johnston has been active recording with many Canadian musicians including Joel Gibb (The Hidden Cameras), John Southworth, Tannis Slimmon, Ian North, Sam Larkin, Cat Jahnke and Justin Rutledge
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Will You Wait For Me - The Sweet Sangria Orchestra (Apr. 07)
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Add to My Profile | Michael Johnston with Skydiggers - Ottawa, 2007
