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Photo by: Wayne Tozzi / Opry North

Opry North

Name: Carolyn Dawn Johnson

Age: 30 (Happy Birthday Carolyn!)

Birth date: April 30, 1971

Birth place: Grand Prairie, Alberta, Canada

Home town: Deadwood, Alberta, moved to Manning AB in 1985.

Resides in: Nashville, TN, USA

Pets: n/a

Group name: n/a

Instruments played: Piano led to playing saxophone, clarinet but acoustic guitar is the favourite.

Started performing at age: Very young, while still in grade school.

Most memorable performance: Among many of late, touring with Martina McBride was a highlight

What do you do to relax: Go out with friends, dinner and movies usually as well as playing volleyball, baseball.

Finished CD's: One

Cd's for sale: “Room With A View” – released 2001

Management:

RPM Management, LLC

209 10^th Avenue South

Suite 229

Nashville, TN 37203

Ph: (615) 256 – 1980

Fax: (615) 256 – 1134

Contact: Scott Siman

Record Label:

Arista Records

1400 18^th Avenue South

Nashville, TN 37212

Ph: (615) 846 – 9100

Fax: (615) 846 – 9190

Website: http://www.carolyndawnjohnson.com/

For a Canadian to move to Nashville is nothing new – they’ve been doing it ever since Hank Snow packed his bags and headed down to make his fortune. But the amount to actually made that trek and come away winning has been limited to a few dozen at best. Well, add to that number because Carolyn Dawn Johnson has made it to the ‘big time’, but not without a lot of hard work, a little luck and tons and tons of talent. With a voice so clear and suited to harmony that Martina McBride chose Carolyn to tour with her, to a songwriting talent that has resulted in few albums coming out without these days without one song either written or co-written by Carolyn you could say that this is ‘her time’.

Carolyn moved from her home province of Alberta to Nashville in the mid nineties, with the blessings of her parents and a solid grounding in the musical skills she’d developed over a lifetime. Surrounded by music, with a mother who taught piano, it would be natural for the young woman to progress from one instrument to another while putting her thoughts and feelings into words. After discovering that the songwriting part of music was what she really loved to do, to say things in such a way that ideas and feelings were conveyed to the listener, she attended a songwriter’s event in Nashville sponsored by the Nashville Songwriter’s Association International. Yes, she was on the right track and that trip gave her the confidence to pack her car and, with her parents blessing, move down to see what would happen.

Arriving in a strange town, with no job and lots of hopes is something that many a young person has gone through (especially in Nashville and Los Angeles, cities of dreams) but Carolyn was ready, with a level head on her shoulders. Good thing, because one of the first to approach the irrepressible blonde newcomer was the epitome of the ‘industry shark’. With smooth talk, lots of promises and all the rest he did his best to persuade the young songwriter to go along with him. Declined. Shaking her head, she turned her attention to the job at hand. Work. She began to waitress, while she continued to write and look around at which places would be best for her to approach with her music. One of the first people she befriended at her first job was another young songwriter by the name of Phil Vassar. When Phil opened his own club Carolyn went to work for him and showcased her material at ‘writer’s nights’ held there.

After doing her homework she discovered that one name kept popping up – Patrick Joseph Music – a publishing company that listed some of her songwriting idols as their regular contributors. She decided that was the one for her. But now, to convince them of the necessity to sign her. No, not at this time. Undaunted, she continued her pursuit of finding someone interested in her songs and then another friend (Jimmy Gilmer) suggested she let him steer her toward EMI Publishing. Well, it never rains, it pours. When EMI expressed an interest in the material and she was hoping something would come of it another friend (Scott Siman) called to tell her that yes, Patrick Joseph Music had seen the light. After nearly a year she got the break she’d been looking for.

And talk about friends in high places. Not only did she make a lasting friend in Phil Vassar, who’s moved to take his place as one of the reigning male singer-songwriting kings of today but Jimmy Gilmer turned out to be Brad Paisley’s manager. Scott Siman founded his own management company – RPM Management – and now represents artists like Tim McGraw, Billy Gilman, Carolyn and Jessica Andrews. How perfectly things had fallen into place for her – but the ride wouldn’t stop yet.

The year 1998 took on a life of it’s own with Carolyn’s songs being snatched up by artists like Kathy Mattea, Linda Davis, Suzy Bogguss, JoDee Messina, Patty Loveless and many others including Chely Wright, who was soon recording a new album. In 1999 the song “Single White Female” made a star out of Chely, with Carolyn getting a taste of what it was like to be ‘famous’. It went to #1.

Now known as a songwriter of top quality material it was time to show that she could hold her own as a performer too. Carolyn has said that it has been hard to hold songs back for her own use, when she is so accustomed to ‘shopping’ them out but that’s what she had to start doing. She began to work in the studio as a background vocalist and was soon one of the most demanded by artists like Martina, Kenny Rogers, Loretta Lynn and others. The association with Martina would continue, with Carolyn being asked along on Martina’s tour as one of the vocalists. It gave Carolyn the experience of playing some of the largest venues across the country and a chance to see what life was like for one of the most popular, most loved ‘country stars’. In Carolyn’s eyes, there’s no one quite like Martina – a sentiment that must be mutual as Martina returned the favour of Carolyn’s background vocals on “I Love You” by contributing her voice to Carolyn’s first single “Georgia”. And you wonder why both songs are extraordinary? Wonder no longer.

The album “Room With A View” is Carolyn’s contribution of excellent songs with equally impressive vocals and the songs released so far – “Georgia” and “Complicated” have been well received by fans in Canada and are catching on with fans across the US too. This exuberant young woman is proving she’s more than just a pretty face, she’s going to be one of the powerhouses of the country music industry in North America behind both the pen and the microphone…and it couldn’t happen to a nicer person.

The first time I saw the video for “Georgia” I must confess I didn’t recognize the young lady, only the small maple leaf on the black top she wore in a few of the scenes. Intrigued, I waited until the end to see who she was. Carolyn Dawn Johnson – with the tell tale maple leaf next to her name (CMT Canada’s specialty). Soon after that first glimpse I seemed to find her everywhere. Good marketing? Maybe. But it was more than that…it was almost like the world was just discovering the same jewel at the same time and all of a sudden it’s flash and sparkle filled every corner. And the more you see her, the more you know where the flash and sparkle comes from. She’s beautiful, but not in an artificial, heavily made up way. She’s forthright, with the easy manner of expressing herself that shows through in her songs. She comes across as extremely likeable, someone who is guileless and without pretension. You know, the best friend sort of girl. But with a talent the likes of which hasn’t even been tapped yet…that’s the feeling I get.

I’ve had the chance to see Carolyn in concert, when she opened for Kenny Rogers back in February in Toronto. I thought she was brilliant. Understated, simple even, but with an honesty and openness that touched you. She got up there – by herself aside from one accompanist – and presented some of the most personal thoughts and feelings through her songs. Now if that isn’t guts then I don’t know what is. Her time up there wasn’t very long but it was filled with personal touches that brought her right to each and every person in that room (the ‘room’ being Massey Hall). I was impressed beyond words. This woman has the same ‘stuff’ in her make up that I see in Reba. That ‘strength of character’ and common sense coupled with a sensitivity and compassion that allow the possessor to be exactly who they are, like it or not. She’ll always be Carolyn, that’s the truth you feel about her. She’s a product of her family (whom she mentions often) and in my opinion, they should be proud. Because I am.

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