Friday Blues

Johnny  Burgin performs over 200 shows a year in Europe,  Japan and coast to coast in the US.  Johnny grew up in Mississippi and  went to University of Chicago at 18, but ended up attending "blues  university".  Johnny met a DJ on the college radio station who took him  to see the Howlin' Wolf style singer Tail Dragger  on the West Side of Chicago.  Tail Dragger took Johnny under his wing  and gave him his first professional gigs, and from there Johnny learned  quickly and went on to tour or gig with blues legends such as Pinetop  Perkins, Sam Lay and Billy Boy Arnold.  He's  been praised by the Cascade Blues Association for his "stunning guitar  playing-- the pure Chicago styled sound".

Johnny’s played on dozens of records as a sideman and  as a leader, he’s released ten CDs on Delmark and Vizztone records.  His most recent efforts are Johnny  Burgin Live, which features special guests Charlie  Musselwhite, Nancy Wright and Rae Gordon, which Living Blues called "a joyous listen". No  Border Blues: Japan came from Johnny’s many  tours and long relationships in Japan and is the first American compilation of the underground Japanese blues scene.  Vintage  Guitar stated: “Stellar fretwork, gloriously  loose, earthy and immediate Chicago blues”.  Johnny's a '23 nominee for the Best Traditional Blues Artist BMA and was nominated  for a BMA for Best Traditional Blues CD of 2017 for Howlin'  at Greaseland, a Howlin' Wolf tribute. He was  nominated for a Blast Blast Award for Best Live Release in 2020.