Johnny Rawls

Born in Mississippi in 1951, Johnny’s interest in music began in early childhood. While still in high school, he was already performing professionally as a backing musician for major and well-known artists, including ZZ Hill, Little Johnny Taylor, Joe Tex, and The Sweet Inspirations. In the mid-1970s, Johnny became bandleader for soul singer O.V. Wright and toured with O.V. until his death in 1980. From 1980 to 1985, he led Little Johnny Taylor’s band, after which he launched his solo career in 1985.

He has now released a total of 17 albums under his own name and, over the years, has been showered with numerous awards and nominations, including Blues Music Awards, Blues Blast Awards, Living Blues Critics Poll Awards, and W.C. Handy Awards, as well as the “21st Annual Living Blues Awards Critics' Poll,” “Most Outstanding Blues Singer 2013,” “Best Soul Blues Album of the Year 2019,” “The Living Blues Award for Best Soul Blues Album” - and the list goes on…