Mike Johnson (born 1946) is an American country music yodeler, singer, and songwriter living in Arlington, Virginia.
Raised in a Catholic family in Washington, D.C., Johnson began yodeling in the 1950s, imitating the "Tarzan yell" of actor Johnny Weissmuller. Later he would be influenced by the music of Jimmie Rodgers, Gene Autry, and Roy Rogers. Johnson enlisted in the US Navy in 1965 and served two Vietnam tours from 1967 to 1969 on the USS Constellation CVA-64. From his first professional recording session at Globe Recording Studio in April 1981 in Nashville, he released his first 45 rpm single "King of the Fish." Later he became a truck driver, in September 1981. Johnson founded Pata del Lobo Music publishing in 1982, and Roughshod Records and You and Me Records in 1987. Since April 1981 Johnson has released two 45 rpm vinyls, 11 cassettes, and 65 CDs.
Contents
Awards and recognition
Inducted into America's Old-Time Country Music Hall Of Fame by The National Traditional Country Music Association at the 27th Annual Old-Time Country Music Festival, in Avoca, Iowa, September 2002
114 of his yodels were acquired by the Library of Congress' Recorded Sound Reference Center's permanent music collection in April 2007
received Lifetime Achievement Award from National Traditional Country Music Association in August 2016 at 41st Annual Old Time Country Music Festival, LeMars, Iowa.
Johnson received a 2017 Legendary Honky Tonk CD of the Year Award from the National Traditional Country Music Association at their 2017 Old Time Country Music Festival in LeMars, Iowa. Johnson received a 2017 Legendary Honky Tonk CD of the Year Award from the National Traditional Country Music Association at their 2017 Old Time Country Music Festival in LeMars, Iowa.
Bob Everhart, founder and president of the National Traditional Country Music Association in 1975, died at the age of 85 on 20 August 2021. His wife terminated the organization shortly thereafter.
Works
Discography
1981 King of the Fish 45 rpm
1983 Mike Johnson's Guitar Songs Vol.1 cassette
1986 Hooked On Rodeo 45 rpm
1986 I Believe In Roy Rogers cassette
1986 Did You Hug Your Mother Today? cassette
1993 Black Yodel No.1 the Song the Songwriter cassette
1994 Did You Hug Your Mother Today? cassette
1995 Just a Nobody cassette
1995 Take Time Out cassette
1995 As Long As There Is Music cassette
1996 I Believe In Roy Rogers cassette
1996 Did You Hug Your Mother Today? cassette
1996 Mike Johnson’s Guitar Songs Vol.1 cassette
1999 Black Yodel No.1 the Song the Songwriter CD
1999 Did You Hug Your Mother Today? CD
2000 Country Classics Radio DJ Special CD
2000 King of the Fish CD
2001 Yodeling McDonald Craig CD
2001 Take Time Out CD
2001 A Piano Interpretation by Thanh Bui CD
2001 Mike Johnson’s Guitar Songs “1983 Collectors Classic” CD
Books
Johnson, Mike (13 December 2012). I Just Wanted to Be a Songwriter: A Mike Johnson Music Anthology. MAJJ Productions. ISBN 978-0-615-75114-6.
