Johnny Young — a Nashville artist with West Coast roots — is returning to Humboldt County to perform solo-acoustic Friday at 8 p.m. at Firewater Lounge at Cher-Ae Heights Casino in Trinidad. There is no cover charge.
Like many in the music industry, Young’s 2020 tour dates evaporated with the onset of the pandemic, prompting him to switch gears (and area codes) in favor of Nashville’s historic Music Row. With contributions from some of music city’s finest session players, Young spent the remainder of last year recording his debut solo album, which has already gone to radio worldwide on the strengths of his debut single/video, “Outlaw”, and also features a duet with Georgette Jones, the daughter of Tammy Wynette and George Jones.
This guitarist and singer-songwriter has spent life immersed in music and travel, entertaining audiences since age 6. Young grew up on a staple of rock records and country radio hits, and by the time he was in first grade, he was writing his own songs and performing onstage. In his teen years, he started to make a name around the Pacific Northwest as a soulful guitarist.
During his adolescence, he would join the ranks of a few different acts, touring hard, warming up for major artists, and putting his stamp on several albums. A couple music for TV deals would follow, with the occasional acting gig to make ends meet while dreams of going out on tour and hearing his music on the radio and TV were becoming realized.
It was also during this time he did some serious fundraising in the name of Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, United Way and Red Cross, raising over $1 million alongside his bandmates in the teen rock band MindFrame.
A gig offer in 2002 would lead Young back to playing country music, taking up guitar duties for Nashville recording artist Amy Clawson — ultimately producing her radio single “Cowboy Up” and performing up to 300 shows annually, while handling guitar duties with Portland modern rockers Assisted Living and occasional tours with punky funksters, HookahStew.
By 2013, Johnny had seen many peers and partners settle down for a sense of “normal life,” but he pushed on, loading up the van, and heading for Los Angeles to join up with Cold Forty Three to embark on a three-month North American tour, followed by the Vans Warped Tour, consecutively. It was also during his Los Angeles residency, Young would do a little acting, and session work with several artists, including Karling Abbeygate’s self-titled album and “We’ve Just Cheated Death” with Cody the Band.
After Warped Tour, Cold Forty Three took a hiatus, and Young headed for the redwood hills of Mendocino County, reforming his old band HookahStew to record a new EP, and embark on an anniversary tour. In the spring of 2015, he joined up with pop country artist McKenna Faith on bass guitar. It was at this time he was asked if he could put together a band for some upcoming shows in the Reno/Tahoe area. Three weeks later, the Johnny Young Band was born, and on stage playing to enthusiastic audiences throughout the West.
Things took off quickly, as Young and the band soon found themselves sharing the stage with artists such as Tim McGraw, Eric Church, and Chris Stapleton.
In 2018, Young released his latest single “Outlaw” to radio, introducing his music to new fans throughout North America and the UK. His breakout single earned him a runner-up mention for Country Song Of The Year from the World Music Awards.
Prior to the shutdown, Young had released the follow up single, “Don’t Get Any Countrier,” opened for Love & Theft and the Eli Young Band, plus performed at the legendary Nashville Palace and at the CMA Festival in Nashville.
In 2021, Johnny released his first solo album and he’s now on tour. He’ll also play Saturday night at Enoteca in Crescent City.
