Originally from South Carolina, a young John Burgin went to the Windy City to study at the prestigious University of Chicago in the early 90s and ending up learning at the equally important reality school of blues, playing with some of the elder statesmen of the genre. After a stint with blues singer Taildragger in rough and tough blues bars on Chicago’s West Side, Burgin toured nationally with legendary players Sam Lay (Howlin’ Wolf’s drummer) and popular piano man Pinetop Perkins. After returning to Chicago, he formed the Rockin’ Johnny Blues Band and signed with Delmark Records to begin an appreciated and storied career. After a few years out of the scene, Rockin’ Johnny is back with a new Delmark record in April and a hard paced tour schedule. Known and praised for playing classic blues, Johnny also mines the seldom-heard blues catalogue, digging deep into the style for original inspirations and nuggets of lost songs, rooted in old ways of the blues while branching out with contemporary sounds and compositions
The Rockin’ Johnny Band
Fri, Mar 9, 7-11pm
Walnut Street Winery
www.rockinjohnnyband.com
This article appears in Mar 8-14, 2012.
