Michael Johnson, the singer, song-writer, storyteller, and guitarist who has delighted audiences at Gustavus Adolphus College annually for more than 40 years, will return to Björling Recital Hall on Friday, December 10, at 8 p.m. This concert on the Gustavus campus is the only performance the national recording artist will present in southern Minnesota this Christmas season.
Johnson, originally from the Minneapolis area and now living in Nashville, first performed at Gustavus in April 1968 with the late John Denver as part of the trio of Denver, Boise and Johnson. Following his departure from the trio one year later, Johnson spent a year acting with an off-Broadway company and returned to Minnesota and to singing. Since that time, he has studied and toured internationally eight times and has recorded eleven albums, which include ten hit singles and two #1 country songs of the year. Even those who don’t know his name will recognize his hits: Bluer Than Blue, Give Me Wings, Ponies, and Rooty Toot Toot for the Moon.
His web site is simply titled “Singer, Songwriter, Guitarist.” When asked what he would want you to know about him, Johnson replies “Tell them I play guitar and that I am a soloist at heart.” He prefers the intimacy and spontaneity of solo performance, especially in a concert hall like Gustavus’ Björling Recital Hall, where acoustics and closeness to the audience allow Johnson the showman to shine. “I love to talk to people and I love to make them laugh. And of course, I love to move them with my music. Without that, there is no reason to be on stage.”
Tickets are available and are $20 for adults and $17 for students, senior citizens and Gustavus staff. Tickets are available at gustavustickets.com or by calling the Gustavus Ticket Center at 507-933-7590. Any remaining tickets will go on sale one hour prior to the concert at the Björling Recital Hall box office.
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