{{Infobox musical artist | background = | honorific_prefix = | name = Mike Johnson | honorific_suffix = | image = | image_upright = | image_size = | landscape = | alt = | caption = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | birth_name = Michael Craig Johnson | alias = | birth_date = 11 October 1945 | birth_place = | origin = United States | death_date = 9 February 2013 | death_place = | death_cause = Cardiac arrest | genre = Christian rock | occupation = Musician | instrument = guitar, vocals | works = | years_active = | label = Freedom Light Records, CAM, CEP Records, New Pax, Deep South Records, Born Twice Records | publishers = | current_member_of = | past_member_of = Paul Butterfield Blues Band, The Exkursions, The Second Coming | spouse = | partner = | awards = | website = | module = | module2 = | module3 = }}
'''Mike Johnson''' was a pioneering Christian rock musician. He was a member of Christian rock bands, The Exkursions and The Second Coming.
==Background== Mike Johnson's teenage years were troubled and he dropped out of school. He ended up in the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. After becoming a Christian he formed the heavy rock Christian band, The Exkursions. The band was one of the earliest examples of heavy Christian rock music.<ref>Christian Music Archive - [https://www.christianmusicarchive.com/artist/mike-johnson Mike Johnson, Biography]</ref> The group featured Johnson on lead vocals and guitar, Leon Wilson on bass and Fyl Jonnzen on drums. Their musical influences included Jimi Hendrix and Cream.<ref>Angelic Warlord - [https://www.angelicwarlord.com/reviews/e/theexkursions.html The Exkursions - The Exkursions]</ref>
Johnson's Christian music career began in 1968 when he and his band, The Exkursions were taken on tour by an Anglican minister from England. They toured, playing at college campuses, clubs and beaches.
In 1970, he set out on his own, playing throughout New England.<ref>''Cash Box'', June 24, 1978 - [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1978/CB-1978-06-24.pdf Page 31 Johnson Completes His Second NewPax Album]</ref>
During his career, he collaborated with Randy Matthews and Danny Taylor, which resulted in the release of the album, ''Matthews, Taylor and Johnson''.<ref>Christian Music Archive - [https://www.christianmusicarchive.com/artist/mike-johnson Mike Johnson, Biography]</ref>
==Career== ===The Exkursions=== Johnson's group, The Exkursions toured the United States from 1968 to 1970. During that time, they released an album.<ref>''Raised by Wolves, The Story of Christian Rock & Roll'', By John Joseph Thompson · 2000 - {{ISBN|9781550224214}} - [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Raised_by_Wolves/CJhaBvbmuOQC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22The+Exkursions%22&pg=PA1932&printsec=frontcover The First Wave Page 43]</ref> According to the "Michael Bloomfield Recollections" on the Mike Bloomfield website, it was when Johnson had just started The Exkursions that he was in Chicago and taking a break. He was checking out Wes Montgomery who was playing nearby. He bumped into Mike Bloomfield who he had played with some time prior to The Exkursions. Bloomfield was heading to the West Coast to put together a band. He asked Johnson if he would be his bass player in this band. Johnson declined as he wanted to stay with his new band. The band that Bloomfield was putting together was The Electric Flag.<ref>Michael Bloomfield An American Guitarist - [https://www.mikebloomfieldamericanmusic.com/bloomweb07/recollections.htm Michael Bloomfield Recollections, October 24, 2007]</ref>
The Exkursions released their self-titled album in 1971.<ref>Dangerdog Music Reviews, 01.16.2012 - [https://dangerdog.com/2012-music-reviews/the-exkursions-1971.php Exkursions, The: The Exkursions, Vintage Psychedelic/Blues Rock by Craig Hartranft]</ref>
According to the Shiloh Worship Music website, the group broke up because two of the members wavered in their faith.<ref>Shiloh Worship Music - [http://www.shilohworshipmusic.com/ShilohWorshipMusic/The_Jesus_Movement_of_the_70s.html History of the Jesus Movement, The Exkursions - same (custom, 1971)]</ref>
===Further activities=== In 1972 Johnson's album, ''The Last Battle'' was released on CAM Enterprises CSS 1567.<ref>Christian Music Archive - [https://www.christianmusicarchive.com/album/the-last-battle The Last Battle]</ref> The following year, his ''Velvet Prince'' album was released on the Freedom Light record label.<ref>Popsike - [https://www.popsike.com/Mike-Johnson-Velvet-Prince-LP-Rare-1973-Private-Press-SSW-Fuzz-Psych-Xian/150869478441.html Mike Johnson - Velvet Prince LP Rare 1973 Private Press SSW Fuzz Psych Xian]</ref>
In 1976, Johnson joined Randy Matthews and Danny Taylor to form the trio Matthews, Taylor & Johnson.<ref>''Hot Hits Christian Hit Radio 20 Years of Charts, Artist Bios and More'', by Jeffrey L. Brothers, 1999 by CCM Books - [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/Radio-Programming/Christina-Hits-Radio-Hot-Hits-Brothers-1999.pdf Page 113 RANDY MATTHEWS]</ref> Also that year, Johnson's album, the Randy Matthews produced ''The Artist / The Riddle'' was released.<ref>Christian Music Archive - [https://www.christianmusicarchive.com/album/the-artist-the-riddle The Artist / The Riddle]</ref> The album resulted in Johnson being selected by ''Harmony Magazine'' for an "Artist of the Year" award.<ref>''HM Magazine'', 10 Mar 12 - [https://hmmagazine.com/brutal-planet-distribution-announces-several-new-releases/ Brutal Planet distribution announces several new releases MIKE JOHNSON – THE ARTIST/THE RIDDLE: LEGENDS REMASTERED VOL FIVE 9.00 (ex-Exkursions)]</ref>
In 1977, Johnson's album, ''More than Just an Act'' was released on NewPax NP33043.<ref>Christian Music Archive - [https://www.christianmusicarchive.com/album/more-than-just-an-act More Than Just an Act]</ref>
Johnson wrote the song, "Little Boy in Denver" which he recorded and co-produced with Allen Cash. It was released on Deep South Records AG 684 in 1982.<ref>Pop Bop Rock til U Drop, June 20, 2023 - [https://kimsloans.wordpress.com/category/denver-groups/page/5/ 1982 – Michael Craig Johnson – “Little Boy in Denver”]</ref> It was later recorded by another Deep South Artist, Ron Blair.<ref>45Cat - [https://www.45cat.com/artist/ron-blair Ron Blair - Discography]</ref><ref>''Music Row'', Vol. 2, Number 8, November 1982 - [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Music-Row/80s/Music-Row-1982-11.pdf Page 17 Deep South Records, RON BLAIR]</ref> It became a minor chart hit, debuting at No. 96 on the ''Cash Box'' Top 100 Country Singles chart for the week of 8 January 1983.<ref>''Cash Box'', January 8, 1983 - [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1983/CB-1983-01-08.pdf Page 21 TOP 100 COUNTRY SINGLES January 8, 1983 96, LITTLE BOY IN DENVER RON BLAIR (Deep South A.G. 710), 12/25 _, Weeks On Chart 1]</ref> It held the position for one more week.<ref>''Cash Box'', January 15, 1983 - [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1983/CB-1983-01-15.pdf Page 24 TOP 100 COUNTRY SINGLES January 15, 1983 96, LITTLE BOY IN DENVER RON BLAIR (Deep South A.G. 710), 1/8 96, Weeks On Charts 2]</ref><ref>''Cash Box'', January 22, 1983 - [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1983/CB-1983-01-22.pdf Page 24 TOP 100 COUNTRY SINGLES January 22, 1983]</ref>
His 1973 album, ''Velvet Prince'' was re-released in 2012 on Born Twice Records. It was given a 9/10 rating in a review by Cross Rhythms.<ref>Cross Rhythms, Friday 21st February 2014 - [https://crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Mike_Johnson_And_Friends/Velvet_Prince_Legends_Remastered_Vol_4/148669/ Mike Johnson And Friends - Velvet Prince: Legends Remastered Vol 4]</ref>
==Death== Mike Johnson died on Saturday, 9 February 2013 as a result of a cardiac arrest.<ref>Christian Music Archive - [https://www.christianmusicarchive.com/artist/mike-johnson Mike Johnson, Biography]</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * Discogs [https://www.discogs.com/artist/1222211-Mike-Johnson-13 Mike Johnson] * Christian Music Archive - [https://www.christianmusicarchive.com/artist/mike-johnson Mike Johnson]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Mike}} Category:NewPax Records artists Category:CAM artists Category:Deep South Records (country label) artists Category:Born Twice Records artists Category:1945 births Category:2013 deaths Category:American performers of Christian music Category:American male singers Category:American male guitarists Category:20th-century American guitarists Category:20th-century American male musicians