Entertainer, songwriter, music journalist, and “Singer at Large” Johnny J. Blair is known for his brand of “pop music with a twist,” influenced by British Invasion rock, old school soul/r’n’b, psychedelia, and punk/new wave. With a melodicism breathed by classical, gospel, jazz, and world music, his lyrics are informed by Americana, classic comedy (Laurel & Hardy, Marx Brothers), noir fiction and films (Raymond Chandler, Graham Greene), The Holy Bible, and the writings of T.S. Eliot, The Inklings, and John Steinbeck. Johnny has entertained audiences around the world and his high-energy stage show gave him the tag “a white James Brown” from Brown’s legendary drummer, Clyde Stubblefield. Johnny’s current itinerary includes performing in assisted living homes for people with disabilities and dementia: “Music goes through the brain into places where math and language don’t reach. It heals, and it makes a difference.” He also provides music in homeless shelters, addiction recovery centers, and for ministries that rescue people from human trafficking.

Originally from Pennsylvania and now based in California, Johnny has worked with a range of acts — most prominently with Davy Jones of The Monkees (“I learned valuable stagecraft from David”). Johnny played and worked with Jones for 20 years, including many recordings, tours, and TV appearances on A&E, PBS, TVLand, The View, and others. Concurrently, Johnny worked on several projects (stage and studio) with all of The Monkees, including touring as bassist/vocalist on their 45th Anniversary Tour of Canada, the UK, and USA. Other artists Johnny has worked with include John Bechdel (Killing Joke, Ministry), David Cassidy, Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big), Buddy & Julie Miller, Mike Roe (The 77s), and Al Stewart (“Year of the Cat”).

Since the 80s, Johnny has issued full-length recordings to a global audience— from the “new wave concept album” DOOR IN THE WATER, to the soulful masterwork FIRE, to the bare-knuckled acoustic “agitpop” of TREADMARKS, to the “Ziggy Stardust meets PET SOUNDS” of GRATEFUL to the glam-tango tinged masterwork I LIKE THE STREET with musical support from The Badlees and Mike Garson, David Bowie’s pianist. For 2025 Johnny will release a new album, WE’RE GETTING CLOSER TO THE SUN, a “non-dystopian spiritual sci-fi project” with backing from Robin Mackey, Prairie Prince (Todd Rundgren, The Tubes), Mike Roe, and Chris von Sneidern.

Johnny says, “I’ve played the Royal Albert Hall, CBGB’s, Disney, The Fillmore, Las Vegas, Mabuhay Gardens, the Tokyo Billboard, temples in India, desert islands, Caribbean cruise ships, churches, prisons, garages, biker bars, picnics, bus stops, and train stations, but I’ll really hit it big when I play for you!”