New Michael John’s article
February 16, 2008
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Talking with Michael Johns
First off, he’s 29 and for most of his life, he was known as Michael Lee. Last year, he changed it to Michael Johns. (Lee was his dad’s name and he hasn’t been in contact with his dad since he was 15.) Johns is a multiple of his middle name John and his stepdad’s name John.
Anyway, Lee/Johns came to the States first on a tennis scholarship a small Tifton college around 1997. He stayed there nine months, then decided to move to Atlanta to pursue music. He’d heard it had a decent music scene. He landed at Buckhead bar CJ’s Landing, where he worked “literally picking up glasses and trash.” The owner Phil Boone liked him and heard him sing so he decided to stick him on the stage, first on Mondays, then weekends. He was there on and off from 1998 to 2002 doing cover songs with a guy named Hank Barbee. (CJ’s was torn down last year as Buckhead Village goes through its major transformation upscale.)
“It was the best way for me to learn about the South and what pushed Americans buttons,” Lee/Johns said. Barbee, who played with him hundreds of times, said Lee was a quick study and learned hundreds of songs. He’d keep a notebook packed with lyrics of songs that people requested. One time, he even spontaneously did a few lines of Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5,” Barbee recalled. Barbee also said Lee/Johns had a weakness for Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam, as well as Otis Redding and the Rolling Stones.
He’s now a permanent U.S. resident who is eligible for full citizenship in a couple of years. Read the rest of the article
Posted in News
February 20th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
His connection to Sweet Freedom (one of the shirts he wore)? In the 70s-80s my dad and family members were in the Sweet Freedom band. We are all curious as to his connection.????????????