Johnson's Improbable History of Pop

KPBX 91.1, Saturday, 9pm-10pm

John Johnson conducts a tour of the
obscure world of early rock and pop music.

Program Listings:
July 4, 2009
American Roots Music
A sampling of our wealth of indigenous styles including Cajun, country, gospel, blues, jazz, folk, bluegrass, and rock in its various forms.

July 11, 2009
Mickey Newbury
A profile of influential progressive country singer/songwriter with his songs performed by himself and others.

July 18, 2009
Connie Francis
Guest host Richard Turzeiff with a story of a remarkably versatile vocalist who was also the best selling female artist in pop music by 1960.

July 25, 2009
Country Hix
Small studio 1950's rockabilly with the rough edges left intact, including Leon Bass, Arkey Bittle, Curtis Hobeck, and Chandos McRill.

August 1, 2009
20 Greatest Country Blues
A purely personal selection of long time favorites including Skip James, Robert Wilkins, and Memphis Minnie.

August 8, 2009
Keeping the Faith
A tribute to ongoing Northern Soul phenomenon including Major Lance, Roy Hamilton, Edwin Starr, and Beverly Hills.

August 15, 2009
Mountain
One of the original Woodstock bands gets expanded treatment from guest Steve Jackson.

August 22, 2009
Overlooked Singers/Songwriters
Follow-ups to earlier shows on the 1970's commercial heyday, including Andy Pratt, Jimmy Spheeris, Timothy Dawe, Ruthann Friedman, Carl Oglesby, and Mark Levine.

August 29, 2009
Overlooked Singers/Songwriters
A continuing look at follow-ups to earlier shows on the 1970's commercial heyday, including Andy Pratt, Jimmy Spheeris, Timothy Dawe, Ruthann Friedman, Carl Oglesby, and Mark Levine.

About John:

Thanks to John Johnson, the 95 percent
of records that never got commercial
airtime have a home. The Saturday night show Johnson’s Improbable History of Pop features those artists who fell through the commercial cracks.

When the program began in February of 1995, Johnson said, “My mission is to provide that exposure, and give recognition to the fact that talent and hit records don’t have a lot to do with each other.” That still holds true today and way over 500 episodes later (that milestone was reached in July 2005).

A few years ago, Johnson began some retrospectives on ‘80s bands. "I always seem to run a decade and a half late, and am now getting a grasp of what some of the Reagan-era music
was all about (benefit of hindsight and all).”

JIHOP was originally meant to be a blues or soul program, but
he then started talking about songs and artists without much exposure. He tries to include all the different musical styles that come together in pop music, such as rock, soul, rockabilly, country, jazz, folk, and international rock.

“The most gratifying part has been the interaction with listeners, guests, and musicians,” Johnson says. “Without meaning to brag, there have been cases where my programs have resulted — at least indirectly — in reissues or first issues on compact disc for the artist. I’ve also had performers and bands in the studio. That helps prove, once again, that while recorded sound is great, ‘live music is best’ for its sheer energy and immediacy.”

Johnson works at Triumph Composite Systems, and spends free time with movies and movie history, golf, and jogging. “Thanks to everyone through the years who have contributed their time, talent, and thoughts to the show. As the saying goes, it’s an evolving organism, but I don’t know the species yet.”