Just a few words to update you on Johnny's recent and upcoming activities. First, Poor Man's Paradise garnered Johnny some awards and nominations. In addition to winning "Best Roots Rock / Folk Album" at Offbeat's Best of the Beat Music Awards, Poor Man's Paradise was nominated for Song of the Year and Johnny was nominated for Best Instrumentalist-Other (Accordion) at the Blues Foundation's Blues Music Awards. Johnny was also nominated for Best Blues Artist at Gambit Weekly's Big Easy Music Awards, and the current issue (July/August 2008) of Blues Review contains a feature article on Johnny and Poor Man's Paradise.

Johnny's work lately has reached into the world of movies and television, as well as guesting on CDs. He and John Fohl worked on a soundtrack for a new Roger Corman film, and Johnny and C.C. Adcock did some recent work on a movie soundtrack as well. Johnny wrote and recorded a jingle for the Absolut New Orleans ad campaign (go to "Campaigns," then select "New Orleans" to listen), and recently worked on the soundtrack for a Luzianne Iced Tea commerical. And along with Kim Wilson and Jimmy Hall, Johnny is featured on fellow-VOW member Tab Benoit's new CD Night Train to Nashville, recorded live at the Nashville blues club "The Place."

Johnny and the rest of the members of the Voice of the Wetlands All-Stars are honored to be performing this summer at both the Democratic and the Republican National Conventions, along with Rebirth Brass Band, Irma Thomas, Marva Wright, the Meters, and Allan Toussaint. The VOW's performance at JazzFest this year is available online at AT&T's Blue Room (click on link for streaming audio and video). Watch for a new VOW CD to be released this fall featuring both Allen Toussaint and Dr John.

And watch for Johnny's new CD, slated for release the first of the year!