I keep meeting great musicians

By Michael Johnston

I’ve lived in Atlanta for something like 19 years and that includes neighborhoods inside and outside 285 and circles of friends that keep expanding and linking back to each other in uncanny ways. What’s remarkable is that since our metro area is so large and spread out with everyone claiming Atlanta from Conyers to Douglasville, Canton to McDonough, and points beyond and in between, there really is community among musicians. The sense of community is growing in light of so many questions around what it means to make a living doing music and who can be trusted to help show the way. Older and more seasoned music types are reaching out to younger up and coming types as the music business landscape shifts, giving a unique opportunity to players, producers, writers and

music industry support people to lean on each other and do good business and good work - making life-giving art. Creativity among musicians calling Atlanta home is booming. I keep meeting new people with above average talent who are contributing inspired playing and fresh songwriting to Atlanta’s culture and beyond. Danny should appreciate what I’m about to say…this reminds me of a time when Atlanta began to be home to a sports dynasty in the form of a baseball team where executives, players and fans began to come together to build something that was, at the same time, uniquely Atlanta’s and everyone else’s, too. Every baseball fan out there had to marvel at what the Atlanta Braves accomplished - the greatest pitching rotation ever assembled, with hitting and fielding to match. No, I don’t see an Atlanta “Super Group” band on the horizon. What I see is a music community developing as it has never existed before in Atlanta. I see a movement that can uniquely belong to Atlanta and everyone else who is moved by the kind of inspired creativity that is gathered here. Whether it’s through a long time good friend like producer Todd Olsen, a newer friend like session guitarist and songwriter Brad Long or a new acquaintance like singer/songwriter Evan McHugh (I’ve recently become a fan), I keep hearing about and meeting one great musician after another. Who do you know? Who have you heard about? What’s buzzing on your side of Atlanta’s music community?

I Could Sing of Your Dove Forever

The Gospel Music Association’s annual Dove Awards happen tonight, and our own Dan Hannon is nominated for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year for producing Aaron Shust’s “Whispered and Shouted.”

Other nominations for Atlantans include:

Spanish Language Album of the Year

• De Corazon A Corazon; Seth Condrey; Seth Condrey, Mark Balltzglier; CanZion

Advance

Today I played keys for The Maximum Impact Simulcast: ADVANCE, which was broadcast live from 12Stone Church near Atlanta, GA, to over 600 cities & more than 20 countries.  The guys in the goofy pose are (L-R) Brad Long, Tim Gibson, Slug, and Danny Dukes.  And, yes sports fans, that’s me with Dick Vitale.  Awesome, baby!