Alvon Johnson shows: Where Motown and disco meet

FAIRFIELD — Alvon Johnson will wrap up a busy 2011 that included a tour in Poland and is getting ready for an even bigger 2012.

Johnson, a Vallejo resident who sang with The Coasters, is putting together a tribute to that band and The Drifters that he plans on incorporating in his shows next year.

Alvon and his All Star Band

• 2 p.m. Dec. 31
• Winterhawk Winery, 4537 Abernathy Road, Fairfield
• 428-6977
• http://www.winterhawkwinery.com
• http://www.alvonjohnson.com

“Nostalgia is very important,” Johnson said of why songs such as The Coasters’ “Yakety Yak” and “Charlie Brown” remain classics.

“It’s the type of music that when you listen to it, you think back to what you were doing when you heard it (the first time),” he said.

Songs such as “Yakety Yak” and “Charlie Brown” are still out there, Johnson said, adding that they have only taken a different form. An example from today’s play list would be Cee Lo Green’s “(Forget) You.”

“The times have changed, but the essence is still the same,” Johnson said, adding that at the time “Yakety Yak” and “Charlie Brown” were on the charts, people needed some songs that were lighthearted and fun.

Johnson returned home in early November from a tour in Poland, where he said the fans were very open and the people really showed their appreciation for his music.

“I don’t know how the other artists do, but I consistently got standing ovations and double encores. It was so amazing. So exciting,” he said.

He plans to return in August 2012.

Johnson is performing at Winterhawk Winery on Dec. 31. He’s a frequent guest there. And, he added, he loves the venue.

Those at the show can expect to hear some songs from his two upcoming albums of jazz and blues as well as 1950s rock ‘n’ roll, 1960s Motown, and some 1970s disco.

When asked what he would be doing if he wasn’t making a living in the music industry, he said, “There is no such animal.”

“I made up my mind after trying so many different lines of work to be true to myself. That meant being involved in music in some capacity,” he said.

Those other jobs included being a fireman, dog catcher and paralegal.

If he wasn’t performing, Johnson figured he could be a producer or promoter.

It’s that philosophy of being true to himself that keeps Johnson perpetually smiling, he said.

Family and friends are most important.

“Money is fine and good, especially if you have a whole lot, I don’t,” he said with a chuckle.

He said his goal is to be a blessing to other people so they can pay it forward.

“I’ve grown quite a bit as a human. I’ve realized life is very precious,” Johnson said.

He fondly recalled a gig two years ago at a Napa winery with dignitaries present. A woman walked in after the show started and sat down. Johnson decided to get her attention as she was the only black woman there. When he delved into Motown tunes, her ears perked up, Johnson said.

After the show was is over, he was told “The princess would like to talk to you.”

Not one to disappoint fans, Johnson went along with the request only to discover the woman was African royalty.

“She had been hanging out with Oprah the day before,” Johnson said.

Johnson will play Feb. 14 at the Empress Theatre in Vallejo.

Reach Amy Maginnis-Honey at 427-6957 or amaginnis@dailyrepublic.net.

Short URL: http://www.dailyrepublic.com/?p=119414

Posted by Amy Maginnis-Honey on Dec 23 2011.

Filed under Entertainment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry