Rockin Johnny Burgin is one of the hardest working and well recognized

traditional Chicago blues artists today. Since his start in the 90s on Chicago’s

West Side with blues singer Taildragger, he has become a leading blues

attraction throughout the United States and Europe, performing up to 250 dates

a year. He’s been featured in major media outlets such as The Chicago Tribune,

WGN’s After Hours with Rick Kogan, The Illinois Times, and KPFA’s Blues by

the Bay. Rockin Johnny is a Delmark recording artist with 6 CDs to his credit,

including his latest critically acclaimed release, “Greetings from Greaseland”,

of which Chicago Blues Guide said, “plays out like a great set of live blues, as

authentic as it will ever get”. He is also in demand as a session player and has

recorded with many blues greats including Billy Boy Arnold, Taildragger, Paul

DeLay, Jimmy Burns, Andre Williams, Eddie Taylor Jr., and Jimmy Lee Robinson.

R O C K I N ’ J O H N N Y B U R G I N

B L U E S G U I T A R M A S T E R F R O M C H I C A G O

T H E N N O W P R E S S Q U O T E S V I D E O S L I N K SD I S C O G R A P H Y C O N T A C T

Johnny Burgin grew up in Starkville MS and Greenville SC,and while he was still in high school, he

got to see many touring blues bands such as Guitar Jr, Gatemouth Brown and Eddie Clearwater. He

father was an actor and folk musician and taught him guitar. He went to University of Chicago with

the intention of becoming a writer, but a different path unfolded and he fell headfirst into the Chicago blues scene. After

learning from the masters by touring with such artists as Pinetop Perkins and Howlin’ Wolf drummer Sam Lay, he put his

own band together. Things started happening fast after The Rockin Johnny Band (with guest vocalist Jimmy Burns) took

a Monday night residency at the Smoke Daddy in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood. Their original, energetic approach

made them a strong local draw week after week and year after year. The atmosphere the band generated was so electric

that the prestigious local label Delmark Records offered them a contract after hearing just one set. (continued)

R o c k i n ’ J o h n n y B u r g i n

T H E N

T H E N N O W P R E S S Q U O T E S V I D E O S L I N K SD I S C O G R A P H Y C O N T A C T

Since those days, Johnny played the Chicago blues

festival many times, toured Europe regularly, and

has headlined festivals and clubs all over the US.

Over the years, he has developed from a blues guitar

slinger and local blues hero into a fully fledged

singer, harmonica player, a dynamic and engaging

bandleader, and a mature, seasoned guitarist. One

look at Johnny’s tour schedule confirms his status as

an in-demand blues performer.

R o c k i n ’ J o h n n y B u r g i n T H E N N O W P R E S S Q U O T E S V I D E O S L I N K SD I S C O G R A P H Y C O N T A C T

Rockin Johnny plays

solo and duo shows,

has a great West

Coast Meets Chicago package with rising

harmonica star Aki Kumar, and does

guitar and blues workshops worldwide.

Elmore magazine has remarked on

Johnny’s “commanding vocals and

stinging guitar”, but Elvin Bishop may

have said it best: “his guitar style is raw

and rude and real---on the vocal side, a

nice original style--he’s damn good!”

N O W

R o c k i n ’ J o h n n y B u r g i n T H E N N O W P R E S S Q U O T E S V I D E O S L I N K SD I S C O G R A P H Y C O N T A C T

“His guitar style is raw and rude and real - on the vocal side, a nice original style - he’s damn good!” Elvin Bishop

R o c k i n ’ J o h n n y B u r g i n T H E N N O W P R E S S Q U O T E S V I D E O S L I N K SD I S C O G R A P H Y C O N T A C T

Rockin Johnny has garnered a lot of press and radio play since starting his band back in 1995. His

CDs have been featured on Sirius XM radio, WXRT’s “Blues Breakers”, and KPFA’s “Blues by the Bay”.

He has been featured in The Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Sun Times, Blues Blast Magazine, Living

Blues Magazine, Illinois Times, Illinois Entertainer, Elmore, and numerous European publications.

P R E S S

L i n k T o A r t i c l eL i n k T o A r t i c l eL i n k T o A r t i c l e L i n k T o A r t i c l e

R o c k i n ’ J o h n n y B u r g i n T H E N N O W P R E S S Q U O T E S V I D E O S L I N K SD I S C O G R A P H Y C O N T A C T

“The Rockin’ Johnny Band

closed the Old Capitol Blues

and BBQs delivering a sparkling

performance. We couldn’t have

been more pleased with the

Rockin’ Johnny band. Easy to

work with and music that had

our late night crowd on their

feet.” Sean Burns, Talent Buyer

for Downtown Springfield

Association.

“Johnny has that raw looseness on guitar that

is so lost from blues records today that he

owns it. Excellent! If there is a more exciting

“real blues” guitar player on the planet today,

tell me who it is (Buddy Guy excepted).”

BMan’s Blues Report

“Rockin Johnny has become a

key figure on the Blues scene.  

His guitar lines cut with the

precision of a scalpel or laser

mixing a sweet and menacing

phrasing. It is also clear

that over the years he has

developed the confidence

to step up to the front of the

scene and not only lead the

band but also attract and

surround yourself with some

of the best up and coming

musicians (the mark of some

of the best from the past).”

Alain Recaborde, contributor,

Soul Bag magazine (FR)

“Rockin’ Johnny shows a rare

knack for remaining true to

his blues forefathers while

expressing himself in his own

voice.” Jeff Johnson, Chicago

Sun Times.

“Rockin’ Johnny plays great guitar in

the style of Earl Hooker or a young

Buddy Guy.” Bruce Stovall, The

Yardbird Suite, Edmonton Canada.

“Im knocked out! I already liked what you were doing, but you’ve really

moved WAY up. What did you do, go the crossroads or something?”

Harmonica legend Charlie Musselwhite.

“Johnny has always been known as a crowd

pleaser with rawness, drive and a tight band

that’s a guaranteed winner for all who see

or book the band.” Dick Shurman, writer for

Living Blues, blues producer.

“I first saw Rockin’ Johnny years back at

the Utrecht Blues Estafette, and was very

impressed. The years have added maturity,

his vocals are soulful and his guitar playing is

always top notch. Impressed, you bet I was.”

Phil Wight, Blues and Rhythm magazine, UK

Q U O T E S

R o c k i n ’ J o h n n y B u r g i n T H E N N O W P R E S S Q U O T E S V I D E O S L I N K SD I S C O G R A P H Y C O N T A C T

Rockin’ Johnny Burgin& Quique Gómez BandMy Baby’s a Good ‘Un

Café Populart, Madrid, Spain, October 2013

View on Youtube

Rockin’ Johnny BurginHouse Of the Rising Sun

Cadillac Zack’s Sunday Night Blues.Malarkey’s Grill in Long Beach, CA. 2014

View on Youtube

Rockin’ Johnny BurginMedley

Salaise Blues Festival, France, April 2016

View on Youtube

Rockin’ Johnny Burgin, Rusty Zinn

California, 2015

View on Youtube

Rockin’ Johnny Burgin,Sid Morris andScott GriffinWestern Horizon

Poor House Bistro, San Jose, CA, 2016

View on Youtube

The Rockin’ Johnny Band & Quique GomézPink Champagne

Café De Noot, Hoogland, Netherlands, 2011

View on Youtube

V I D E O SR o c k i n ’ J o h n n y B u r g i n T H E N N O W P R E S S Q U O T E S V I D E O S L I N K SD I S C O G R A P H Y C O N T A C T

West Coast Records, 2015

Greetings From Greaseland Delmark, 2012

Grim Reaper

5105 Music, 2010

Now’s The Time

2000

More RealFolk Blues 1998

Man’s Temptation

Delmark, 1997

Straight OutOf Chicago

Rockin’ Johnny Burgin, Greetings From Greaseland, West Coast Records; 2015

Martin Lang, Chicago Blues Harp Sessions, Random Chance; 2015

Willie Buck, Cell Phone Man, Delmark; 2014

Rockin’ Johnny Band, Grim Reaper, Delmark; 2012

Rockin’ Johnny Band, Now’s The Time, 5105 Music; 2010

Taildragger: Live at Roosters DVD, Delmark; 2010

Jimmy Lee Robinson, Chicago Jump, Random Chance; 2004

Shirley Johnson: Killer Diller, Delmark; 2002

The Mighty Blue Kings, Live in the City; 2001

Rockin’ Johnny Band, More Real Folk Blues; 2000

Paul DeLay, Delay Does Chicago, Evidence; 1999

Little Arthur Duncan, Singin’ With the Sun, Delmark; 1999

Taildragger, American People, Delmark; 1999

Paul Jones, Andrea Williams, Rockin’ after Midnight, St. George; 1998

Rockin’ Johnny Band, Man’s Temptation, Delmark; 1998

Little Arthur Duncan, Rib Tips Live, Random Chance; 1997

Rockin’ Johnny Band, Straight Out of Chicago, Delmark; 1997

Blues Before Sunrise: Billy Boy Arnold, Big Wheeler, Jimmy Burns, Delmark; 1997

Jimmy Burs, Leavin’ Here Walkin’, Delmark: 1996

Taildragger, Crawlin’ King Snake,St. George; 1995

Jimmy Lee Robinson, Lonely Traveler, Delmark; 1993

Big Wheeler, Wheeler’s Bone Orchard, Delmark; 1992

D I S C O G R A P H Y

R o c k i n ’ J o h n n y B u r g i n T H E N N O W P R E S S Q U O T E S V I D E O S L I N K SD I S C O G R A P H Y C O N T A C T

L I N K S

This time around, Rockin’ Johnnyreally does have it all figured outChicago Tribune, 2012, By Jessica Hopper

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-01-26/entertainment/ct-ott-0127-rockin-johnny-local-sounds-20120126_1_johnny-burgin-chicago-blues-tradition-jimmy-burns

The Rockin’ Johnny Band &Quique GomézPink Champagne https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2i7fh2YSDQ

Greetings From Greaseland

West Coast Records, 2015 https://www.amazon.com/Greetings-Greaseland-Rockin-Johnny-Burgin/dp/B00UTXUPTY

Grim Reaper

Delmark, 2012https://www.amazon.com/Grim-Reaper-Rockin-Johnny-Band/dp/B0075MFSIK/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1481147633&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=Rockin+Johnny+Grimm+Reaper

Now’s The Time

5105 Music, 2010https://www.amazon.com/Nows-Time-Rockin-Johnny/dp/B00XWBV4JK/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1481147672&sr=1-3&keywords=Rockin+Johnny+NOws+the+time

More Real Folk Blues

2000https://www.amazon.com/More-Real-Blues-Rockin-Johnny/dp/B00005NZMJ/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1481147732&sr=1-1&keywords=Rockin+Johnny+More+Real+Blues

Man’s Temptation

1999https://www.amazon.com/Mans-Temptation-ROCKIN-JOHNNY-BAND/dp/B00000JNB4/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1481147758&sr=1-1&keywords=Rockin+Johnny+Man%27s+Temptations

Straight Out Of Chicago

Delmark, 1997https://www.amazon.com/Straight-Chicago-Rockin-Johnny-Band/dp/B000006AH9/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1481147785&sr=1-1&keywords=Rockin+Johnny+Straight+out+of+chicago

Rockin’ Johnny Burgin & QuiqueGómez Band My Baby’s a Good ‘Unhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulSjBw_o4qQ

Rockin’ Johnny BurginHouse Of the Rising Sunhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iRDVabobdM

Rockin’ Johnny Burgin, Rusty Zinn, California, 2015https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qUPDP2dltE&feature=youtu.be

Rockin’ Johnny BurginMedleyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeOuimzYdd0

Rockin’ Johnny, Sid Morris& Scott GriffinWestern Horizonhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Vf7InHHKjA

Artist on Artist: Charlie Musselwhite talks to Rockin’ Johnny BurginChicago Reader, 2012, Charlie Mussselwhite

http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/artist-on-artist-charlie-musselwhite-rockin-johnny-burgin/Content?oid=6613320

Rockin’ Johnny Burgin is glad tobe playing the blues againChicago Tribune, 2015, By Rick Kogan

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/ct-johnny-burgin-blues-music-kogan-sidewalks-20150601-story.html

TJ WEST: Rockin’ Johnny BurginTurnstyled Junkpiled, 2014, By Kim Grant

http://turnstyledjunkpiled.com/2014/12/03/tj-west-rockin-johnny-burgin/

P R E S S V I D E O S D I S C O G R A P H Y

R o c k i n ’ J o h n n y B u r g i n T H E N N O W P R E S S Q U O T E S V I D E O S L I N K SD I S C O G R A P H Y C O N T A C T

C O N T A C T

J o h n n y B u r g i n6 3 0 . 4 3 2 . 4 9 4 0

B u r g i n J o h n n y @ Y a h o o . c o m

w w w . R o c k i n J o h n n y B a n d . c o m

/ R o c k i n J o h n n y B u r g i n

@ b u r g i n j o h n n y

R o c k i n ’ J o h n n y B u r g i n T H E N N O W P R E S S Q U O T E S V I D E O S L I N K SD I S C O G R A P H Y C O N T A C T