Johnny Dowd
Encyclopedia
Johnny Dowd is an American
alternative country
musician from Ithaca, New York
. Typical of his style are experimental, noisy breaks in his songs and strong gothic
(in the sense of dark and gloomy) elements in the lyrics as well as in the music. There is also a strong undercurrent of black humor and the absurd
in his work.
Although his early albums were most celebrated in the alternative country
community, he has never quite fit into any particular genre. As a singer-songwriter, his music is more often compared to that of Tom Waits
, Nick Cave
and Captain Beefheart
.
in 1950, and then to his father's hometown of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma
in 1953. He received a record player for Christmas in 1956 and began buying records at a local appliance store. Although the first LP he owned was by the Ray Conniff Singers, it was the music of Hank Williams, Elvis Presley
, Ray Charles
and James Brown
that changed his life. He cites James Brown's Live at the Apollo as his lifelong favorite album.
In 1965, along with his mother and sisters, Johnny returned to Memphis after his parents' divorce. After serving in the U.S. Army
and living in California he drove across the United States in the early 1970s with longtime friend Dave Hinkle and settled permanently in Ithaca, New York where his mother and sisters had also relocated. Dowd and Hinkle began moving furniture for a living, later naming their business the Zolar Moving Company.
, where Dowd has performed annually since 1991.
By the time Neon Baptist disbanded in 1995, Dowd was recording songs alone in the office of his moving company. These songs first appeared in 1995 on a home-made demo cassette as Wrong Side of Memphis, credited to Johnny Dowd as a solo artist. Kim Sherwood-Caso contributed background vocals on two songs. Most of these tracks were either re-mixed or completely re-recorded for the CD version of the same album, which was initially pressed as a self-released CD and then officially released on Chicago
's Checkered Past label in 1997. The album was also released on Koch Records
in early 1998 and then in Europe
on Munich Records. Favorable reviews led to some of his first European appearances in 1998.
In the wake of widespread critical acclaim to Wrong Side of Memphis Dowd released his second album, Pictures From Life's Other Side, in 1999, also to strong reviews. This year also saw the first of Dowd's US and European tours. After the self-released (and very experimental) Down In The Valley in 2000 came Temporary Shelter later that year. A Dutch
TV documentary on Johnny Dowd was filmed in 2000, and in early 2001, the New York Times highlighted Dowd as one of four "Country Singers Who Still Display a Country Heart".
The Pawnbroker's Wife album was released in 2002, followed by Wire Flowers: More Songs from the Wrong Side of Memphis in 2003. The same year, Dowd was handpicked by The Simpsons
' creator Matt Groening
(a self-described fan of Johnny's music) to perform in the All Tomorrow's Parties
festival. 2003 also saw Dowd's first major film appearance with the release of Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus. The album Cemetery Shoes
was released in 2004; in 2006 Cruel Words was released and went on to win the Album/Alt.Country award in the 7th Annual Independent Music Awards
the following year. Johnny also went on to be a judge for the 8th annual Independent Music Awards
.
In 2006 Johnny Dowd, drummer Brian Wilson (aka Willie B) and Jim White formed a band called "Hellwood". Their album, Chainsaw of Life was recorded in a cabin in New York, the walls of which were covered in musician obituaries. Hellwood toured the album in Europe. Johnny has also incorporated some of the songs from Hellwood into his own live setlist.
In April 2007 Johnny joined Beukorkest (/Punch- or batteringOrchestra/), a collaboration of various Dutch
musicians and artist like André Manuel
and Def P. fronted by Stuurbaard Bakkebaard en Rik van Iersel. They did a tour in the Netherlands consisting of 9 shows. In 2008 an album was released of tracks from various gigs. Beukorkest formed again in 2008 with a new team of musicians this time without Johnny.
Tourdates of Beukorkest 2007:
04-05-2007 - Mezz Breda; 04-06-2007 - Brogum Zierikzee; 04-07-2007 - Goudvishal Arnhem; 04-08-2007 - Paaspop Schijndel; 04-11-2007 - Vera Groningen; 04-12-2007 - 013 Tilburg; 04-13-2007 - Witte Theater IJmuiden; 04-14-2007 - Hedon Zwolle; 04-15-2007 - Ekko Utrecht;
The album "A Drunkard's Masterpiece" was released in Spring 2008 in America, Canada and Europe, followed by a European tour in April and May. Due to touring with Jamie Lidell
, Willie B did not accompany the band.
In October 2008 Johnny announced a trio called Black Elastic. Kim Sherwood-Caso played guitar in addition to singing, Mike Edmondson, who played with Johnny some years ago, played guitar. This lineup played several shows in the Ithaca, NY area until an expanded Johnny Dowd band formed, composed of Kim Sherwood-Caso (guitar, vocals), Mike Stark (keyboards), Matt Saccuccimorano (drums) and Willie B (baritone guitar
).
A new album titled "Wake Up The Snakes" will be released in Europe in March through Munich Records. A European tour is planned for May 2010.
Dowd and Billy Cote (formerly with Madder Rose
) recorded a song, Bound For Hell, for a Love and Rockets
tribute album, "New Tales To Tell: A Tribute To Love and Rockets," released in the fall of 2009. The track did not appear on the physical CD but as a download-only.
They are continuing to work on an as-yet untitled project together.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
alternative country
Alternative country
Alternative country is a loosely defined sub-genre of country music, which includes acts that differ significantly in style from mainstream or pop country music...
musician from Ithaca, New York
Ithaca, New York
The city of Ithaca, is a city in upstate New York and the county seat of Tompkins County, as well as the largest community in the Ithaca-Tompkins County metropolitan area...
. Typical of his style are experimental, noisy breaks in his songs and strong gothic
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
(in the sense of dark and gloomy) elements in the lyrics as well as in the music. There is also a strong undercurrent of black humor and the absurd
Absurdism
In philosophy, "The Absurd" refers to the conflict between the human tendency to seek value and meaning in life and the human inability to find any...
in his work.
Although his early albums were most celebrated in the alternative country
Alternative country
Alternative country is a loosely defined sub-genre of country music, which includes acts that differ significantly in style from mainstream or pop country music...
community, he has never quite fit into any particular genre. As a singer-songwriter, his music is more often compared to that of Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Thomas Alan "Tom" Waits is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."...
, Nick Cave
Nick Cave
Nicholas Edward "Nick" Cave is an Australian musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter, and occasional film actor.He is best known for his work as a frontman of the critically acclaimed rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, established in 1984, a group known for its eclectic influences and...
and Captain Beefheart
Captain Beefheart
Don Van Vliet January 15, 1941 December 17, 2010) was an American musician, singer-songwriter and artist best known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. His musical work was conducted with a rotating ensemble of musicians called The Magic Band, active between 1965 and 1982, with whom he recorded 12...
.
Early life
Born in Fort Worth, Texas in 1948, Dowd's family moved to Memphis, TennesseeMemphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
in 1950, and then to his father's hometown of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma
Pauls Valley, Oklahoma
Pauls Valley is a city in Garvin County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 6,256 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Garvin County.-History:...
in 1953. He received a record player for Christmas in 1956 and began buying records at a local appliance store. Although the first LP he owned was by the Ray Conniff Singers, it was the music of Hank Williams, Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
and James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
that changed his life. He cites James Brown's Live at the Apollo as his lifelong favorite album.
In 1965, along with his mother and sisters, Johnny returned to Memphis after his parents' divorce. After serving in the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and living in California he drove across the United States in the early 1970s with longtime friend Dave Hinkle and settled permanently in Ithaca, New York where his mother and sisters had also relocated. Dowd and Hinkle began moving furniture for a living, later naming their business the Zolar Moving Company.
Band history
Dowd formed a band in the 1970s named The Jokers, which included Johnny (guitar), his sister Jennifer Edmondson (drums) and Dave Hinkle (bass). By 1988 the band had become Neon Baptist, whose members included Johnny Dowd, Cally Arthur, Dave Hinkle, Mike Edmondson and Jennifer Edmondson. Max Ormond and Kim Sherwood-Caso were in later lineups. Neon Baptist was one of the founding acts of the GrassRoots FestivalFinger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance
Starting in 1991, the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance is an annual festival held the second-to-last weekend of July in Trumansburg, New York, a small town ten miles north of Ithaca. The GrassRoots Festival, or simply GrassRoots, as it is known, draws nearly 20,000 visitors...
, where Dowd has performed annually since 1991.
By the time Neon Baptist disbanded in 1995, Dowd was recording songs alone in the office of his moving company. These songs first appeared in 1995 on a home-made demo cassette as Wrong Side of Memphis, credited to Johnny Dowd as a solo artist. Kim Sherwood-Caso contributed background vocals on two songs. Most of these tracks were either re-mixed or completely re-recorded for the CD version of the same album, which was initially pressed as a self-released CD and then officially released on Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
's Checkered Past label in 1997. The album was also released on Koch Records
Koch Records
E1 Music , the primary subsidiary of E1 Entertainment LP, is the largest independent record label in the United States. It is also distributed by the Universal Music Group in Europe under the name E1 Universal...
in early 1998 and then in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
on Munich Records. Favorable reviews led to some of his first European appearances in 1998.
In the wake of widespread critical acclaim to Wrong Side of Memphis Dowd released his second album, Pictures From Life's Other Side, in 1999, also to strong reviews. This year also saw the first of Dowd's US and European tours. After the self-released (and very experimental) Down In The Valley in 2000 came Temporary Shelter later that year. A Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
TV documentary on Johnny Dowd was filmed in 2000, and in early 2001, the New York Times highlighted Dowd as one of four "Country Singers Who Still Display a Country Heart".
The Pawnbroker's Wife album was released in 2002, followed by Wire Flowers: More Songs from the Wrong Side of Memphis in 2003. The same year, Dowd was handpicked by The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
' creator Matt Groening
Matt Groening
Matthew Abram "Matt" Groening is an American cartoonist, screenwriter, and producer. He is the creator of the comic strip Life in Hell as well as two successful television series, The Simpsons and Futurama....
(a self-described fan of Johnny's music) to perform in the All Tomorrow's Parties
All Tomorrow's Parties (music festival)
All Tomorrow's Parties is a music festival which takes place at Camber Sands holiday camp in East Sussex and Butlin's holiday camp in Minehead, Somerset, England....
festival. 2003 also saw Dowd's first major film appearance with the release of Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus. The album Cemetery Shoes
Cemetery Shoes
-Track listing:#"Brother Jim" – 3:33#"Garden of Delight" – 3:02#"Whisper in a Nag's Ear" – 3:03#"Rest in Peace" – 3:50#"Wedding Dress" – 4:52#"Shipwreck" – 3:24#"Dear John Letter" – 2:23#"Easter Sunday" – 2:49#"Christmas Is Just Another Day" – 3:29...
was released in 2004; in 2006 Cruel Words was released and went on to win the Album/Alt.Country award in the 7th Annual Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards is an international program that honors top-ranked independent artists and releases in more than 50 Album, Song, Music Video and Design categories....
the following year. Johnny also went on to be a judge for the 8th annual Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards is an international program that honors top-ranked independent artists and releases in more than 50 Album, Song, Music Video and Design categories....
.
In 2006 Johnny Dowd, drummer Brian Wilson (aka Willie B) and Jim White formed a band called "Hellwood". Their album, Chainsaw of Life was recorded in a cabin in New York, the walls of which were covered in musician obituaries. Hellwood toured the album in Europe. Johnny has also incorporated some of the songs from Hellwood into his own live setlist.
In April 2007 Johnny joined Beukorkest (/Punch- or batteringOrchestra/), a collaboration of various Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
musicians and artist like André Manuel
André Manuel
This wiki is about the Dutch singer. For the American hip hop producer, see The Unknown DJAndré Manuel is a Dutch singer and performer...
and Def P. fronted by Stuurbaard Bakkebaard en Rik van Iersel. They did a tour in the Netherlands consisting of 9 shows. In 2008 an album was released of tracks from various gigs. Beukorkest formed again in 2008 with a new team of musicians this time without Johnny.
Tourdates of Beukorkest 2007:
04-05-2007 - Mezz Breda; 04-06-2007 - Brogum Zierikzee; 04-07-2007 - Goudvishal Arnhem; 04-08-2007 - Paaspop Schijndel; 04-11-2007 - Vera Groningen; 04-12-2007 - 013 Tilburg; 04-13-2007 - Witte Theater IJmuiden; 04-14-2007 - Hedon Zwolle; 04-15-2007 - Ekko Utrecht;
The album "A Drunkard's Masterpiece" was released in Spring 2008 in America, Canada and Europe, followed by a European tour in April and May. Due to touring with Jamie Lidell
Jamie Lidell
Jamie Lidell is an English musician and soul singer living in Nashville, United States...
, Willie B did not accompany the band.
In October 2008 Johnny announced a trio called Black Elastic. Kim Sherwood-Caso played guitar in addition to singing, Mike Edmondson, who played with Johnny some years ago, played guitar. This lineup played several shows in the Ithaca, NY area until an expanded Johnny Dowd band formed, composed of Kim Sherwood-Caso (guitar, vocals), Mike Stark (keyboards), Matt Saccuccimorano (drums) and Willie B (baritone guitar
Baritone guitar
The baritone guitar is a variation on the standard guitar, with a longer scale length that allows it to be tuned to a lower range. It first appeared in the classical music realm...
).
A new album titled "Wake Up The Snakes" will be released in Europe in March through Munich Records. A European tour is planned for May 2010.
Dowd and Billy Cote (formerly with Madder Rose
Madder Rose
Madder Rose was a New York City-based alternative rock band who recorded in the 1990s. The band was fronted by Mary Lorson, who shared songwriting duties with guitarist Billy Coté. The two singer/songwriters continued their collaboration, Cote as guest producer on Lorson's three discs with Saint...
) recorded a song, Bound For Hell, for a Love and Rockets
Love and Rockets (band)
Love and Rockets were an English alternative rock band formed in 1985 by former Bauhaus members Daniel Ash , David J , and Kevin Haskins . Former Bauhaus vocalist Peter Murphy had embarked on a solo career after Bauhaus split in 1983...
tribute album, "New Tales To Tell: A Tribute To Love and Rockets," released in the fall of 2009. The track did not appear on the physical CD but as a download-only.
They are continuing to work on an as-yet untitled project together.
Studio albums
- Wrong Side of Memphis (Checkered Past - USA, Koch Records - USA, Munich Records - Europe) 1997, 1998 and 1998 respectively
- Pictures from Life's Other Side (Koch Records - USA, Munich Records - Europe) 1999
- Down in the Valley (self-released) 2000
- Temporary Shelter (Munich Records - Europe, Koch Records - USA) 2000, 2001 respectively
- The Pawnbroker's Wife (Munich Records - Europe, Catamount - USA) 2002
- Wire Flowers: More Songs from the Wrong Side of Memphis (Munich Records - Europe) 2003
- Cemetery ShoesCemetery Shoes-Track listing:#"Brother Jim" – 3:33#"Garden of Delight" – 3:02#"Whisper in a Nag's Ear" – 3:03#"Rest in Peace" – 3:50#"Wedding Dress" – 4:52#"Shipwreck" – 3:24#"Dear John Letter" – 2:23#"Easter Sunday" – 2:49#"Christmas Is Just Another Day" – 3:29...
(Munich Records - Europe, Bongo Beat Records - USA) 2004 - Cruel Words (Bongo Beat Records - USA, Munich Records - Europe) 2006
- A Drunkard's Masterpiece (Munich Records - Europe, Bongo Beat Records - USA) Spring 2008
- Wake Up the Snakes (Munich Records) Spring 2010
- More or Less -Poetry/Music- (Zylaxi Records) Spring 2010
Collaborations
- Hellwood - Chainsaw of Life With Jim White and Willie B (Brian Wilson) (Munich, 2006)
Live albums
- Johnny Dowd Live (self-released) 2001
- Live at the Night & Day Cafe, Manchester, UK (self-released) 2005
- Johnny Dowd Live at Schuba's 2000 (digital released) 2008
- Ratten Spiegel (self-released) 2009
45s/EPs
- Hell or High Water/Divorce, American Style (Nicole, 1999)
- Mother Love/Daddy's Girl (Sub Pop, 2001)
Exclusive tracks and guestappearances
- Various - The UNSOUND(tm) Series Volume 2: Guitars! (To M'Lou Music, 1999)
- Various - Awesome #1 (a Munich compilation) (Munich, 2001)
- Various - Gimme Shelter (17 Amazing covers of classic songs by The Rolling StonesThe Rolling StonesThe Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
(UncutUNCUT (magazine)Uncut magazine, trademarked as UNCUT, is a monthly publication based in London. It is available across the English-speaking world, and focuses on music, but also includes film and books sections...
2002) - The Pine Valley CosmonautsPine Valley Cosmonauts-History:The group was initiated by Jon Langford as a covers group, with a constantly shifting repertory and cast of backing members. The name was first used for Langford's 1995 album of Johnny Cash cover songs...
- The executioners last songs Vol. 1 (Bloodshot records, 2002) - Various - Hope isn't a Word (Comes with a Smile Vol. 11) (Comes with a smile, 2004)
- Jim White Presents music from Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus (Luaka BopLuaka BopLuaka Bop is a world music-oriented record label established by David Byrne, former guitarist, singer-songwriter and producer of the art rock/new wave band Talking Heads. It has been a wholly independent label since leaving V2 in 2006. Previous distribution relationships included Warner and Virgin...
, 2005) - Chicken Legs Weaver - Nowhere (as producer) (Riverside records, 2006)
- Mark Lotterman - Pain & Entertainment (The house of music, 2007)
- Various - There's A Hole In Heaven Where Some Sin Slips Through: Townes van ZandtTownes Van ZandtJohn Townes Van Zandt , best known as Townes Van Zandt, was an American Texas Country-folk music singer-songwriter, performer, and poet...
tribute (Glitterhouse records, 2007) - Jackie LevenJackie LevenJackie Leven was a Scottish songwriter and folk musician. After starting his career as a folk musician in the late 1960s, he first found success with new wave band Doll by Doll...
- Oh What A Blow That Phantom Dealt Me! (Cooking Vinyl, 2007) - Jackie LevenJackie LevenJackie Leven was a Scottish songwriter and folk musician. After starting his career as a folk musician in the late 1960s, he first found success with new wave band Doll by Doll...
- Lovers at the Gun Club (Cooking Vinyl, 2008) - Beukorkest - Der Kleine Hausmeister (Munich, 2008)
- Soundtrack The Devil's Muse collaboration with David JDavid JDavid John Haskins , better known as David J, is a British alternative rock musician. He was the bassist for the gothic rock band Bauhaus and Love and Rockets....
Soundtrack included on Deluxe 2-Disc DVD Set (Halo 8, 2008) - Love and RocketsLove and Rockets (band)Love and Rockets were an English alternative rock band formed in 1985 by former Bauhaus members Daniel Ash , David J , and Kevin Haskins . Former Bauhaus vocalist Peter Murphy had embarked on a solo career after Bauhaus split in 1983...
tribute album, “New Tales to Tell" track 2-05 (digital release only) Bound for Hell (with Billy Coté) (Justice Records, October 2009) - The Jeffrey Lee PierceJeffrey Lee PierceJeffrey Lee Pierce was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He was one of the founding members of the 1980s punk band The Gun Club...
Sessions Project - We Are Only Riders (Glitterhouse Records, 2009)
Also appears on
- Uncut February 2001 Track 7; Big Wave (UNCUT UG-26 32)(UncutUNCUT (magazine)Uncut magazine, trademarked as UNCUT, is a monthly publication based in London. It is available across the English-speaking world, and focuses on music, but also includes film and books sections...
, 2001) - Balling The Jack (The Birth Of The Nu-Blues) Track 19; Picture From Life's Other Side (Ocho, 2002)
- Total Lee! (Lee Hazelwood tribute) Track 5; Sleep in the Grass (City Slang Recordings, 2002)
DVDs
- Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus (2003), BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
documentary about roots musicTraditional musicTraditional music is the term increasingly used for folk music that is not contemporary folk music. More on this is at the terminology section of the World music article...
in the US hosted by Jim White, special guests besides Johnny Dowd are The Handsome FamilyThe Handsome FamilyThe Handsome Family is an alternative country band, formed in Chicago, Illinois.-History:The band was formed in 1993 by husband-and-wife duo Brett Sparks and Rennie Sparks and drummer Mike Werner, although the band would later revolve around Rennie, who writes the lyrics, and Brett, who writes...
, David Eugene Edwards16 Horsepower16 Horsepower was an American alternative country music group based in Denver, Colorado. Their music often invoked religious imagery dealing with conflict, redemption, punishment, and guilt through David Eugene Edwards's lyrics and the heavy use of traditional bluegrass, gospel, and Appalachian...
and others. - Take Root festival 2004 Tracks 17 and 18; A Man and his Wife, Johnny B. Goode Recorded October 2, 2004 Assen, The Netherlands. (Music Matters, 2004)