Johnny Rawls on Soul-Blues Legacy, Mississippi Roots & New Album Make Them Dance
Legendary soul-blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter Johnny Rawls sits down to share his incredible journey from growing up in Mississippi to touring with O.V. Wright in the 1970s and building a five-decade career that has earned him multiple Blues Music Awards. In this interview, Rawls opens up about his acclaimed albums Walking Heart Attack (2023) and Make Them Dance (2025), his approach to songwriting and live performance, and what it means to keep the blues alive in today’s music scene. He also talks about collaborating with Jeff Engelbert and what fans can expect at the upcoming Boise blues concert. If you love blues history, soulful storytelling, and authentic American roots music, this conversation with Johnny Rawls is a must-watch.
About O.V. Wright
Overton Vertis Wright was an American singer who is generally regarded as a blues artist by African-American fans in the Deep South; he is also regarded as one of Southern soul's most authoritative and individual artists. His best known songs include "That's How Strong My Love Is" (1964), "You're Gonna Make Me Cry" (1965), "Nucleus of Soul" (1968), "A Nickel and a Nail" (1971), "I Can't Take It" (1971) and "Ace of Spades" (1971).
More about O.V. Wright→Added
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