Luther “Guitar Junior” Johnson considers the Monadnock Region home.
The Chicago blues legend lived in New England for close to four decades and many of those years were spent in Antrim where he was a mainstay in the local blues scene at the Rynborn. While Johnson made Antrim his home, he toured all over the United States, Europe and China and even played at the White House in 1974 when Jimmy Carter was president.
And to celebrate his 80th birthday this year, Johnson is once again hitting the road and will return to the area for a show with the Magical Rockers and special guests Magic Dick (J. Geils Band) and Shun NG. The special one-night only lineup will be at the Peterborough Town House on Friday, Aug. 9 at 8 p.m., as part of the Peterborough Concert Series.
“I decided it would be my 80th birthday party wherever I play,” Johnson said.
Mike Chadinha, who coordinates the monthly series, thought it would be a special event to bring Johnson back to the place he called home for so many years to celebrate the legend’s milestone birthday.
Chadinha worked to bring Johnson to the inaugural Uplift Music Festival and felt it was a “perfect fit” to have him return to the area for a yet another concert that will leave audience members in awe of his musical talents.
“You know you’re in the room with a legend,” Chadinha said.
Johnson has lived in Florida for the last few years, but always relishes the chance to play a show in southern New Hampshire. He played at Nelson’s Candies last year and is making only one stop in the Granite State this summer – next Friday in Peterborough.
“I can’t believe he’s still doing it,” Chadinha said. “To see someone 80 years old get on the road and still perform is impressive.”
Johnson has been performing since the late 1950s, beginning in Chicago blues clubs and sharing the stage with legends like Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton, BB King, the Rolling Stones and Muddy Waters.
“I’ve played with all the greatest,” Johnson said.
With his extensive touring background, Johnson is used to putting together a show that fans – both old and new – will enjoy. He like to get a feel for the audience and tailor his shows on the fly to keep the room yearning for more. His work on the guitar is something not to be missed.
“I’ve got fans all over the world and everybody loves to hear what I play. I play to the crowd and get them where I want them,” Johnson said. “I’m going to give them a good show.”
While many touring artists have given up their days on the road by his age, Johnson lives to play music and sees no reason to give it up.
“I’ll do this as long as I live,” he said.
Even though Johnson is known worldwide, Chadinha said he saw the Peterborough Town House as a the right kind of setting for Johnson to make another return to the area. And putting him together with the likes of Magic Dick and Shun NG made a lot of sense.
“We try to put together shows that people want to see live,” Chadinha said. “It’s a great spot for a show and we really like the idea of unique shows, ones you can’t find other places.”
Since 1969, Magic Dick has toured the world playing harmonica, in both intimate club settings and sold out stadiums with the J. Geils Band and recently partnered up with guitar and vocal sensation, Shun Ng. Together, their music is soulful and rockin’ yet thoughtful and performed by arguably two of the top musicians with their respective instruments.
Tickets are $29 to $45 and available at peterboroughconcert.eventbrite.com and at The Toadstool in Peterborough. Chadinha said tickets will also be available at the door the night of the show if it hasn’t sold out.
“It’s that old school blues and people are excited to see Luther again,” Chadinha said.
Johnson’s appearance is just the latest in the monthly series that’s already featured Fire on the Mountain: A Grateful Dead Experience, The Spirit of Johnny Cash and Recycled Percussion. Up next is comedian Jimmy Dunn and Friends on Sept. 28, Gumboots: The Music of Paul Simon on Oct. 28 featuring an 11-piece ensemble of local musicians and the David Bromberg Quintet (Nov. 23).
For more information, visit facebook.com/peterboroughconcertseries.