Dan Johnson Americana

“It seems to me that songs are already out there floating on the air. There are stories that need to be told, feelings that need to be communicated, and some of us are just chosen to be the conduits.” –Dan Johnson

And so the story does go that Ft. Worth-based music artist Dan Johnson would meet the cast of characters from his new music/book project “Hemingway,” and through him they would whisper their darkened secrets long held, trusting the once ousted minister-in-training to guide them out and into the light. It all started with five songs, a string of individual tales woven into a concept piece so epic that the storytelling would not be sated by the limits of lyrics and music alone. No. These stories marched clear past those limits until a companion book came into view. A place where these weary characters could lay down their burdens, make their full confessions, and at long last, convalesce in their repentance.
Dan’s emergence into a music career seemed to choose him, in much the same way the “Hemingway” project did. Lighting up venues with his original band, The Salt Cedar Rebels, definitely drove him towards his place in the music scene, but his reputation as a songwriter always took center stage. It was the respect and constant urging from his peers that stood as the guideposts, leading him to pursue a solo project. When you have the likes of Randy Rogers, Jason Boland, Thom Shepherd, Larry Joe Taylor and the great Billy Joe Shaver pulling you aside to commend you on your talents, well, it no longer seems like a choice, but rather an anointing. Still, however adept he felt as a songwriter, Dan never counted on a literary exploit being part of his ride. That is until he met novelist Travis Erwin, co-writer on the “Hemingway” project.
Travis Erwin hosted a writers’ club in Amarillo, Texas, and was also known for his immense love and appreciation for Texas and Americana songwriters. The two met online through the discovery of a mutual friend and soon after, at Travis’ invitation, Dan found himself singing his song “Hemingway” at the writers’ club one day. That night Travis could not sleep for all the whispering he heard from the characters portrayed in Dan’s song, a beckoning that Travis answered by penning the full tale behind “Hemingway.” And just that fast, both Dan and Travis unwittingly found themselves paired up for a preordained journey, grander in scale than they could have imagined, as the whispering continued and more and more characters stepped forward. So, piece by piece Dan crafted the songs, as he and Travis together penned the stories of the characters that revealed themselves. What resulted was an opus that would, in a bizarre twist, mirror much of Dan’s own life experiences. And the “Hemingway” project was born.
It’s no secret the title song and story “Hemingway” is inspired by the life and tragic suicide of Dan’s father, an injured military veteran who lost all hope when he discovered his military skills didn’t translate to any sustainable job in the civilized world. The depression and eventual mental illness that followed led him to, as the songs says, “take the Hemingway out.” Dan was only 11 years old at the time and was instantly stripped of his childhood, to bear the responsibilities his father left behind. When he finally gained a life of his own he admittedly took a tremendously selfish turn, indulging in a reckless life full of drugs and women as depicted in the song “The Favor” and accompanying story ”The Devil’s Child.” “Tom Waits For No One” and the accompanying story “Ice Water“ is a break up scene from Dan’s own life staged in a dimly lit room, all romantically ready and waiting for a women who would never return. “Bloom” is a sentimental piece, inspired by Dan’s three daughters and the pleasure of watching them blossom into strong, beautiful women, a precious experience he nearly missed out on. Through the guilt of his past and the general lack he felt as a person, Dan came very close to following in his dad’s footsteps, but at the last minute decided he would see it through, instead pouring his inner battle into the hauntingly personal song “Lone Gunman’s Lament” and accompanying story “A Bad Man.” The entire collection of songs (produced by Johnson and Adam Odor) and short stories is a heart provoking narrative about the relationship between decision versus chance in life, and the inextricable ties between good and evil in the world. For Johnson, the hope for fame and the biggest stages at music festivals is not what drives his ambition. In this rat race towards stardom and instant celebrity, Dan would much rather have a true conversation through his music. To him, those are by far the best shows in town.
“I am looking for people who are looking for meaning.” –Dan Johnson
The End Goal: 20% of the proceeds from the sale of the “Hemingway” project will go to Operation Hemingway, an anonymous suicide hotline for military veterans that Dan is working to create. The goal of this hotline is to offer real help to veterans who otherwise would not “make the call,” for fear of having it added to their record and being blacklisted from potential government jobs and other basic life needs.

“Hemingway” was recorded with the help of the Army’s 36th Infantry Division, at Camp Mabry military base in Austin, Texas, with auxiliary recording at Yellow Dog Studios in Wimberley, Texas. Musicians are Nick Lafuente (drums), Phillip Tijerina (bass, lead guitar, backing vocals), Dan Johnson (vocals, rhythm guitar, piano, harmonica), Lloyd Maines (pedal steel), Brian Standefer (cello), Eddie Dickerson (violin, viola), Ben Morgan (piano), Dave Percefull (midi), Adam Odor (bass), Pat Manske (Cuban percussion), Jeff Plankenhorn (Weissenborn, “The Plank” guitar), Steven Lafuente (flamenco guitar), Barbara Nesbitt (backing vocals) and members of the 36th Infantry Division Military Band.