If you'd like to read more about Johnny Rawls, here are a few links to some articles that might interest you.

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Album Reviews

From the album No Boundaries (2005):
Blues Matters "If you only EVER take a chance on one unknown album a year - make it this one!"
Blues Wax " If you got the Blues, leave ‘em at the door as you begin on this journey of healing."
Downbeat "(Rawls) tells his tales about clinging onto hopes and aspirations in dark times through the inspiring twist of his inflections and of his phrasing."
JazzReview.com "No Boundaries erupts from your speakers like a crackling fireball."
Real Blues "No Boundaries erupts from your speakers like a crackling fireball."
Southwest Blues "Rawls proves why he is the show stopping presence he has become"
Blues Critic "(Rawls) mixes things up with touches of roots, folk rock & gospel with a live band feel."
Blues in Britain Magazine "Rawls' most eclectic release to date. Rawls responds to the Rays influences by releasing his most impressive CD to date.
Blues Revue "No Boundaries is powerful and inspired, replete with top-notch instrumental and vocal performances and a superb, soulful batch of songs."
Living Blues "...music like this helps show us the way to sing and find light through the rain."
Blues FreePress "Although his roots lie in the '50s deep-South Blues & Soul tradition, his delivery & lyrics are bang-up-to-date & his pairing with The Kays (noted for their stellar work behind Kay Kay) has proved to be inspirational."
DWM Music Company "After listening to this excellent selection of songs, I'd put my trust anytime in Johnny Rawls"
Homer's Music "This is a wonderful album."
Blueheart Archive "Original songs, excellent musicians, the Blues, a lot of Soul, mix them together with “No Boundaries” and the result is a record for any fan of good music."
CD Baby Reviews "...an album that leaves nothing to be desired."

From the album Partners & Friends (2004):
Blues Bytes "Roy and Johnny compliment each other like a well made gin & tonic."

From the album Lucky Man (2002):
Southwest Blues "Johnny Rawls first album for his new label Deep South Sound is everything one has come to expect from the talented performer, plus some."
Bad Dog Blues, WITR (Rochester, NY) "Lucky Man is an auspicious start for Johnny Rawls' new label and yet another satisfying record in a long and fruitful career."
Blues Bytes "What can I say except buy this CD. It really will make you smile"

From the album Put Your Trust In Me (2001):
Blues News (New Zealand) "(Rawls') emphatic, soulful vocals would make most anyone a believer."
Bad Dog Blues, WITR (Rochester, NY) "Johnny Rawls is one of the best artists mining the soul-blues genre today laying down consistently pleasing records and blazing a trail of great live shows wherever he plays"
Blues Bytes "There just aren't many better singers on the scene today than this Mississippi native"
Blues Revue "Handy nominators take note: Put Your Trust in Me is one of the year's top soul recordings."
Boston Beat "Great Stuff."
Living Blues "You can indeed put your trust in Johnny Rawls to deliver a worthwhile album every time out""
Southwest Blues "All original tunes with a solid band and some cool guest vocalists"

From the album My Turn To Win (1999):
Blues Revue "My Turn To Win is bound to go down as one of 1999's best"
Bad Dog Blues, WITR (Rochester, NY) "...a stunning soul record with an infectious groove throughout"
Blues On Stage "You'll be hard pushed to find a better soul/blues CD than "My Turn To Win" this year."
DOWNBEAT "the album is a winner"
Juke Blues "another impressive outing from this multi-talented artist"
Living Blues "a carefully crafted package loaded with attractive soul efforts"
Southwest Blues "This collection just oozes with the warmth and joy that makes Johnny Rawls who he is"
Blueshound.net "The man is a pro who can write, sing and play the strings"
Lehigh Valley Blues Network "an excellent blend of deft guitar, tight horns and masterful vocals"

From the album Louisiana Woman (1997):
Amazon.com "a great listen, full of soul-tinged blues "
Blues Revue "a well-polished, suave release"
Blues Access "some of the best Southern soul music of this or any year"
Blues Bytes "Rawls is ready to move up to the next level of contemporary blues artists"

From the album Here We Go (1996):
3-Way Blues Caravan, KZSU (Stanford, CA) "Where the hell has this guy BEEN for so long"
Blues Access "Catfish Pick"
DC Blues "Rawls certainly does the best he can here on a tasty set that is very representative of his fine live performances"
Living Blues "JSP has another winner with this contender for the year’s best soul/blues album"

From the album Can't Sleep At Night (1994):
Blues Bytes "Rawls, with his rich natural voice, really stands out"
Blues Revue "Rawls and Luckett have obviously put their hearts into this hybrid mixture of soul, R&B and blues "
Blues & Rhythm "A largely soul satisfying set"

Live Reviews

World's Greatest Critic "He's got a knack with that fret board, all right, and that rapid-fire staccato blues lead that makes a solo so recognizable simply belongs to big John when that Strat takes flight."
Sonoma Tunes "I’ve seldom seen a better set under adverse conditions than the set Johnny put in."
Jazz Now "Rawls knows how to connect with his listeners and on both evenings, they loved every minute of it!"
The Purdue Exponent "I've never seen anyone play the blues like him."
Jazz Now "Rawls gained some new fans this night with his unique soul style and stage charisma."
Blues On Stage "The next time Johnny Rawls heads into town, be sure to check him out. I guarantee that there is no way to not have fun with this band. "
Blues On Stage "a great singer and a fantastic showman...Rawls filled the dance floor from the very first note and kept them dancing all night long."
Athens Musician "They were eating it up and begging for more."
Blues On Stage "If you had to sum up Johnny and his music in one word, it would be smooth. Everything he does, from singing, playing guitar, writing songs, and interacting with his fans reflects the polish and considerable talent he has developed over the years. "
Blues Ginza "You can't find a guy like him very often who can sing soul and play blues guitar solos both so well. "
BluesHound.net "Johnny was the pro everyone expected him to be, and gave us a great show."
Blues On Stage "Johnny Rawls put on an excellent show"
Don O.'s Dallas/Fort Worth Blues Page "If you ever get to see even a few minutes of his show, (Rawls) will hook you for life"
Jazz Now "The overflow crowd immersed themselves in an evening of dancing and partying down to one of the best shows to hit town "
NY CD Blues "Johnny is another of those super confident and well heeled players that makes it all look like it's just a piece of cake"
Fort Worth Star-Telegram "Blues fans are advised to check Johnny Rawls out...you'll be glad you did"
Tallahassee Democrat "Every person packed on the dance floor... gyrating to Johnny Rawls had the blues and was loving every low-down minute of it."
Blueheart Archive "Hear Johnny Rawls once; you’ll never forget what you heard!”

Features

Daily Mississippian - "(Johnny Rawls has) always been able to do his own sound, as opposed to having someone else come in and try to make him sound contemporary"
The Purdue Exponent - "Rawls is as good as, if not better, than most of the acts that will be performing at the Jazz Fest."
Jefferson Blues Magazine - Another feature from this great Swedish blues magazine.
Yardbird Suite - This preview comes from Edmonton, Canada, where Johnny performed with his daughter Destini Rawls..
Blues Revue "I'm here to put the edge back and sing that raw gospel soul."
The Charlotte Observer "a steamy brand of blues anchored by Rawls' masterful guitar playing"
Michigan Chronicle "Johnny Rawls is a true blues road warrior who has driven millions of miles "
Champaign News-Gazette "a standout for lovers of horn-enhanced soul and blues."
The Purdue Exponent "His astonishing talent lies in the idea that he can take all of those life experiences and sing about them in a style that almost everyone can enjoy."
The Purdue Exponent "If anyone has the qualifications to sing the blues, it's Rawls."
The Record (Bergen County, NJ) "The music of Johnny Rawls harkens back to the gospel-derived deep soul style"
Tallahassee Democrat "He's a master bluesman and a master soulman"
Jefferson Blues Magazine - A great feature -- if you can read Swedish

Biographies

All Music Guide
Catfood Records
Russian River Blues Festival

Short Takes

Downbeat "Rawls envelopes his wise blend of soul and blues in the aura of believable emotional intensity."
Living Blues "Rawls deserves national stardom...his blues/soul synthesis is seamless."
Blues Revue "Johnny Rawls has matured into a singer of enormous depth... His understanding of blues and soul centers his work on the song and delivery, and that alone separates him from the rest of the pack.”
The London Times "Johnny Rawls has the earthiness of B. B. King and the Memphis soul of Al Green."
Now (Toronto) "...a stellar Southern soul singer "
Ottawa Start “No Bounderies” promises to take his career to yet another level. "
TOstudent.com "Johnny Rawls has blossomed into one of the top talents in soul blues today."
Chicago Reader "Lucky Man...further showcases his deft blend of grits-and-greens rootsiness and poppy accessibility."
Billtown Blues Festival "Johnny Rawls and his big band featuring the Nutmeg Horns delivered Blues and R&B the way they were meant to be played…with lots of heart and soul."
Minneapolis Star and Tribune "an ace bandleader, singer, songwriter and chitlin-circuit fave who knows all about crowd pleasing."
The Arizona Republic "you can't play real blues unless you're from Mississippi"
The Charlotte Observer "Check out Johnny Rawls' resume and you'll see that this is serious business."
The Charlotte Observer "Mississippi soul-blues man who wows crowds with his smoldering vocals and guitar style"
The Charlotte Observer "Johnny Rawls can play straight blues like nobody's business..."
Creative Loafing "This soul/blues artist has lived what he sings"
Creative Loafing "deep rooted soul-blues tradition "
Creative Loafing "a true blue road warrior who has driven millions of miles"
Creative Loafing
Minneapolis Star and Tribune "'My Turn to Win' is a major treat for fans of classic soul"
Minneapolis Star and Tribune "an ace bandleader, singer, songwriter"
The Salt Lake Tribune "Rawls has blossomed into a top blues and soul talent."
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The Tallahassee Democrat "pure, aural pleasure"
The Tallahassee Democrat "a burning fire of pure sexual healing"
Tucson Citizen "blues cross-pollinated with soul"
Tucson Weekly "Rawls ranks among the blues' top emerging talents"
Washington City Paper "nothing seems to stop (Rawls) from staying true to his calling"
Worcester Phoenix "(Rawls) has a rich, versatile tenor voice that never rings false"

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