The Johnson Girls are Joy Bennett, Alison Kelley, Bonnie Milner, & Deirdre Murtha
Short bio
The Johnson Girls have been a force on the folk and maritime music scene for over two decades as the leading all-woman, a cappella maritime group in the world. Believing that sea chanteys and songs of the sea were the first real “World Music”, Joy Bennett, Alison Kelley, Bonnie Milner, and Deirdre Murtha each bring a special influence to the group. Whether performing at packed international folk festivals, intimate venues, workshops, or presenting school or library programs, The Johnson Girls remain true to their mission of keeping chantey singing and its history alive, bringing women’s voices to the fore, and encouraging everyone to join in the revelry. Widely acclaimed for their powerhouse performances of rousing work songs, sensitive renderings of haunting ballads and laments, and hair-raising harmonies, they sweep their audiences along in a tidal fervor. “The Johnson Girls, chantey singers from America, took the place by storm… Those who thought a chantey singer had to be male, bearded, and with a beer gut, needed to think again.” - Cornwall Guardian (UK)
Photo for publicity
Longer Bio
“You are first rate! I didn’t know women could sing like that.” - Pete Seeger, 2001 Songs of the Sea Festival, NY
The Johnson Girls is an energetic, internationally acclaimed all-woman a cappella ensemble, performing traditional and contemporary music with an emphasis on songs of the sea and shore. With a sound that has been called “exciting,” “haunting,” and “uplifting,” The Johnson Girls give powerhouse performances that bring audiences to their feet wherever they go.
“The Johnson Girls, shanty singers from America, took the place by storm….Those who thought a shanty singer had to be male, bearded and with a beer gut, had better think again.” – Cornwall Guardian, UK
Whether leading a sing-along aboard the Peking at South Street Seaport in New York or firing up a festival stage, this group is a winner.” – Craig Edwards – Festival Director, Mystic Seaport Museum
Sea music may well have been the first “world music.” Ships were often melting pots, with crew-members from many countries, and who were heavily influenced by the music they heard while traveling around the world and from other crew members. These sailors incorporated into their work songs and other shipboard music the different rhythms and styles from their own often diverse cultures as well as those they encountered during their voyages. Each of The Johnson Girls was captivated by this music at different times in their lives, and came together in 1997 following the Mystic Seaport Sea Music festival to burst through the barrier of this previously male dominated genre.
Each of The Johnson Girls brings a specialty and style to the ensemble. Their extensive repertoire includes songs with an Afro-Caribbean influence, of the inland waterways, of fishing, mining, Irish, Anglo-American, Italian, French, and Canadian ballads and work songs, and much more. The Johnson Girls bring a unique interpretation to their repertoire while preserving the traditional roots of their music.
In addition to powerful main stage performances, The Johnson Girls have led participatory workshops and demonstrations during festivals and folk weeks/weekends on many topics including but by no means limited to: women and the sea, contemporary sea songs, harmony, sea chanteys 101, work songs: old and new, fishing: then and now, Afro-Caribbean songs, ballads, song collecting, landsmen, sailors and ladies, and more.
Following their performances at the Mystic Seaport Museum’s Sea Music Festival in Connecticut, Festival Director Craig Edwards wrote: “…The Johnson Girls turned in magnificent performances at the 22nd Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival, including a powerhouse main stage slot on Saturday night that demonstrated that you’re not great female chantey singers, you’re great chantey singers, period. … A world class act.”
The Johnson Girls have 4 CDs including the most recent “On Deck & Below”, “The Johnson Girls”, “On the Rocks”, and “Fire Down Below” have received rave reviews in the US and UK in Dirty Linen, Sing Out, Traditional Music Maker and Living Tradition magazines, The Cornwall Guardian, International Chantey Magazine, and the Folk Music Society of NY newsletter.
The Johnson Girls is an energetic, internationally acclaimed all-woman a cappella ensemble, performing traditional and contemporary music with an emphasis on songs of the sea and shore. With a sound that has been called “exciting,” “haunting,” and “uplifting,” The Johnson Girls give powerhouse performances that bring audiences to their feet wherever they go.
“The Johnson Girls, shanty singers from America, took the place by storm….Those who thought a shanty singer had to be male, bearded and with a beer gut, had better think again.” – Cornwall Guardian, UK
Whether leading a sing-along aboard the Peking at South Street Seaport in New York or firing up a festival stage, this group is a winner.” – Craig Edwards – Festival Director, Mystic Seaport Museum
Sea music may well have been the first “world music.” Ships were often melting pots, with crew-members from many countries, and who were heavily influenced by the music they heard while traveling around the world and from other crew members. These sailors incorporated into their work songs and other shipboard music the different rhythms and styles from their own often diverse cultures as well as those they encountered during their voyages. Each of The Johnson Girls was captivated by this music at different times in their lives, and came together in 1997 following the Mystic Seaport Sea Music festival to burst through the barrier of this previously male dominated genre.
Each of The Johnson Girls brings a specialty and style to the ensemble. Their extensive repertoire includes songs with an Afro-Caribbean influence, of the inland waterways, of fishing, mining, Irish, Anglo-American, Italian, French, and Canadian ballads and work songs, and much more. The Johnson Girls bring a unique interpretation to their repertoire while preserving the traditional roots of their music.
In addition to powerful main stage performances, The Johnson Girls have led participatory workshops and demonstrations during festivals and folk weeks/weekends on many topics including but by no means limited to: women and the sea, contemporary sea songs, harmony, sea chanteys 101, work songs: old and new, fishing: then and now, Afro-Caribbean songs, ballads, song collecting, landsmen, sailors and ladies, and more.
Following their performances at the Mystic Seaport Museum’s Sea Music Festival in Connecticut, Festival Director Craig Edwards wrote: “…The Johnson Girls turned in magnificent performances at the 22nd Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival, including a powerhouse main stage slot on Saturday night that demonstrated that you’re not great female chantey singers, you’re great chantey singers, period. … A world class act.”
The Johnson Girls have 4 CDs including the most recent “On Deck & Below”, “The Johnson Girls”, “On the Rocks”, and “Fire Down Below” have received rave reviews in the US and UK in Dirty Linen, Sing Out, Traditional Music Maker and Living Tradition magazines, The Cornwall Guardian, International Chantey Magazine, and the Folk Music Society of NY newsletter.
performances
For information on all past gigs see All Past Gigs under More