The inspirational songbird and multi-instrumentalist, Penny Buhr Johnson, is coming soon for some spring-like sunshine in beautiful B.C. Whether or not the sunshine is “provided” in the sky, Johnson’s performance is guaranteed to bring sunshine to your heart and musical medicine for the soul.
Having performed in the Cranbrook area last year at various venues, this multiple award winner has won the hearts of many new friends and now the stage is set for the opportunity to have this talented person at the Snoring Sasquatch on April 28. She has four CDs out, with her newer CD release, Growing Deeper.
With a very entertaining repertoire of bluegrass, smooth jazz, blues, gospel, country and inspirational adult contemporary, this entertainer is ceaseless in her songwriting and musical development.
“All my life, I’ve felt driven to learn and develop as a musician, adding guitar and fiddle playing to my daily devotion and concert repertoire,” she said. “I wish to acknowledge God for giving us the gift of music. It is wonderful to explore, but not complete in itself, until it is shared.”
“Her songs are touched by spirit, and the joy she takes in them, makes it all irresistible,” said Kimball J. Meyer (a.k.a. Kim Berly, drummer and singer with the Stampeders).
After a very fulfilling 19 years of teaching young and advanced students in the Music for Young Children program, Johnson received teacher of the year award in 2004 from the South Okanagan and District Arts Council. But, a visual handicap was taking its toll. It was becoming increasingly difficult to teach. Now legally blind, due to retinitis pigmentosa, a gradual vision loss genetic disorder, Johnson and her family seriously considered a change of pace.
In June 2007, they moved from the South Okanagan to the prairies of Southeast Saskatchewan. The timing was perfect to bring out the dream of performing her own music, which had taken a quiet back seat in her life.
Last year, Johnson exercised her invitation to compete in the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) and finished in the top 10 in Canada.
“Well, Penny, you friggin blew me away Tuesday night,” said Rob Lamonica, a regular performer at a top restaurant in Mazatlan. “Anytime my piano is set up, consider yourself welcome to play all night. … What a joy. … Alfredo, the owner of Pedro y Lola’s, really enjoyed you, too. You could easily be playing here regularly during the season. We’d love to have you again, but let me know so that I can invite some folks, and turn people on to the beauty that is you!”
For more information, visit Johnson’s website, www.pennybuhrjohnson.com.
Advance tickets are $10 at Kingfisher Used Books and Black Bear Books, and $12 at the door, which opens at 7 p.m.; the show starts at 8.
— SASQUATCH ARTS AND MUSIC SOCIETY