Johnny started playing guitar at the early age of two and his musical gift has been recognized throughout numerous musical milestones starting with a TV appearance at age seven to winning the "Talent America Contest" at age ten to performing throughout the New England region of the USA in “The 3 Js” band formed with his sister, Jodi, and brother, Jerry and through his teenage and adult years. Johnny spent his teenage years engrossed in music, honing his skills and developing his own style of chicken pickin,' rock, blues, and swing while performing with various bands around the state of Maine. Through his adult life, Johnny has enjoyed great success with his own albums, working on Broadway, opening at the “The World Famous Turf” club, on TNN’s “Prime Time Country” and as a solo artist at the Grand Ole Opry. He has also worked with big-name artists like Toby Keith, Randy Travis, Ricky Skaggs, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Nokie Edwards, and Hank 3.

What role has music played in your life?J: I truly believe that God gave me the gift of music as an emotional outlet in my life. With nystagmus rendering me legally blind, I have faced a lot of personal disappointment. Music allowed me to escape those times in my life and I have been truly blessed and thankful for that.
For example, different genres I play represent different emotions. I play heavy-metal when I’m mad. I play chicken pickin’ when I’m happy. I play blues when I’m sad and jazz when I’m kicking back. Every genre has an emotional and situational attachment to me.

You have played country as well as rock music. What do you like about each of these types of music?J:  Well, country guitar was my first love. It moves me. It makes my soul jump and has become my source for happiness in playing guitar.
Rock guitar has a lot more aggression to it. I have to feel empowered to pull it off. It just adds to my playing and gives me a different vibe emotionally when I’m on stage. Now, if I go between country and rock, it turns more into jump blues. That also brings out another side of me. As long as music is fun, you just have to do it even if it means mixing genres.

What was your most memorable concert to date? How do you connect with the audience?J: I would have to say that my most memorable gig was playing on stage with Steve Vai while Ricky Skaggs was standing with my wife side stage watching me play. I had my rock guitar hero on my left and my country hero on my right. It was truly an incredible moment for me!
I would have to add that playing on stage with Les Paul at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York was off the hook as well! Or, jamming with Sammy Hagar in Lake Tahoe! That was off the hook too! It is really hard to just pick one.
Connecting with the audience is fun for me based on their interaction. I can’t see the audience but I sure can feel them! That truly is a blessing in my life! Especially when the audience is into what I’m doing.

Who is your musical inspiration?J: I have many influences in my life. Ricky Skaggs is my biggest country hero of all time. However, when it comes to guitar, Danny Gatton is it for me! He had such an aggressive way to play that I wanted to put forth in my own style of playing. He also had a “no fear“ approach and I feel like I play that way as well. Well, I would at least like to think I do.

What challenges did you face during your school days? How did you motivate yourself to face those challenges?J: I had a lot of hard times in school. I couldn’t see the chalkboard very well. Textbooks were impossible for me to see. Paper handouts were difficult. Gym class was a bust for me. I couldn’t see to play a lot of sports. Plus, I had very few friends all through school. I was made fun of a lot.
I knew that no matter how hard school was, I had to get through it. I didn’t really have a choice. So, I became good friends with all of my teachers. They understood my disability and helped me through my difficulties. Plus, I had wonderful parents who were on top of every teacher before each year started. My mom and dad had an outreach worker through the state of Maine work with me to get large print books, Monoculars, CCTV’s, and other aids to help me through. It was a struggle, but we made it through. Well, at least until my third year of college when I left to move to Nashville for guitar.
All in all, I was thankful to have been blessed with amazing parents, great teachers, and state outreach workers who understood my situation through working with me. I do believe that my music career, early on, helped me socially in school. Plus, the members of my band were many years older than me. Rehearsing and working with them enabled me to have better communication with my teachers. Most people wouldn’t think that would be a help but it was in many ways. I guess you could say that I had to mature quickly in order to be successful in every aspect of my life. It worked, and all became better as each school year started. I think socially, things started picking up for me as my career grew. My music career was a blessing even back then.

What are your other hobbies?J: My other hobbies are fishing, drawing cartoons and studying God’s Word, the Holy Bible. Fishing is therapeutic relaxation for me. Drawing cartoons helps keep my mind/imagination young and fresh and God’s instruction manual for life, the Bible, keeps me faithful and grounded. These things are all necessities in my life! That is for sure!

What is your favorite place to visit? What do you love about that place?J: As a musician, I have toured all over the world. I would say that my favorite place is now on a Carnival Cruise with my sweet wife Kimmie. I have learned that a cruise is the only place where you can truly shut life off and fully relax.
My other favorite place on earth is at Aunt Joann‘s farm in Java, Virginia. Down in the back of her farm is a hand fed pond where Kimmie’s dad, Larry Hart, and I go fishing. There is no better peace for me on earth.

What is your suggestion for families of children with disabilities to empower their children?J: For those families who have children with disabilities, help them find the talents that God gives them as a gift and help them manifest it! God gives gifts! I also think it’s important to keep positive knowing that the goal is to never give up on yourself! Your child may have a disability, but they will succeed in life if they just stay true to themselves! I am certainly proof positive that dreams do come true! Keep focused, work hard, and never give up. That is the best advice I could give to anybody.

What tips/advice do you have for those in our community who are interested in learning to play guitar?J: When it comes to playing guitar, it is difficult. You have to have the motivation and dedication to hang in there with guitar even when it gets tough! If it was easy, everybody would want to be a rockstar! It is not, so keep positive, dedicated, and motivated, and you will do well with it.

Any special message for our community?J: Inspiration Matters is SO cool and I am so glad to see that it exists. God bless you all!!
Living with disabilities can make you feel useless and/or unwanted at times. It is like we are “set aside ones.” You know, in all honesty, I truly believe that God doesn’t see something taken away from us that He doesn’t give back to us in some other way. I am certainly proof positive of that. Plus, with faith in Him, His blessings are awesome! Keep the faith and know that with disabilities, we become special to God. Somehow, deep in my heart, I know that’s true. He gives us special talents that He reveals to us early on. All we have to do is manifest them and show Him that we will use those talents for the right reasons. Those talents give us a purpose in life. I know that I am thankful for the life God has gifted me. No, it is not easy. However, He has given me a beautiful wife who understands my disability, and other folks around me who get it as well in the business I’m in. My dreams in life have pretty much come true and now I dare to dream more! That is my hope and desire for this community. Dare to dream bigger as God’s blessings are limitless. If it is in His plan, and He knows it will help your life, He will see it done.
I pray for families with disabilities every day. Always keep positive, even when things seem tough, and keep the faith! Stay strong and true to yourself not being afraid to follow your dreams. Focus on one goal at a time and keep at it until it happens for you. It is good to have many irons in the fire as long as you don’t lose focus. Again, keep positive, keep the faith, stay true to yourself, and you all will have fulfilling lives!
Thank you for the opportunity to do this interview. I live my life with my disability to this day and I know how hard it is. I will keep praying for everybody in this community and please know that you have a friend and supporter in me always!