ArtistInfo

Johnny McKenzie

Rockaday Johnny began his career as a staff writer for Capricorn Records in Macon Ga. in the 1970’s where his (still to this day) cult Hit, The Wonder, was cut by the folk rock act, Cowboy, who toured and recorded with the Allman Brothers Band. From there, McKenzie moved to Key West where he played the same rooms and shared song writing with Jimmy Buffet in the days before Margaritaville. It was in Key West he got his nickname ROCKADAY, and evolved his unique stylistic approach to harp playing which one reviewer has dubbed "Florida harmonica." His harps are an integral part of his current stage show which features soulful vocals supported by clean and intricate guitar work on his Gibson acoustics and Fender Strat. Rockaday has had many songs published in Nashville with cuts: Boundaries, and Live Again, by Randy Lees and ,With Someone Again, by the show band, Fayreweather. Publishers include Tree Music, Dr. Inc. Music, Touchton Music in Germany, and McKenzie’s own Earth Electron Publishing. Rockaday has written over 200 songs and co-written extensively with his brother, Jim Mckenzie and Nashville publisher, Drew Reid. He was spiritual leader and business manager for The McKenzie Brothers Band, a force in Florida music for a decade. He has had three books of poetry published: The Pudding Wars, Hawk High and Pleasant Dreams Sweet Ann. Currently Rockaday Johnny Mckenzie is playing mostly songwriters festivals, where in ’97, ’98 & ‘99 he has opened concerts for Mac MaCanally, Chuck Cannon, Wayne Carson, John Mooney, Gove Schrivenor, Gretchen Peters, Beth Nielson-Chapman, Kieth Sykes, Pat McCune, and Drew Reid. You may catch Rockaday Johnny at any venue where original compositions are performed. Look for Rockaday on tour solo or with brother Jim and Band. You’ll find an evening spent with the music of Johnny Mckenzie a rewarding experience, a blend of poetry and music that runs the gamut from high energy to intimate intricate acoustic finger picking, or as the Key West Citizen has described him: "explosive and tender in turn".

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