Caleb Johnson

Caleb Johnson was born on April 23, 1991, to David and Tamra Johnson in Asheville, North Carolina.{{cite news |url=http://www.timesdaily.com/news/local/article_2988b034-9e9a-11e3-9b78-10604b9f6eda.html |title=Sound of Shoals soul in 'Idol' finalist's voice |author=Bernie Delinski |date= February 25, 2014 |work= Times Daily }} His mother works as an accountant, his father is a former football coach and works for the Parks and Recreation Department of Buncombe County, North Carolina, but both have backgrounds in music.{{cite web |url=http://www.wach.com/news/story.aspx?id=1024750 |title=American Idol finalists mom 'stuck in reality' |work=Wach Fox |date=March 28, 2014 |access-date=July 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721030817/http://www.wach.com/news/story.aspx?id=1024750 |archive-date=July 21, 2015 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.buncombecounty.org/news_Detail.aspx?newsID=14815 |title=Bring American Idol to Asheville – Vote 4 Caleb! |work=Buncombe County }}{{cite news |url=http://www.timesdaily.com/news/local/article_f208837e-e236-11e3-a9c5-0017a43b2370.html |title= Son's 'American Idol' victory thrills Shoals native |author= Bernie Delinski |work=Times Daily |date=May 22, 2014 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.foxcarolina.com/story/25326509/fans-of-asheville-idol-contestant-gather-at-wild-wing-to-watch-performance |title=Fans of Asheville 'Idol' contestant gather to watch Johnson |date=April 24, 2014 |author=Andrew Reeser |work=Fox Carolina |access-date=July 17, 2015 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924015022/http://www.foxcarolina.com/story/25326509/fans-of-asheville-idol-contestant-gather-at-wild-wing-to-watch-performance |url-status=dead }} He attended Clyde A. Erwin High School in Asheville and graduated in 2009.{{cite news |url=http://www.wyff4.com/news/ashevilles-own-caleb-johnson-wins-american-idol/26110656 |title=Asheville's own Caleb Johnson wins "American Idol" |author= James McCray |work=WYFF 4.com |date=May 22, 2014 }} He played some sports in high school, joined the drama club and chorus, and did some mission work and some volunteering at his church, Calvary Baptist.{{cite web |url=http://www.smliv.com/departments/1597-a-long-way-from-home.html |title=A long way from home |author=Susan Reinhardt |work=Smoky Mountain Living |date=May 30, 2014 |access-date=June 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140816234633/http://www.smliv.com/departments/1597-a-long-way-from-home.html |archive-date=August 16, 2014 |url-status=dead }}

Johnson became interested in singing around age 17 when Josh Sawyer, who had a band in his high school, asked him to be the lead singer. The first song he performed in public in his high school was "Fortunate Son" by Creedence Clearwater Revival.{{cite web |url=http://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/american-idol-top-3-finalists-24-things-you-dont-know-about-us-2014145 |title=American Idol Top 3 Finalists: 24 Things You Don't Know About Us |author=Alissa Schulman|website=Usmagazine.com |date=May 14, 2014 }} He took part in a talent show while in high school with a band called Gorgon.{{cite web |url=http://mix965asheville.com/mix-mornings/before-american-idol/ |title=Before American Idol… |work=Mix 96.5 |access-date=July 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721000420/http://mix965asheville.com/mix-mornings/before-american-idol/ |archive-date=July 21, 2015 |url-status=dead }} (audio) He considers Chris Cornell to be his biggest musical influence, and that Rush is his favorite band.{{cite web|url=https://heavy.com/entertainment/2014/03/caleb-johnson-american-idol-photos-pics-singing-videos/|title=Caleb Johnson from 'American Idol': 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know|author=Lauren Weigle|date=March 5, 2014|work=Heavy.com}}{{cite web |url=http://web.poptower.com/caleb-johnson-american-idol.htm |title=Caleb Johnson (American Idol) |work=PopTower |access-date=July 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150720235703/http://web.poptower.com/caleb-johnson-american-idol.htm |archive-date=July 20, 2015 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.goldderby.com/photos/458/5711/caleb-johnson---season-13-winner.html |title=American Idol: Season 13 Contestants |work=GoldDerby }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2014/05/22/4025/Rush-fan-Caleb-Johnson-wins-American-Idol-season-13|title=Rush is a Band Blog: Rush fan Caleb Johnson wins American Idol season 13|website=Rushisaband.com|access-date=April 16, 2020}}

After graduating Erwin High School in Asheville, North Carolina, on June 30, 2009, Caleb Johnson first joined a band called Rock Bottom as its lead singer. A year later, he joined his friend Josh Sawyer in rock band called Elijah Hooker and became its lead vocalist.{{cite web|last=Bronson|first=Fred|title='American Idol' Season 13: Caleb Johnson Outlines His Rock 'n' Roll Childhood Education|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/idol-worship/american-idol-caleb-johnson-689734|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=March 21, 2014|date=March 20, 2014}} Sawyer is the lead guitarist of the band; the other members of the band included Brian Turner on keyboard, Shawn Foerst on bass, and Colten Emery on drums.{{cite web|title=Elijah Hooker|url=http://www.reverbnation.com/ElijahHookerBand|publisher=Reverb Nation|access-date=May 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522104047/http://www.reverbnation.com/ElijahHookerBand|archive-date=May 22, 2014|url-status=dead}}

Elijah Hooker released its self-titled debut album Elijah Hooker in June 2013. The 10-track album featured "Happiest Man" as its lead track.{{cite web|last=Marshall|first=Alli|title=Caleb Johnson: from Elijah Hooker to "American Idol"|url=http://mountainx.com/arts/caleb-johnson-from-elijah-hooker-to-american-idol/|publisher=Mountain Xpress|access-date=May 23, 2014|date=May 9, 2014}}

File:Jena Irene Asciutto and Caleb Johnson Wolf Trap.jpg during the Season 13 American Idol tour.]]

Johnson auditioned for American Idol three times in four years. He first auditioned for the tenth season of American Idol in 2011. He was put through to Hollywood Week and was in a Hollywood group with James Durbin. In 2012, Johnson auditioned for the eleventh season and made it to the Top 42. He had difficulties in his performance of "Old Time Rock and Roll" and was cut at the Top 24 selection. He took the following year off from auditioning to improve on his stage presence.{{cite news |url=http://www.wcyb.com/news/family-of-local-american-idol-contestant-say-third-times-the-charm/25186542 |title=Family of local American Idol contestant say third time's the charm |author=Callan Gray |date=March 26, 2014 |work=WCYB.com |access-date=June 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605052604/http://www.wcyb.com/news/family-of-local-american-idol-contestant-say-third-times-the-charm/25186542 |archive-date=June 5, 2014 |url-status=dead }}

Johnson auditioned again in 2014 for the thirteenth season and made it to the top 20. In the semi-final round, he was voted by America into the top five male contestants, giving him a spot in the season's top 13. Johnson got positive feedback from the judges every week, had strong performances, and became the only finalist in the season to never land in the bottom 3 prior to reaching the finale. That season, Johnson was declared the winner.

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Soon after Johnson won American Idol he started working on his debut album. The album was recorded in three weeks and Johnson collaborated with musicians such as Howard Benson, Aloe Blacc, Brian Howes, Blair Daly and James Michael. Testify was released on August 12, 2014.{{cite web|last=Mansfield|first=Brian|title=Caleb Johnson testifies about his debut album|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/idolchatter/2014/08/11/caleb-johnson-testify-out-tuesday/13867039/|work=USA Today|access-date=August 15, 2014}}

After parting ways with his record label in late 2015, Johnson began working on his second album independently.{{Cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/idol-worship/6553819/american-idol-winner-caleb-johnson-parts-ways-with-interscope|title='American Idol' Winner Caleb Johnson Parts Ways With Interscope, Takes Label to Task|date=May 4, 2015|website=Billboard.com|access-date=April 16, 2020}} The album was set to be released in 2016 but failed to. The lead single, "Holding On," was released on February 9, 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/CalebJohnson|title=Caleb Perry Johnson (@CalebJohnson) | Twitter|website=Ttwitter.com|access-date=April 16, 2020}} A second single, "Hanging with the Band," was released on April 7, 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/hanging-with-the-band-single/1100990696|title=Hanging with the Band – Single by Caleb Johnson|website=Music.apple.com}}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

File:Caleb Johnson with TSO.jpg in 2021 in Worcester, Massachusetts.]]

In 2018, Johnson joined Trans-Siberian Orchestra for their winter tour singing on "Three Kings & I."{{cite web |last1=Berk |first1=Nancy |title=Caleb Johnson Celebrates the Season With the Trans-Siberian Orchestra |url=https://parade.com/716084/nancyberk/caleb-johnson-celebrates-the-season-with-the-trans-siberian-orchestra/ |website=Parade.com|date=November 13, 2018 |access-date=January 23, 2020}}

On June 14, 2019, Johnson released an album, Born from Southern Ground, as Caleb Johnson & The Ramblin Saints. Johnson explained the addition of his backing band on the album: "The Ramblin Saints is my band. We decided to add the band name to my name and that would take it more into that rock direction. We used people like Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band or Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers as a template. The musicians are from Nashville. I have two separate bands a studio band that I use based out of Nashville and my touring band is based out of Asheville." The album was produced by Johnson on his own newly created label, Big Johnson Records.{{cite web | url=https://glidemagazine.com/227105/caleb-johnson-breaks-heavier-ground-with-the-ramblin-saints-new-lp-born-from-southern-ground-interview/ | title=Caleb Johnson Breaks Heavier Ground with the Ramblin Saints New LP 'Born from Southern Ground' (INTERVIEW) | date=June 12, 2019 }}

Johnson's next album, Mountain Mojo Vol. 1, was released on June 18, 2021.{{cite web |last1=Turner |first1=Yasmin |title=Q&A with Caleb Johnson ahead of Meat Loaf BAT UK tour 2023 |url=https://entertainment-now.com/2022/07/qa-with-caleb-johnson-ahead-of-meat-loaf-bat-uk-tour-2023/ |website=entertainment-now.com |date=July 15, 2022 |access-date=December 1, 2023}} The album has contributions from Jason Bonham, Tyler Bryant, Josh Sawyer, Audley Freed, Tony Lucido, Mike Webb, Damon Johnson, Gale Mayes, Devonne Michele, and Angela Primm.{{cite web |title=Caleb Johnson |url=https://calebjohnsonofficial.com/ |website=calebjohnsonofficial.com |access-date=December 1, 2023}}

Johnson joined the Neverland Express band of American singer Meat Loaf and songwriter Jim Steinman in 2021 and they released Paradise Found: Bat Out Of Hell Reignited released on January 27, 2023 under Deko Entertainment.{{cite web |title=Paradise Found: Bat Out Of Hell Reignited Set For Release In January 2023 |url=https://www.dekoentertainment.com/post/paradise-found-bat-out-of-hell-reignited-set-for-release-in-january-2023 |website=dekoentertainment.com |date=October 25, 2022 |publisher=Deko Entertainment LLC. |access-date=December 1, 2023}} Johnson toured the United Kingdom along with Neverland Express in May 2023.{{cite web |last1=Fox |first1=Henry |title=Celebrating Meat Loaf Tour Featuring The Neverland Express plus American Idol winner, Caleb Johnson |url=https://www.musiccrowns.org/featured-post/celebrating-meat-loaf-tour-featuring-the-neverland-express-plus-american-idol-winner-caleb-johnson/ |website=musiccrowns.org |date=January 27, 2023 |publisher=Music Crowns |access-date=December 1, 2023}}

;with Elijah Hooker

• Elijah Hooker (2013)

;Solo

;with Caleb Johnson & The Ramblin' Saints

• Born from Southern Ground (2019){{Cite web|url=https://calebjohnsonofficial.com/|title=Caleb Johnson|website=Calebjohnsonofficial.com|access-date=April 16, 2020}}

;Release from "American Idol"

• "The Edge of Glory"
• "Dazed and Confused"
• "Chain of Fools"
• "Faithfully"
• "Family Tree"
• "Sting Me"
• "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing"
• "Travelin' Band"

• List of Idols winners

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.calebjohnsonofficial.com/ Official website]

{{American Idol}}

{{American Idol 13}}

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Category:1991 births

Category:21st-century American singers

Category:American Idol winners

Category:American rock singers

Category:American heavy metal singers

Category:Interscope Records artists

Category:Living people

Category:Musicians from Asheville, North Carolina

Category:21st-century American male singers