Prudence Johnson

 

Prudence Johnson's silky voice has taken her from the Midwest to the Middle East, honky-tonks to Carnegie Hall, theater stages to the silver screen — appearing in Robert Redford's A River Runs Through It and in Robert Altman's A Prairie Home Companion. But be it concert hall or tiny jazz club, Prudence is the perfect complement. As one music critic put it, "[There's] not a genre she hasn't interpreted with her ducky, sensual alto voice and terminally good taste."

So, how does one go from a small town like Moose Lake, MN, to the world stage? Were you raised in a musical family?
My father has a beautiful voice and loves to sing. For decades, he was the go-to guy in our area for weddings and funerals. Singing together was something we always did; until a certain age, I thought all families did. People ask me how to learn to hear harmony parts. Ummm … your dad teaches you when you’re four?
I wouldn’t say I had ambition, so much as a certainty that that’s what I was meant to do, and I just put one foot in front of the other. My family of course thought I was nuts, especially since I was a young mother trying to make a living as a freelance musician. I believe it was my appearances on the Prairie Home show in the early ’80s ( it was nationally broadcast by then) that changed their minds.

'Remember Me' with Prudence & Garrison


You’ve released more than a dozen albums, collaborated on many more, written and performed in plays, performed in several feature films, released several multimedia projects combining music and history. With all the time at home due to the pandemic, are there any new projects on the horizon?
I was very busy during the darkest days of the pandemic working at an independent bookstore (Birchbark Books) in Minneapolis. I love the world of books and got a part-time job there in 2008, mostly to support my book habit. But over the years, my commitment deepened and I took on a lot of duties there while maintaining a schedule creating new shows, recording, and performing. To everyone’s surprise, when we closed our doors to the public in spring 2020, the store got much busier than ever before. So I wasn’t really isolated and I had very little downtime. I left Birchbark in the end of May after 12 1/2 years and had a great summer, and I’m just now really giving some thought to what’s next. I LOVE being in the studio but I realize I don’t recognize the landscape anymore — the business of making and releasing recordings has changed so fundamentally. Working with Garrison and with Robin and Linda, as the next incarnation of the Hopeful Gospel Quartet, is sort of a “new old” project that I’m really looking forward to.

You have performed on A Prairie Home Companion, toured with the show as part of the Rhubarb tour, been featured in the movie, toured with Garrison . . . do you have any favorite memories? 

Oh! so many. I thought of the Beatles standing in the very same spot on the Hollywood Bowl stage. My granddaughter celebrating her ninth birthday with me on the APHC cruise of the Norwegian fjords. (She's a 23 yr old Registered Nurse now and has great memories of that time) Feeling Leonard Bernstein's spirit at Tanglewood. Red Maddock's glorious smile. I could go on and on.

Do you have a favorite guest musician you've had the opportunity to meet or perform with on the show?
Odetta! She looked right into my soul! Billy Collins and I sang a duet or two--Billy if you're reading this, my crush has never faded. Linda Ronstadt saw I was facing a lonely night of room service and tv after the show and whisked me off to dinner with her friends. What a sweetheart. Back before there were actual actors doing the scripts, Garrison wrote a sketch for Leo Kottke, Chet Atkins and me. I'm still amazed when I think about it.
Prudence talks about the Department of Folk Songs, Sings and takes a few more questions

On the show, you took over as host of the Department of Folk Song for a period of time. . . .did you choose all the songs to feature or do you have a favorite song that you discovered as part of the Department of Folk Song?
I did a lot of research, brought home armloads of books from the library. I discovered a lot of songs from different centuries about women in various kinds of distress which led to projects with the MN Sinfonia as well as a production called Fearless and Fallen, with guitarist Dean Magraw and cellist Michelle Kinney.
As we covered in our feature on the Hopeful Gospel Quartet, you stepped in as the fourth voice for the A Prairie Home Companion film directed by Robert Altman.   Any favorite memories you care to share about the making of the film?

It was so much fun being on set of the movie; I pretended to be a smoker so I could bum cigarettes from Kevin Kline and hang out with him. Meryl Streep & Lily Tomlin--truly excellent & sweet human beings. The day I sang in the quartet was totally spontaneous. Jearlyn Steele wasn't able to be on set that day, I was, and they wanted to shoot that song, so I learned it....fast!

We had just been on tour for about 3 weeks; how Garrison, Richie and the whole band and crew slipped right into that movie schedule I don't know--I was exhausted. I was asked to costume myself so I chose a suit I had worn sometimes on the tour. After a few 10 hour days in it, I dearly wished I'd chosen something more comfortable. (ok, not so much a favorite memory as a regret)

'Let Your Light Shine On Me' from the A Prairie Home Companion film >>>

You will be partnering up with Garrison and Robin & Linda Williams and Dan Chouinard for a few Hopeful Gospel Quartet dates as well as performing several shows with Garrison . . . do you have a favorite duet to sing with Garrison?
I do! We sing one lately by Ann Reed called If You Were Mine, and one I hope we revive someday is If I Needed You by Townes Van Zandt. Both are sweet wistful love songs and sort of hypnotic to sing. The four voices together is a whole different thing; it's a powerful sound and it's going to be a lot of fun. And any time I spend making music with Dan is happy time.
'Lullaby for Lesha' from Little Dreamer

Since you are a teacher, any prescient advice for someone who wants to pursue a career in music?

Not all jobs require the integration of physical skills, intellect and the heart--some only require one of those--so it's a rare gift to make one's living doing something so spiritually gratifying. Offer your music with love and it will have an impact, and no matter how you weather the ups and downs of the music "business," it will feed your soul.

As a singer, I think of myself foremost as a storyteller, and I encourage young singers, when they are tempted to get frilly and fancy, to concentrate on telling the story.

'Early' with Prudence & Garrison

How can fans best keep up with your latest projects or where you will be appearing?
I may possibly be the world's worst self-promoter, but I am in the process of designing a new website (the current one has been terribly neglected. If you looked at it, you'd probably think I'd died!) But I do usually post notices of performances on facebook. Check in with prudencejohnson.com in a month or so--I have music and projects I'd love to share with you all.

1115 comments

  • Legitimate Crypto Asset Recovery Firm For Hire: META TECH RECOVERY PRO Bitcoin Recovery Consultants.

    Ask (META TECH RECOVERY PRO) for help via:

    h t t p s: // m e t a t e c h r e c o v e r y p r o(.)c o m.

    s u p p o r t(@)m e t a t e c h r e c o v e r y p r o(.)com.

    WHATSAPP ‪+1 (4 6 9) 6 9 2‑8 0 4 9‬

    I highly endorse META TECH RECOVERY PRO for individuals seeking to retrieve lost digital or cryptocurrency assets, including but not limited to Bitcoin, USDC, USDT, Ethereum, and Trump Coin. The realization that crypto assets are vulnerable to theft, even when private keys are meticulously safeguarded, was a disconcerting revelation. Following a sophisticated hacking incident that resulted in the complete loss of my cryptocurrency holdings, I experienced a profound sense of helplessness. This sentiment was effectively mitigated upon my referral to META TECH RECOVERY PRO. Their team demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of the intricate circumstances and successfully recovered my assets. Their rapid responsiveness, consistent communication, and meticulous methodology provided considerable reassurance throughout the recovery process. If you happen to have a similar financial loss, I strongly suggest contacting them. Their expertise and professionalism instilled confidence, and they consistently met and exceeded expectations. You can highly count on META TECH RECOVERY PRO for professional ethical hacking skills.
    Thank you.

    morales perez
  • Investment scams are becoming increasingly common in the world of cryptocurrency, with many individuals falling victim to fraudulent schemes promising high returns on their investments. These scams can result in the loss of significant amounts of money, leaving victims feeling helpless and devastated.
    CoinsRecoveryWorldwide is a trusted and reliable resource for individuals who have fallen victim to investment scams involving Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. They specialize in helping clients recover their lost assets and funds through their expertise and experience in navigating the complex world of cryptocurrency scams.
    CoinsRecoveryWorldwide works tirelessly to investigate and track down the perpetrators of these scams, working with law enforcement agencies and other authorities to ensure that justice is served. They provide a range of services to assist clients in recovering their assets, including legal representation, forensic analysis, and negotiation with scammers.
    If you have been the victim of an investment scam involving Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies, don’t hesitate to reach out to CoinsRecoveryWorldwide for assistance. They have a proven track record of success in recovering lost assets for their clients and can help you navigate the process of recovering your funds. Don’t let scammers get away with your hard-earned money – contact CoinsRecoveryWorldwide today for help in recovering your assets.
    Contact information
    WEBSITE; https://coinsrecoveryworldwide.mobirisesite.com/
EMAIL.COINSRECOVERYWORLDWIDE@GMAIL.COM
WHATSAPP:+17658236083]

    coinsrecoveryworldwide
  • Investment scams are becoming increasingly common in the world of cryptocurrency, with many individuals falling victim to fraudulent schemes promising high returns on their investments. These scams can result in the loss of significant amounts of money, leaving victims feeling helpless and devastated.
    CoinsRecoveryWorldwide is a trusted and reliable resource for individuals who have fallen victim to investment scams involving Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. They specialize in helping clients recover their lost assets and funds through their expertise and experience in navigating the complex world of cryptocurrency scams.
    CoinsRecoveryWorldwide works tirelessly to investigate and track down the perpetrators of these scams, working with law enforcement agencies and other authorities to ensure that justice is served. They provide a range of services to assist clients in recovering their assets, including legal representation, forensic analysis, and negotiation with scammers.
    If you have been the victim of an investment scam involving Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies, don’t hesitate to reach out to CoinsRecoveryWorldwide for assistance. They have a proven track record of success in recovering lost assets for their clients and can help you navigate the process of recovering your funds. Don’t let scammers get away with your hard-earned money – contact CoinsRecoveryWorldwide today for help in recovering your assets.
    Contact information
    WEBSITE; https://coinsrecoveryworldwide.mobirisesite.com/
EMAIL.COINSRECOVERYWORLDWIDE@GMAIL.COM
WHATSAPP:+17658236083]

    coinsrecoveryworldwide
  • A Truck Driver’s Story: How JetWebHackers Turned My Life Around

    As a truck driver, I work hard every day to provide for my family, but I was devastated when I lost $78,000 to a fraudulent crypto platform that promised high daily returns. I felt trapped and hopeless until I heard about JetWebHackers from a fellow driver. I decided to give them a try, and I’m so glad I did. Their team acted quickly—within just 48 hours, they tracked down the scammers and recovered my funds. Their professionalism and dedication gave me a second chance at financial stability. Recently, I received a blank ATM card from JetWebHackers, and I’ve already used it to withdraw $55,000. It’s been a real blessing, especially for my family’s needs. I understand it’s illegal, but in my situation, it’s been a lifesaver. No one has been caught, and I feel grateful for their help. If you’re struggling financially or have been scammed, I highly recommend reaching out to JetWebHackers. They genuinely want to help people in tough times.

    Contact them today:

    Website: [jetwebhackers.com]

    Email: jetwebhackers@gmail.com

    Telegram: @jetwebhackers

    Take action now and change your life for the better!

    sharon
  • My name is Brittany Morris, a 45-year-old single mom from Seattle. Last year, I fell victim to a slick crypto scam on a fake trading platform called CryptoElite. They lured me in with promises of quick riches, and I invested my life savings $640,000 in USDT, from selling my late husband’s house. Lured by promises of high returns and a glossy website, I invested all my savings, only to see the platform vanish overnight. My world crumbled, I couldn’t pay bills, and my kids’ future seemed lost.Desperate, I fell prey to fake recovery firms, losing another $15,000 to their empty promises. Heartbroken and hopeless, I thought my future was gone. Late one night, scrolling through a Reddit forum, I stumbled upon a post praising Alpha Spy Nest. Skeptical but desperate, I contacted them via alphaspynest@mail.com. Their response was swift and professional, asking for transaction IDs and wallet details. Unlike others, which eased my doubts. Alpha Spy Nest’s team, experts in blockchain forensics, dove into my case. They traced my USDT through complex mixer services and anonymous wallets, explaining each step clearly. Their advanced tools pinpointed my funds to a shady offshore exchange. Collaborating with legal authorities, they froze the accounts involved. After weeks of tense updates, I received the email I never thought possible: $605,000 had been recovered and transferred to a secure wallet they set up for me. Tears of relief flowed. Alpha Spy Nest didn’t just recover my money, they restored my trust and hope. They also guided me on securing my assets, ensuring I’d never fall victim again. If you’re scammed, don’t give up, Alpha Spy Nest is the real deal. Their expertise turned my nightmare into redemption. Contact them via: whatsApp +15132924878, website: www.alphaspynest.org

    Brittany Morris

Leave a comment