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.

1353 comments

  • At first, everything seemed legitimate. The communication was smooth, professional, and convincing. I paid the required amount, and everything appeared to be progressing well.

    However, things soon took a turn. After the initial payment, I was constantly pressured to pay more, often under the guise of additional fees or “emergency” charges. Each time I complied, they asked for even more money. Suspicious, I began to investigate their background, but they provided excuses for every question I raised. Eventually, I realized something was wrong and requested a full refund.

    That’s when everything went downhill. They locked me out of my account, and no matter how many emails I sent or how many times I tried to reach out, I never got a response. It became clear that I had been scammed.

    I felt hopeless and almost gave up, but then, while browsing various forums and blogs, I came across recommendations for DIGITAL RESOLUTION SERVICES. This group specializes in recovery services, using a team of expert investigators and professionals. Desperate for a solution, I decided to reach out to them.

    From the very first interaction, their team was professional, attentive, and reassuring. They quickly assessed my case and got to work, using advanced techniques and their deep expertise to trace the transactions and recover my funds. Within a few days, they had successfully retrieved my money and even exposed some of the scammers behind the operation, providing me with valuable information that helped me avoid further risks.

    DIGITAL RESOLUTION SERVICES went above and beyond, not only helping me recover my funds but also ensuring that the culprits were held accountable. Their transparency and skill set them apart from other services, which often fail to deliver on their promises.

    If you find yourself in a similar situation, don’t waste your time trying to solve it on your own. There are plenty of so-called “solutions” out there, but DIGITAL RESOLUTION SERVICES stands out for their professionalism, effectiveness, and results. I highly recommend reaching out to them for expert assistance. They offer safety measures, recovery strategies, and guidance that are more reliable and trustworthy than other options on the market today. Save yourself the stress and take action now—reach out to DIGITAL RESOLUTION SERVICES and regain control of your finances.

    Contact Digital Resolution Services:
    WEBSITE: https://digitalresolutionservices.com
    EMAIL: digitalresolutionservices @ myself (.) com

    Sincerely,
    Marcus thorsen

    Marcus thorsen
  • The group you should contact is Cyberpunk Programmers if you’ve ever been unlucky enough to lose or have your bitcoin stolen. They specialize in assisting people and companies in recovering their misplaced or pilfered bitcoin, making them the go-to specialists in the industry. A terrible scenario would be to lose or have your bitcoin stolen. The repercussions could be disastrous regardless of the cause—a phishing attempt, a hacking incident, or a technological malfunction. Bitcoin recovery services can help with that. Companies like Cyberpunk Programmers can assist you in navigating the complicated world of cryptocurrencies and returning your bitcoin to its rightful owner with their knowledge and sophisticated equipment. Unfortunately, scams and phishing attempts are widespread in the cryptocurrency industry. Fake emails, texts, or web pages may be used in these to fool you into disclosing your login information or private keys. You risk losing your bitcoin if you fall for these scams, but you can fight back and get what is rightly yours with the assistance of professionals Cyberpunk Programmers. Hacking and data breaches are always a possibility when doing anything online. To obtain access to bitcoin, cybercriminals may target wallets, exchanges, or even specific individuals. In order to retrieve your stolen money, you must move quickly and seek professional aid when this occurs. Even the most secure cryptocurrency wallets can experience malfunctions or technical issues. This can result in the loss of access to your bitcoin, leaving you feeling helpless. Thankfully, experts like Cyberpunk Programmers have the knowledge and tools to help you troubleshoot wallet problems and recover your valuable cryptocurrency. One of the unique aspects of bitcoin is its irreversibility. Once a bitcoin transaction is confirmed, it cannot be reversed or canceled. This means that if your bitcoin is stolen or sent to the wrong address, it can be incredibly difficult to retrieve it without professional assistance. A group of professionals with years of experience in the bitcoin recovery industry makes up Cyberpunk Programmers. They are well-known in the industry since they have successfully assisted many people and companies in recovering their lost or stolen cryptocurrency. You can reach them via: Website
    Email cyberpunk@programmer.net 
    WhatsApp ++447848161773

    Christina Andrews
  • IS IT POSSIBLE TO ACTUALLY GET BACK FUNDS LOST TO CRYPTOCURRENCY SCAM? ABSOLUTELY YES! BUT, YOU MUST CONTACT THE RIGHT AGENCY TO ACHIEVE THIS.

    Recovery Precinct is a financial regulator, private investigation and funds recovery body. We specialize in cases concerning cryptocurrency, FAKE investment schemes and recovery scam. To recover your lost money, Submit Your Case To The Captain Jack Crypto Recovery Team.

    Mai. captainjackcryptorecovery@outlook.com

    WhatsApp at +4915782317112

    Website…https://captainjackcryptor.wixsite.com/captain-jack-crypto

    Telegram @captainjackcrypto1

    Jonathan Dani
  • The team finally gave me the news I had been expecting for after three restless nights of concern and anxiety. As soon as I received the email, I checked my wallet balance and saw that $423,123 USDT was there. That day was the most alive I’ve ever felt, as if RECOVERY NERD had given me a second lifeline. When I reflect on everything, I see that if I had followed my instincts, I could have avoided all of this. I wish I had heeded the advice to trust my instincts. I became interested in this binary options strategy last year since it offered low risk and consistent yet steady earnings. Something didn’t feel quite right; It felt a little strange, and I secretly questioned the opportunity, but since I mentioned “opportunity,” I chose to give it a try in the hopes that I would be persuaded. At the time, I had just received a small inheritance, which I felt should be put to good use. We began very modestly, which convinced me. Despite the modest profits, the business was stable as promised. I increased my investment to boost my returns because I thought I was in good hands. Everything changed when I decided it was time to withdraw money I had saved for a dream project because my balance had climbed dramatically four and a half months later. To my biggest surprise, it turned into one excuse after another, and when they had me paying endless fees at the withdrawal stage, I finally understood it was all a well-planned fraud. However, the harm was already done; I had fallen victim to an online fraud, and there didn’t seem to be much I could do about it. I felt powerless until a very close friend recommended that I seek assistance from RECOVERY NERD. I am grateful to him for this recommendation, as it was the catalyst for everything to happen. I also want to express my sincere gratitude to the team; you guys are really appreciated. Don’t give up on getting justice if you’re in that dark place; Contact information is provided at recoverynerd@mail.com.

    Clara Wolf
  • The team finally gave me the news I had been expecting for after three restless nights of concern and anxiety. As soon as I received the email, I checked my wallet balance and saw that $423,123 USDT was there. That day was the most alive I’ve ever felt, as if RECOVERY NERD had given me a second lifeline. When I reflect on everything, I see that if I had followed my instincts, I could have avoided all of this. I wish I had heeded the advice to trust my instincts. I became interested in this binary options strategy last year since it offered low risk and consistent yet steady earnings. Something didn’t feel quite right; It felt a little strange, and I secretly questioned the opportunity, but since I mentioned “opportunity,” I chose to give it a try in the hopes that I would be persuaded. At the time, I had just received a small inheritance, which I felt should be put to good use. We began very modestly, which convinced me. Despite the modest profits, the business was stable as promised. I increased my investment to boost my returns because I thought I was in good hands. Everything changed when I decided it was time to withdraw money I had saved for a dream project because my balance had climbed dramatically four and a half months later. To my biggest surprise, it turned into one excuse after another, and when they had me paying endless fees at the withdrawal stage, I finally understood it was all a well-planned fraud. However, the harm was already done; I had fallen victim to an online fraud, and there didn’t seem to be much I could do about it. I felt powerless until a very close friend recommended that I seek assistance from RECOVERY NERD. I am grateful to him for this recommendation, as it was the catalyst for everything to happen. I also want to express my sincere gratitude to the team; you guys are really appreciated. Don’t give up on getting justice if you’re in that dark place; Contact information is provided at recoverynerd@mail.com.

    Clara Wolf

Leave a comment