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Caleb Johnson

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This article is about the rock singer. For other people by this name, see Caleb Johnson (disambiguation).

Caleb Johnson
Background information
Birth nameCaleb Perry Johnson
Born (1991-04-23) April 23, 1991 (age 33)
Asheville, North Carolina, United States
GenresRock, hard rock, heavy metal
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active2010–present
LabelsBig Johnson Records, Interscope, 19
Formerly of
Websitecalebjohnsonofficial.com

Caleb Perry Johnson (born April 23, 1991) is an American singer who won the thirteenth season of American Idol. Prior to appearing on the series, he was the front man for the band Elijah Hooker. After American Idol, Johnson released his debut solo album, Testify, through Interscope Records. After leaving his label, he formed another group, Caleb Johnson and the Ramblin' Saints, and in 2019, the group self-released its first album, Born from Southern Ground.

Early life

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Caleb Johnson was born on April 23, 1991, to David and Tamra Johnson in Asheville, North Carolina.[1][2] 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.[3][4][5][6] He attended Clyde A. Erwin High School in Asheville and graduated in 2009.[7] 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.[8]

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.[9] He took part in a talent show while in high school with a band called Gorgon.[10] He considers Chris Cornell to be his biggest musical influence, and that Rush is his favorite band.[11][12][13][14]

Music career

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2010: Elijah Hooker

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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.[8] A year later, he joined his friend Josh Sawyer in rock band called Elijah Hooker and became its lead vocalist.[1] 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.[15][16]

Elijah Hooker released its self-titled debut album Elijah Hooker in June 2013. The 10-track album featured "Happiest Man" as its lead track.[16]

2011–14: American Idol

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Johnson performing with Jena Irene Asciutto 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.[17]

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.

Season 13 of American Idol

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Episode Theme Song choice Original artist Order Result
Audition Auditioner's Choice "Into the Void" (original composition) Caleb Johnson N/A Advanced
Hollywood Round A Capella "Sympathy for the Devil" The Rolling Stones N/A
Group Performance "Too Close"

with Tyler Ahlgren, Matthew Hamel, and C.J. Harris

Alex Clare N/A
Solo "Radioactive" Imagine Dragons N/A
Top 31 (10 Men) Personal Choice "Stay with Me" Faces 1
Top 13 This Is Me "Pressure and Time" Rival Sons 13 Safe
Top 12 Home "Working Man" Rush 6
Top 11 Songs from the Cinema "Skyfall" Adele 7
Top 10 Billboard Top 10 "The Edge of Glory" Lady Gaga 6
Top 9 I'm with the Band! "Dazed and Confused" Jake Holmes 6
Top 8 Back to the Start Duet "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around"
with Jessica Meuse 		Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty 5
Solo "Chain of Fools" Aretha Franklin 11
Top 8 Songs from the 1980s Solo "Faithfully" Journey 12
Duet "It's Only Love"
with Jena Irene 		Bryan Adams & Tina Turner 5
Top 7 Competitors' Choice Duet "Gimme Shelter"
with Jena Irene 		The Rolling Stones 6
Solo "Family Tree" Kings of Leon 1
Top 6 Rock 'n' Roll "Sting Me" The Black Crowes 5
Country "Undo It" Carrie Underwood 8
Top 5 America's Requests Solo "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" Aerosmith 2
Duet "Beast of Burden"
with Jessica Meuse 		The Rolling Stones 7
Solo "Still of the Night" Whitesnake 12
Top 4 Love Songs "You Give Love a Bad Name" Bon Jovi 1
"Travelin' Band" Creedence Clearwater Revival 5
"Maybe I'm Amazed" Paul McCartney 9
Top 3 Randy Jackson's Choice "Never Tear Us Apart" INXS 1
Judges' Choice "Demons" Imagine Dragons 4
Hometown's Choice "Dazed and Confused" Jake Holmes 7
Finale Simon Fuller's Choice "Dream On" Aerosmith 2 Winner
Reprisal Song "Maybe I'm Amazed" Paul McCartney 4
Winner's Single "As Long as You Love Me" Caleb Johnson 6

2014–present

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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.[18]

After parting ways with his record label in late 2015, Johnson began working on his second album independently.[19] The album was set to be released in 2016 but failed to. The lead single, "Holding On," was released on February 9, 2016.[20] A second single, "Hanging with the Band," was released on April 7, 2016.[21]

Johnson (pictured left) performing with Trans-Siberian Orchestra in 2021 in Worcester, Massachusetts.

In 2018, Johnson joined Trans-Siberian Orchestra for their winter tour singing on "Three Kings & I."[22]

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 Seeger 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.[23]

Johnson's next album, Mountain Mojo Vol. 1, was released on June 18, 2021.[24] 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.[25]

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.[26] Johnson toured the United Kingdom along with Neverland Express in May 2023.[27]

Discography

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Studio albums

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with Elijah Hooker
  • Elijah Hooker (2013)
Solo
Title Details Peak chart positions Sales
US US
Rock
Testify[28][29]
  • Released: August 12, 2014
  • Label: Interscope, 19
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 24 9
with Caleb Johnson & The Ramblin' Saints
  • Born from Southern Ground (2019)[32]

Singles

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Year Song Peak positions Sales Album
US US
Rock
2014 "As Long As You Love Me" — 41 Testify
"Only One" — —
2015 "Fighting Gravity"[34] — —
2016 "Holding On" — — Born from Southern Ground
"Hanging with the Band" — —
2021 "Dead Man Walking Blues"[citation needed]
(featuring Jason Bonham and Damon Johnson) 		— — Mountain Mojo Vol. 1
"Drift Away (Acoustic)"[citation needed] — — —
"Hurricane"[citation needed]
(featuring Jason Bonham and Damon Johnson) 		— —
"Glory Bound"
(featuring Audley Freed and Damon Johnson) 		— —
Release from "American Idol"

Music videos

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Year Song
2015 "Fighting Gravity"

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Bronson, Fred (March 20, 2014). "'American Idol' Season 13: Caleb Johnson Outlines His Rock 'n' Roll Childhood Education". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  2. ^ Bernie Delinski (February 25, 2014). "Sound of Shoals soul in 'Idol' finalist's voice". Times Daily.
  3. ^ "American Idol finalists mom 'stuck in reality'". Wach Fox. March 28, 2014. Archived from the original on July 21, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  4. ^ "Bring American Idol to Asheville – Vote 4 Caleb!". Buncombe County.
  5. ^ Bernie Delinski (May 22, 2014). "Son's 'American Idol' victory thrills Shoals native". Times Daily.
  6. ^ Andrew Reeser (April 24, 2014). "Fans of Asheville 'Idol' contestant gather to watch Johnson". Fox Carolina. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  7. ^ James McCray (May 22, 2014). "Asheville's own Caleb Johnson wins "American Idol"". WYFF 4.com.
  8. ^ a b Susan Reinhardt (May 30, 2014). "A long way from home". Smoky Mountain Living. Archived from the original on August 16, 2014. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  9. ^ Alissa Schulman (May 14, 2014). "American Idol Top 3 Finalists: 24 Things You Don't Know About Us". Usmagazine.com.
  10. ^ "Before American Idol…". Mix 96.5. Archived from the original on July 21, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2015. (audio)
  11. ^ Lauren Weigle (March 5, 2014). "Caleb Johnson from 'American Idol': 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy.com.
  12. ^ "Caleb Johnson (American Idol)". PopTower. Archived from the original on July 20, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  13. ^ "American Idol: Season 13 Contestants". GoldDerby.
  14. ^ "Rush is a Band Blog: Rush fan Caleb Johnson wins American Idol season 13". Rushisaband.com. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  15. ^ "Elijah Hooker". Reverb Nation. Archived from the original on May 22, 2014. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  16. ^ a b Marshall, Alli (May 9, 2014). "Caleb Johnson: from Elijah Hooker to "American Idol"". Mountain Xpress. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  17. ^ Callan Gray (March 26, 2014). "Family of local American Idol contestant say third time's the charm". WCYB.com. Archived from the original on June 5, 2014. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  18. ^ Mansfield, Brian. "Caleb Johnson testifies about his debut album". USA Today. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
  19. ^ "'American Idol' Winner Caleb Johnson Parts Ways With Interscope, Takes Label to Task". Billboard.com. May 4, 2015. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  20. ^ "Caleb Perry Johnson (@CalebJohnson) | Twitter". Ttwitter.com. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  21. ^ "Hanging with the Band – Single by Caleb Johnson". Music.apple.com.[permanent dead link]
  22. ^ Berk, Nancy (November 13, 2018). "Caleb Johnson Celebrates the Season With the Trans-Siberian Orchestra". Parade.com. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  23. ^ "Caleb Johnson Breaks Heavier Ground with the Ramblin Saints New LP 'Born from Southern Ground' (INTERVIEW)". June 12, 2019.
  24. ^ Turner, Yasmin. "Q&A with Caleb Johnson ahead of Meat Loaf BAT UK tour 2023". entertainment-now.com. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  25. ^ "Caleb Johnson". calebjohnsonofficial.com. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  26. ^ "Paradise Found: Bat Out Of Hell Reignited Set For Release In January 2023". dekoentertainment.com. Deko Entertainment LLC. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  27. ^ Fox, Henry. "Celebrating Meat Loaf Tour Featuring The Neverland Express plus American Idol winner, Caleb Johnson". musiccrowns.org. Music Crowns. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  28. ^ "iTunes – Music – Caleb Johnson by Caleb Johnson". iTunes. Apple Inc. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  29. ^ "Testify – Caleb Johnson | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  30. ^ Ryan Book (May 4, 2015). "'American Idol' Alum Caleb Johnson Leaving Interscope Records". Music Times.
  31. ^ Ayers, Mike (January 6, 2016). "'American Idol' Stars, Ranked by Album Sales". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  32. ^ "Caleb Johnson". Calebjohnsonofficial.com. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  33. ^ Emily White (May 29, 2014). "Coldplay Collects Third No. 1 On Top Rock Albums". Billboard.
  34. ^ "Caleb Johnson returns to Asheville to pick up new Mustang - FOX Carolina 21". Archived from the original on February 3, 2015. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
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