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Among the throngs of artists in the music world, few have elevated “dreaming” to such a high art form as folk singer Michael Johnathon. He recently won the prestigious Milner Award of the Arts in 2020, presented by Governor Andy Beshear in Kentucky. “The Painter” is his 17th album release. He is a touring songwriter, author of six published books, the screenwriter for the upcoming Caney Creek motion picture, playwright of the Walden Play performed in 42 countries, composer of the opera, Woody: For the People, organizer of the national association of front porch musicians called SongFarmers, the full symphony performances of SONGS OF RURAL AMERICA and as the creator and host of the live audience broadcast of the WoodSongs Old Time Radio Hour with a radio audience of over two million listeners each week on 500 public radio stations, public television coast-to-coast, American Forces Radio Network in 177 nations and now on the RFD-TV Network nationwide.

WoodSongs produced its historic 1,000th live audience broadcast November, 2019

Michael grew up in upstate New York along the shores of the Hudson River. At 19 years old, he moved to the Mexican border town of Laredo, Texas and found a job working as the late night DJ on a small radio station. One night, he played ‘Turn, Turn, Turn’ by Roger McGuinn and The Byrds. As the song played, he recalled seeing the songs writer, his neighbor Pete Seeger, performing in his Dutchess County hometown. By the time the song had ended, he decided to pursue a career as a folksinger.

Two months later, he bought a guitar and a banjo and settled into the isolated mountain hamlet of Mousie, Kentucky. For the next three years, he traveled up and down the hollers of the Appalachian mountains knocking on doors and learning the music of the mountain people. Michael experienced hundreds of front porch hootenannies where folks would pull out their banjos and fiddles, sit on their front porches with him and play the old songs that their grandparents taught them. Soon enough, he began performing concerts at hundreds of colleges, schools and fairs. He performed two thousand Earth Concerts, plus benefits for the homeless, farm families, and shelters helping battered women and children. In all, he sang to over two million people in one four-year stretch.

Now settled in the foothills of Appalachia, the Kentucky-based songwriter is a tree-hugger at heart, Billboard Magazine headlined him as an “UnSung Hero” and he has been featured on CNN, TNN, CMT, RFD-TV, AP, Headline News, Newsmax, NPR, Bravo and the BBC.

Recently, Michael helped organize the national WoodSongs Front Porch Association to help organize rural and community music and a massive educational program. Members of the WFPA are called “SongFarmers,” which is also the title of his SongFarmers album, the very first national CD release to be completely recorded on an iPhone.

His 176-page book** WoodSongs III** released September 2017.

The 176 page book WoodSongs 4 was released March 2019.

The 176 page book WoodSongs 5 was released Jan 2022

The full album SONGS OF RURAL AMERICA with The Ohio Valley Symphony was released June of 2019, filmed for Public television and the RFD TV Network.

The LEGACY album

Michael Johnathon, has released his 16th studio album, Legacy. The album features 10 songs including the massive title track, Legacy,  a nine- minute epic about the history of songwriters from Bob Dylan to James Taylor, Harry Chapin to the Kingston Trio, hip-hop tp the collapse of the record industry as we knew it. “**Legacy **is a tribute and celebration of all artists,” says Johnathon. “We are in an odd time in America and a strange time in music. Everyone is struggling to find their audience, and it’s getting harder.”

The PAINTER Album

The Painter was released February 2021. Born during the pandemic when Michael turned to oil painting, studying the works of Monet, Gaughan and others. He settled on the stylistic inspiration of Vincent van Gogh and, while painting, wrote the songs for the new album. It is a full song cycle about art, music, love and family**. **The album is all originals and includes “Vincent  (Starry, Starry Night)” by Don McLean, “Cats in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin, the classic Blue Moon and “Make You Feel My Love” by Bob Dylan.

The CANEY CREEK Motion Picture

The pandemic was a productive time for Michael, aside from painting and writing for the new album. He also wrote a complete screenplay “Caney Creek:The Legend of Alice Lloyd” described as the “Dances with Wolves” of Appalachia, a powerful and true story that presents the mountain communities in dignity and praise. CaneyCreekMovie.com

The MILNER AWARD

The most important, prestigious Award given to any artist in the Commonwealth of Kentucky is called the Milner. Presented by Governor Beshear, Sec. Mike Berry of the Tourism, Arts & Heritage Cabinet and the Kentucky Council of the Arts selected Michael putting him in the company of Wendell Berry, James Still, Jean Ritchie and other legacy artists.Featured Artist Blurb

For Michael Johnathon, folk music has never been something that belongs only on a stage. It’s found on front porches, passed between generations, shared among neighbors, and kept alive whenever people gather to make music together. From learning traditional songs firsthand in the Appalachian mountains to creating the internationally heard WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour, Michael has spent a lifetime celebrating that tradition. His songs, stories, humor, and deep belief in community music-making make his visit to Two Way Street a natural meeting of kindred spirits.