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North Park Grad Gaining Notice as Singer-Songwriter
CHICAGO, IL (July 29, 2005) - North Park University graduate Rebecca Johnson
is beginning to be noticed around the city for her ability as a
singer-songwriter.
Johnson recently opened for recording artist Howie Day, a gold-record
recording artist, who appeared at a free "Party in the Park" event in
the heart of downtown Chicago at Millennium Park.
A university internship was indirectly responsible for Johnson's
opportunity to play at the party. The event was sponsored by local radio
station MIX 101.9 FM, where Johnson had interned. "I grew close with the
folks at the MIX and their staff really liked my music," she says.
Johnson graduated from North Park in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in
biblical and theological studies with a minor in music. She helped lead
worship at college chapel services for three years. "My involvement with
the worship bands helped me gain musicianship, skills in working with a
team, and the importance of using our gifts to glorify God," she says.
Johnson grew up in the Northbrook Evangelical Covenant Church in the
Chicago suburb of Northbrook. "It's a wonderful church with some of the
best people you could ever meet," she says.
Johnson has been busy playing in pubs, coffeehouses and bookstores
throughout the area. She recently was featured in performances at the
Abbey Pub just north of the university with an organization called Women
with Guitars, which is committed to promoting female singer-songwriters.
The singer-songwriter tradition is known for the honesty of its lyrics,
and Johnson has been praised for the openness of her music. While she
includes songs about her faith, she includes many others. "It's a big
rock and roll town, and it's important as a Christian to write about all
areas of your life." Her vulnerability has made her approachable by
audience members with whom she sometimes gets the opportunity to share
her faith.
She will be a featured artist as part of a singer-songwriter showcase at
7 p.m. August 21 at the Red Line in Chicago, and 7 p.m. August 28 at
Uncommon Ground coffeehouse. Music doesn't pay the bills yet, so she's
also looking for a job. "Anything that will support my habit and let's
me play at night," she says, laughing.
Johnson is scheduled to begin recording her first full-length album and
currently has a five-song CD available by contacting her at
becky@beckyjohnsonmusic.com.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
