Chief Johnny Lonesome

www.myspace.com/chiefjohnnylonesomeband

 

 

 

When John Householder sits at the piano, all 88 keys come alive. John has been playing piano for over three decades and his musical roots vary widely. His biggest influences, however, are from the New Orleans area via James Booker, Dr. John, Fats Domino, and Professor Longhair. John attended college from "73 to "76 in Lafayette, Louisiana.

 

He was a classical piano performance major at The University of Southwestern Louisiana where he had received a scholarship to play trombone with "Ragin' Cajun Marching Band". After a couple years, school faded away as the success of a local jazz-rock band Celestial Spring enjoyed regional success. In 1976, John moved to New Orleans and for the next 3 years he worked and performed with theater groups and other musicians. John's claim to fame was a six month stretch working with Charles Neville and his daughter Charmaine. John returned to Lancaster, Ohio in 1979 and continued to work as a musician in bands from every genre from Country to Blues.

 

John Householder is a master of the New Orleans R&B style and his been instrumental, along with friend Mike Shay, in the organization of Columbus' largest and most authentic annual Mardi Gras Festival. Over the years, John has been a side-man with the country swing band Roundhead Ranglers, Eric Gnezda, ZZ Hill, Pleasant Mountain Boys, Rhythm City Rockers, Larry B and the Real Deal, Donna Mogavero and The Nerak Roth Patterson Band. Currently, John Householder is playing piano for Columbus' own Ray Fuller and The Blues Rockers, The Pheonix Children's Theater, Chief Johnny Lonesome and the Mound Street Stompers, and as a solo piano performer. In the past year, John has performed in Europe and throughout Ohio, including opening for BB King in Toledo. There is something to enjoy for every listener when they have the opportunity to hear the talented Chief Johnny at the Piano.

Performing with Chief Johnny at this year's Riverfest are Columbus powerhouses, Jimmy Castoe on Drums (The Jimmy Castoe Group, Men of Leisure, Megan Palmer and the Hopefuls); Tom Martin on bass (Ricky Gene Hall and the Goods[currently on the national blues charts with their latest release, with a new release out in late May called Ricky Gene Hall and the Goods-Bam! on Yard Dawg records], Ju Ju Bees); Brett Burleson on guitar (The Bygones, Postal, Paul Brown's Science Gravy Orchestra, The Jimmy Castoe Group)