carrie johnson

Carrie Johnson

“One of my earliest memories is dancing around the living room while my Dad played “Scotland The Brave” on his bagpipes, or my Mom strummed Joan Baez on guitar - my sisters and I singing along...this is the house I grew up in – lot's of music, all the time. There was so much diversity - Beatles, Beethoven, Bluegrass and Broadway so when people ask what my musical influences are it's really hard to pin that down!”

Carrie Johnson is a singer/songwriter whose own music crosses several genres - pop, rock and country but always with her signature style – strong vocals, memorable melodies, story telling lyrics and dynamic rhythm guitar playing. “I always put myself in a song and draw on real life experiences – usually they're my own...”

After attending Boston's Berklee College of Music, Carrie headed to New York where she became a professional background and jingle singer, honing her craft as a songwriter alongside her sister Libby. They formed the critically acclaimed band 22 Brides and released five albums on the Zero Hour/Universal Record labels. They were featured artists in Billboard Magazine, guests on the World Cafe, broke their hit song, “Another Distant Light” on 99X out of Atlanta, GA and toured the US and Canada extensively from concert halls to buzz fests. “Touring with my sister and our band are some of the best memories of my life. But we wanted to have babies so we put 22 Brides on hold.”

Carrie then moved from New York to Phoenix to Blacksburg, VA where she recorded her first solo album, Geographical Fix. Finally landing in Hartford, CT she co-produced her second cd, Move The Sun with Daniel Wise. “Life came at me so fast during that time. What parent is ever prepared for their child to be diagnosed with a life threatening illness? My daughter Julia (then seven years old) was one of the youngest in the country to have ovarian cancer. She fought the battle through chemo and surgery and today is happy and thriving in NYC!  “I wrote ”Little Bird” to capture the lonely 4:00am moment in the hospital, and founded The Little Bird House Concert Series as a way to give back all the kindness and support that was given to us while Julia was ill. Donations raised from those concerts went to various pediatric cancer research hospitals. Move The Sun was my “pay it forward” album – it's also a snapshot of my life that I documented with emotional songs. Strength To Move is filled with vibrant country/pop crossover tunes, the album sings of loss, redemption and renewal. 

Carrie currently lives on Block Island, RI with her husband, is the Music Director of Harbor Church and a private voice, guitar and songwriting instructor.

Carrie and her sister Libby have been performing together again as 22 Brides and are releasing their new single "Beautiful Ones" in April, 2022. They will tour during the summer and fall of '22. 

Career Highlights:

Carrie Johnson is a professional songwriter and performer, private vocal, guitar and songwriting instructor, and Music Director. 

• BMI songwriter with over 250 songs in her catalog, including over 75 co-writes with current performing artists

• Nine cd's/EP's of original music (including 22 Brides): “Selling Fruit in Cairo”; “22 Brides”; “Beaker”; “Blazes of Light”; Demolition Day”; “Geographical Fix”; “Move The Sun”; “Strength To Move”; "Looking Up" and various singles released

• Published composer for film: Orenda Films “No Way Home” and independent film “Exposure”, and animated film "Ferretina - The Promise"

• Professional studio vocalist and rhythm guitarist (artists include Paula Abdul, Deborah Gibson, and Belinda Carlisle)

• Business owner: Gratitude Music, LLC (Publishing Company) Music Time, LLC (A Children's Music Program) The Little Bird Foundation (a non-profit organization dedicated to pediatric cancer research)