July 12, 2023 • 23 mins
Canada has graced country music with another rising star. Crook & Chase have witnessed Robby's 10-year journey since moving to Nashville from Quebec. Get ready for the VERY personal true story behind the new song June In July, and hear how Robby's not-so-perfect childhood made him perfectly suited to write and sing meaningful music.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Will Hello, Welcome into Crook and Chase Nashville Chats. I'm
Lori Anne Crook here with Charlie Chase. Gotta tell you
our friends to the North have graced country music with
some mighty fine artists over the years. Shania Twain, of
course first comes to mind, Terry Clark, Lindsey l in
years past, Hank Snow and Anne Murray.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
I love Dan Murray. Oh yeah, Oh my gosh. She
was a guest on our show one time, and you
know an of times. Yeah, she at one time she
was a fizz ed instructor. That's right, that's right, but
she got her music was just wonderful. But anyway, I'm
taking you dis I am. But we're talking about Robbi
Johnson today.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Now.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Robbie is a guy who's Quebec, Canada. I'm saying that correctly,
rightbec Yes, he moved to Nashville back in twenty twelve. Now,
the reason I bring up that date is because Nashville
is often known as a ten year town. In other words,
that means if you come to Nashville, you're not gonna
be a star overnight. Okay, let's face it. Most of
the artists that we've talked with I'm serious about this,
(01:00):
practically a large percentage of it. Say, it takes ten
years to make it in this town. Why, I don't know.
I guess it's because of the networking. You have to
be known, you connect yourself with certain people who have
established careers in this town. Whatever the formula is, it's
always surrounded by ten years. Well, Robbie is now part
of that formula, I suppose, because it's been Yeah, it's
(01:23):
been about ten years or so since he came to town,
and things are starting to happen because it boils down
to one song, and it's a song that I'm gonna
give him some trash about. Okay, he wrote it. He
wrote it in the middle of the night about first love.
And I think a lot of them we'll all connect
with that song. That's right.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
It's called June in July about first love. Now, we
have known Robbie Johnson for I guess all the time
or most of the time he's been in Nashville.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Yeah, because you know, when he first got here, he
was working with James Stroud, well known producer here in town.
And I've known James for a long time. And James
calls said Hey, look, I'm working this guy in Canada.
He's really good. You might want to check it out.
So we light up an interview just to meet him
and say hello and listen to his music.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Right, and I had already met him earlier at a
big event downtown, a country music events. But anyway, we've
stayed in touch via email over the years. We've had
Robbie on the show. As Charlie just mentioned, we love
the new song that I guess you would call it
a big breakout song for him June and July. Great
to have Robbie in the studio again to talk about
(02:27):
that and also about the twists and turns of his
life story.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Welcome back. Yes, you know, and I don't know if
you recall this or not, because you were it's kind
of a hectic time in your move to Nashville or whatever. Yes,
we visited with you in twenty fourteen, yep, at our
studio down the street exactly. And are you recalled good?
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Of course it was. I would say it was one
of my best interviews ever. I loved it. You're just
saying no, no, no, no, no, I swear I really really
loved it.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Well, you're kind, Thank you appreciate that. And I know
you were working with James Stroud at that point as
your initial producer. I guess on some of your projects.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
I was working with James Strout. It's so funny. I
have this anecdote, you know, where I was. We were
talking about pre production and I was like, I like
the sound of the drums on old time rock and roll.
And then he kind of starts, you know, laughing a
little bit, and then and I'm like, oh, what's happening.
He's like, well, he's the one that played the drums
(03:26):
on old Time rock and Roller.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Like, oh my god, I was good. You know, it's
so crazy. Another song he played drums on for King
Floyd called Groove Me, which was a big pop in
around nineteen seven.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Yeah, but yeah, he's got quite a history. So you
connected early with the best in the business down here.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
I was really fortunate, you know. I started all this,
you know, on Facebook, you know, and topping the friends,
and then Tom Roach reached out to me and he
introduced me to Jimmy Nichols, and then I was with
Frank Myers and all these great people that gathered and
help me. You know, how long have you been at
this Robbie ten years because for me, you know, I
(04:08):
wasn't in my hometown playing in the bars and doing
all that. I was a sales rep on the road
and I started my career here in Nashville ten years ago.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Yeah, that's a dream making it okay, Nashville music City.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Here's something very important because on your Facebook page about
a year ago, you posted something that is it is
so no, it is so true, but you are approaching
it with humor. You said the music industry is a
big monster in all caps, which is true.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
That will chew you up, break you in pieces, take
the best of you, and then spit you right back
out like a useless cherry pit. However, it will give
you unbelievable experiences that will stay with you forever. I'm
hoping the monster will keep on chewing on me for
a while.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Yeah, it's it is the hardest business in the world,
and I think the only way to approach it is
with positivity and humor.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
As you are exactly. I mean, you have to keep
going at it, you know, because every day there's a
reason for you to quit. Every day you get something,
you get hit with something like oh I should just quit,
you know, but you got to keep on doing it.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
And spread out on a regular basis.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
Oh yeah, oh yeah. But then you know, you get
to sing with Keith Urban yeah, which is pretty amazing,
and then hook up with back then one of his
key players and key players and guitar Danny Raider, with
whom I'm working right now, guys, and he's insane.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Let me, I'm going to make this sound as weird
as I can.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Okay, but let's.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Go back to the beginning, when actually you were discovered
during a Christmas gift. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
So I was a sales rep on the road listening
to radio, never even thinking. I think it's because I
knew it deep inside and I was afraid of it,
and it just took this Christmas gift worse Christmas gift ever.
I keep saying it. There's a video of me, you know,
getting that gift and like huh, yeah, that is so cool,
(06:21):
you know, and pretending I'm so happy to be doing
a demo session of one of my songs. But that's
how it all started, you know. I went into the
studio and the players I started singing it, like, oh
my god, who are you? What are you doing? Here.
You should be in Nashville. It sounds like what's coming
out of Nashville, So you should be moving to Nashville.
(06:42):
And that's how it all started with that song, like
I needed that push.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
Yeah, a divine hand sometimes a lot of people describe
it that way. And that has led you now to
June and July. Yes, this awesome single. You have been
so kind to keep in touch with me over the years,
and I'm getting all of your music and you're putting
it out there. I'm like you, I'm saying, this is great.
What is what is going on here? And this is
(07:08):
the song that seems to be getting the attention that
you have so long deserved.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Yes, And of course it's about summertime love and you
have something summertime flea. Yeah, first time okay, it first
time Okay. Now let's go back to let's get personal. Okay, Yes,
back to your first time as a teenager.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Well, it's it's so funny, you know. June and July.
I start writing this song is about maybe three in
the morning, and I'm writing this and recording and I
have the chorus down and then I meet up that
day with Danny and we finished the song together. So
I have this great song June and July, and it's
not until I'm shooting the music video and I'm watching
(07:49):
the actors Josh Angelica, you know, and I'm like, oh
my god, this is kind of like my story my
first time.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
So you have to see it, just believe it. I
have to see it, you know.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
It's just that when I write, I just let it
out and I don't really argue with what's coming. I
just I just write it down. And and it was
I mean, I'm like, my first time was with an
out of towner. It was in July, and so that's
that's the song. I'm like, okay, that's my story.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Wait wait, wait, wait, okay. You mentioned the video, which
is very well done.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
It's a great video. But in the end, yeah, she
leaves him laying in a tent out in a corn field.
Is that a kiss off or what?
Speaker 1 (08:33):
And she took his shirt obviously.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Yeah, well she's a thief.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Yeah yeah, she left her tent and she just spanished.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
All right, So at what point in the video did
it come to you with that? Hey, that's my story.
Was it the tent or what?
Speaker 3 (08:51):
No, actually, it's the perfume when she sprays perfume inside
the hat, I'm like, oh my god, I know.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
I thought it was live salt. Mosquito said, Okay, she's
got something weird.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
Not romantic.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
No, it's not.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
But I mean she's leaving the guys what they held.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
She care you know, yeah, but I mean, you know
it's those summer flings, you know where they still.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Haven't answer, did yet at what point in the video?
Speaker 3 (09:24):
And you said, okay, this, No, it really was, you know,
the perfume thing, because that's something that happened to me.
Where the girl I want her name is not June.
Don't don't try and find her, guys, I won't tell
you where she's from.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
I'm googling now.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
But she did that, you know, with the perfume thing,
And I was like, oh, yeah, okay, yeah, that's okay.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
I've got a really big question. So it's he says,
three in the morning. What in the world, why were
you up at three in the morning, and just and
why did this idea for the song June in July
pop into your head at that hour?
Speaker 3 (10:00):
I was because I was going to be in the
studio that day with Danny to track a song and
the one I had. I wasn't too sure about it,
so I was like, maybe I should come up with
something better. And it was three in the morning. I
was tired, and I was just like I said, I
just let it out and I don't argue it. So
(10:23):
and that's how it came about. And then with Danny,
what is even strangers that? With Danny? You know, I
just had the chorus. So the song could have went
many directions, but it stayed into the direction of my
personal story. It's kind of funny, well as songwriting should be. Right, Yeah,
exactly exactly.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Are you satisfied, Charlie with all of these personal details?
Speaker 3 (10:46):
Yeah, he's thinking up more details and details.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Is that the last time you saw the first love? Sure?
Speaker 3 (10:58):
Do you need an attorney?
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Limitations? That's okay.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
I will not answer this.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
There's nothing. They're so prosecutal, you can't prosecute anyway.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
I cannot believe the track.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
You got on Wistard Chase is fun.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
Well, it is fun. It is fun hanging with Robbie Johnson.
But there is a serious sign to this man, and
it's interesting because it's not so perfect. Childhood actually made
him perfectly suited to write meaningful music. That story is
coming up.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
What's been the most memorable or surprising fan experience at
a meet and greet or.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
Wherever, someone you know saying, hey, you really saved my life.
I was, I mean I was, My life was going nowhere.
I was discouraged and I was thinking about ending my
life and then I saw you on TV in an
interview and your story just inspired me. And you know,
(12:01):
everything is possible if you just decide to do it
and go for it.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
Yeah, how has music changed your life?
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Uh? Or has it always been a part It has
always been a part of my life. Like I said,
you know, it was always there, but I never realized
the importance that music. You know, the place it was
taken in my life. But it was always there. You know,
the movies, the music, it helped it. It kind of
(12:31):
it raised me because you know, growing up we were,
you know, in poverty. I didn't have much. I had
my imagination and the music, the movies, TV to escape reality.
So yeah, that's it always It's always been there. Well.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
And you know what's interesting, you know, coming from because
all of us, I think, I don't think many people
are highly privileged. We all come from difficult things. In
our background. Everything I see of you, your live performances,
your postings on social media, your music videos, you look
(13:08):
so joyful and so comfortable being an artist in music.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Well you really do. I don't think I'm going to
be so comfortable before seeing me. Oh yeah, oh yeah,
oh yeah. Always always, it's so much stress. And the
last show idea is like, why am I doing this
to myself?
Speaker 2 (13:32):
Why?
Speaker 3 (13:33):
You know, it's painful, But then when you're on stage
and you're connecting with people and you're creating this moment.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
They're like, ah, that's why I'm doing this.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
It's like it's kind of like a drug.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
We need to tell him? Was it the Great God
rest her soul? Mini Pearl from the Grand Old Library?
Wasn't she the one? And I think people have copied
this over the years. She said, No matter how many
years you have been a stage entertainer, if you do
not get nervous every single time, then you don't care enough. Yeah,
(14:03):
so it shows how much you care.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
Yeah, I care.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
So you have to pee before you go to st yes, okay, yeah,
not just pee?
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Okay, Okay, now we're getting into details.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
I had another question that's completely gone now.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
Robbie, this is the first he's afraid of the answer.
That's why he's like, has never lost it before.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
Congratulations.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Well, aside from this morning, what has been the most
unpredictable or surprising thing that's happened to you since you
moved to Nashville. Then I'll follow up with the other
question I was thinking.
Speaker 3 (14:44):
Okay, most surprising thing was, I would say, is going
back to when I started. You know, I was a
sales rep. You know, the sky was a limit. This
sky is always a limit when you're in a sales rep,
you know, and sal and everybody tell me, Robbie, there's
a process, you know. And you're not going to be
(15:05):
on radio next year. You know it's gonna be years
down the road. You're never going to be on TV
and all that. And then my first ever press release
the Late Show, David Letterman wants me on the Late Show.
That was really incredible and I still don't believe it,
but that was it was really incredible. However, I must
say I wasn't quite ready for that, but you did.
(15:28):
I don't think I did. Know.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
Is it online? Can we go look at it and see?
Because I bet you're better than you thought.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Oh no, well, I mean it's just that when it started,
I was, you know, it was kind of like an
out of body experience where I was about, you know,
fifty feet in the air and I had to hold
on to the mic stand to come back down, and
I don't know what was happening what I was singing.
(15:54):
And it's fun because if you do find the video,
you can see because I'm playing with the CBS Orchestra
and Paul Schaeffer he's playing and then I started singing
and he's like, whoa, Well he turns around, he's looking
at me, like what what's happening here? You know, because
I was off key and all that, But then the
song continued and I got in it and it was.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
It was great. It was really yeah experience.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Yeah, so I wasn't well, of course, you know, I
go from being in a car driving to being on
the Late Show with David Lenniman.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
Now my follow a question. Yes being from Quebec, Canada, Yes,
French Canadian? Where's your accent?
Speaker 3 (16:33):
Well, I learned English fairly at a young age. You know.
All what happened is my my grandparents lived in Quebec,
and I think it was in mid sixties seventies, Uh,
there were no more jobs. You know, it was hard,
and they all moved to Hartford, Connecticut. My mom had
(16:55):
already started her family, so she stayed in Quebec, but
all my aunts and uncles are in Hartford, Connecticut. And
so every summer I would spend every summer on Putnam
Putnam Street in Hartford, Connecticut. And also Christmas time, you know,
New Year's would be in Hertford, Connecticut. So there I discovered,
you know, the English language and also American culture. I
(17:17):
fell in love with it, and going back home to Quebec,
we continued, me and my brothers, we continued watching only
American television to learn the language, learn language that we
would watch movies and you know, and the music it's
you know, it's all English.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
It's a what show screwed you up the most? Well?
Speaker 3 (17:35):
You know back then, I would say, because I was
watching you know, the sitcoms, and back then, you know,
they had good values in those shows. You know, don't steal,
don't lie and all that. So it wasn't the honeyboo
boo or that kind of entertainment back then. So so
(17:57):
I mean it was good values and that's where you know,
I got a lot of my male role models because
you know, my parents divorced. I was really young. I
felt my father abandoned us. Not financially, he was sent well,
he was obligated to send money because we had to
go to court and he was sending money. But no love,
no calling hey, happy birthday? No nothing not. Do you
(18:19):
have shoes to start school? Do you have you know
everything you need?
Speaker 2 (18:21):
You know?
Speaker 3 (18:22):
Never?
Speaker 1 (18:23):
Yeah, it's a lot to get over minute when you're young,
it sure is.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
Yeah, it's something a kid can't understand. Yeah. So and
it stays with you. I mean it's it's it's very
deep down inside. But when I tap into this, I just.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Okay. When we come back, Robbie Johnson will tap into
his inner cowboy and will set the mood for Robbie's
heartfelt message to his fans. Do you take accompany with
you wherever you go? Like to Walmart and places like?
Speaker 1 (18:56):
No, No, Jesse's getting bored here.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Jesse takes me everywhere.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
No.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
Well, I like, if you could, could you could you
just do some just do a little background just just
a little background music. I would like, well, I would
like no, just just a little accompaniment in the background
as you talk one on one with your fans about
(19:22):
playing your first fanfare, fan fest, whatever you want to
call it, and you know just where you'd like to
go from here, and just anything you'd like to say
to your fans. This is your little person.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
You want to be serious. Robbie needs to talk heart
to heart to his fans right now.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
Necessarily just whatever, download the single, all.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Right, now, we've got business out of the way. Now
to the heart.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
I just want to say, you know, huge thank you
to the fans, and they're the reason we're doing this.
You know, I want my music, you know, I don't
want of course, it'd be great to hold a Cement
award and do all that, and but I don't do
it for the fame or the money. It's really I want.
(20:12):
And there's a great line in the recent Elvis movie
where the colonel says, you know, we just want to
be eternal. And that's really the motivation where I want
my music to be a part, you know, the soundtrack
of people's lives, and I just want to be remembered.
That's that's all. And the fans you know out there,
you guys, when you share the music when you make
(20:35):
it yours, you put it on your playlist, and you're
living your life, you know, with my music in the background.
I mean, it's it's the best. That's that's that's the
only thing I want perfect. Okay, now guitar solo.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
Are we gonna let Robbie sing for us?
Speaker 3 (21:00):
Robbie, I have well, I have a good I have
a song I wanted to sing. I wrote this song
about cowboys, but I didn't want it to be the stereotype,
you know, where it's a bad guy, a lover and
a runner and you know, heartbreak and all that. I
wanted to sing about the good, hardworking cowboys out there
(21:21):
that you know, raised family or singing, you know in
the church few every Sunday morning, you know, hardworking cowboys.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
Is that?
Speaker 1 (21:31):
Is this the if I were a cowboys song?
Speaker 3 (21:33):
Yes, okay, I'm ready, all right, let's do that.
Speaker 4 (21:46):
I wasn't born in the harm Texas room and wild
and free.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
I wasn't raised with Jesus.
Speaker 4 (21:58):
But now see, I can't humble wanter what my life
would be, What my life would be if I ever
was Cawnble far from the city, I'd be reading on
a horse and a shitty. I'd be working for a
(22:19):
good life. I'd be married to a good wife, and
my kids would looking up to me. I'd be stronger,
ten feet taller. No guy was looking down on me.
Fie Ever was colnble Man, I'd be living my dream.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Fie Ever was Counble Let's work. You know, our conversations
just go in all directions. That's what I love about
doing the podcast. Here we're on Music Row, and I'm
when you're doing a show, I don't care if it's
(23:03):
studio work, if you're doing a show like we do
here on Music Row. When you're on the row, there's
a certain vibe and you feel It's hard to explain,
but you feel it and you sense it and you
just have a lot of fun. That's what this town's
all about.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Well, and that vibe is all about the artists and
the songwriters like Robbie Johnson. So great to see him
having a big song June in July, as he said,
download everybody get June in July. Robbie Johnson on Crook
and Chase Nashville Chats, and of course we always have
your country covered. You can listen to the Crook and
(23:35):
Chase countdown every weekend on hundreds of radio stations all
across America and also streaming on iHeartRadio
Speaker 2 (23:41):
And of course so forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter,
and Instagram at Crook and Chase
Will Hello, Welcome into Crook and Chase Nashville Chats. I'm
Lori Anne Crook here with Charlie Chase. Gotta tell you
our friends to the North have graced country music with
some mighty fine artists over the years. Shania Twain, of
course first comes to mind, Terry Clark, Lindsey l in
years past, Hank Snow and Anne Murray.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
I love Dan Murray. Oh yeah, Oh my gosh. She
was a guest on our show one time, and you
know an of times. Yeah, she at one time she
was a fizz ed instructor. That's right, that's right, but
she got her music was just wonderful. But anyway, I'm
taking you dis I am. But we're talking about Robbi
Johnson today.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Now.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Robbie is a guy who's Quebec, Canada. I'm saying that correctly,
rightbec Yes, he moved to Nashville back in twenty twelve. Now,
the reason I bring up that date is because Nashville
is often known as a ten year town. In other words,
that means if you come to Nashville, you're not gonna
be a star overnight. Okay, let's face it. Most of
the artists that we've talked with I'm serious about this,
(01:00):
practically a large percentage of it. Say, it takes ten
years to make it in this town. Why, I don't know.
I guess it's because of the networking. You have to
be known, you connect yourself with certain people who have
established careers in this town. Whatever the formula is, it's
always surrounded by ten years. Well, Robbie is now part
of that formula, I suppose, because it's been Yeah, it's
(01:23):
been about ten years or so since he came to town,
and things are starting to happen because it boils down
to one song, and it's a song that I'm gonna
give him some trash about. Okay, he wrote it. He
wrote it in the middle of the night about first love.
And I think a lot of them we'll all connect
with that song. That's right.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
It's called June in July about first love. Now, we
have known Robbie Johnson for I guess all the time
or most of the time he's been in Nashville.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Yeah, because you know, when he first got here, he
was working with James Stroud, well known producer here in town.
And I've known James for a long time. And James
calls said Hey, look, I'm working this guy in Canada.
He's really good. You might want to check it out.
So we light up an interview just to meet him
and say hello and listen to his music.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Right, and I had already met him earlier at a
big event downtown, a country music events. But anyway, we've
stayed in touch via email over the years. We've had
Robbie on the show. As Charlie just mentioned, we love
the new song that I guess you would call it
a big breakout song for him June and July. Great
to have Robbie in the studio again to talk about
(02:27):
that and also about the twists and turns of his
life story.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Welcome back. Yes, you know, and I don't know if
you recall this or not, because you were it's kind
of a hectic time in your move to Nashville or whatever. Yes,
we visited with you in twenty fourteen, yep, at our
studio down the street exactly. And are you recalled good?
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Of course it was. I would say it was one
of my best interviews ever. I loved it. You're just
saying no, no, no, no, no, I swear I really really
loved it.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Well, you're kind, Thank you appreciate that. And I know
you were working with James Stroud at that point as
your initial producer. I guess on some of your projects.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
I was working with James Strout. It's so funny. I
have this anecdote, you know, where I was. We were
talking about pre production and I was like, I like
the sound of the drums on old time rock and roll.
And then he kind of starts, you know, laughing a
little bit, and then and I'm like, oh, what's happening.
He's like, well, he's the one that played the drums
(03:26):
on old Time rock and Roller.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Like, oh my god, I was good. You know, it's
so crazy. Another song he played drums on for King
Floyd called Groove Me, which was a big pop in
around nineteen seven.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Yeah, but yeah, he's got quite a history. So you
connected early with the best in the business down here.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
I was really fortunate, you know. I started all this,
you know, on Facebook, you know, and topping the friends,
and then Tom Roach reached out to me and he
introduced me to Jimmy Nichols, and then I was with
Frank Myers and all these great people that gathered and
help me. You know, how long have you been at
this Robbie ten years because for me, you know, I
(04:08):
wasn't in my hometown playing in the bars and doing
all that. I was a sales rep on the road
and I started my career here in Nashville ten years ago.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Yeah, that's a dream making it okay, Nashville music City.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Here's something very important because on your Facebook page about
a year ago, you posted something that is it is
so no, it is so true, but you are approaching
it with humor. You said the music industry is a
big monster in all caps, which is true.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
That will chew you up, break you in pieces, take
the best of you, and then spit you right back
out like a useless cherry pit. However, it will give
you unbelievable experiences that will stay with you forever. I'm
hoping the monster will keep on chewing on me for
a while.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Yeah, it's it is the hardest business in the world,
and I think the only way to approach it is
with positivity and humor.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
As you are exactly. I mean, you have to keep
going at it, you know, because every day there's a
reason for you to quit. Every day you get something,
you get hit with something like oh I should just quit,
you know, but you got to keep on doing it.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
And spread out on a regular basis.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
Oh yeah, oh yeah. But then you know, you get
to sing with Keith Urban yeah, which is pretty amazing,
and then hook up with back then one of his
key players and key players and guitar Danny Raider, with
whom I'm working right now, guys, and he's insane.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Let me, I'm going to make this sound as weird
as I can.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Okay, but let's.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Go back to the beginning, when actually you were discovered
during a Christmas gift. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
So I was a sales rep on the road listening
to radio, never even thinking. I think it's because I
knew it deep inside and I was afraid of it,
and it just took this Christmas gift worse Christmas gift ever.
I keep saying it. There's a video of me, you know,
getting that gift and like huh, yeah, that is so cool,
(06:21):
you know, and pretending I'm so happy to be doing
a demo session of one of my songs. But that's
how it all started, you know. I went into the
studio and the players I started singing it, like, oh
my god, who are you? What are you doing? Here.
You should be in Nashville. It sounds like what's coming
out of Nashville, So you should be moving to Nashville.
(06:42):
And that's how it all started with that song, like
I needed that push.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
Yeah, a divine hand sometimes a lot of people describe
it that way. And that has led you now to
June and July. Yes, this awesome single. You have been
so kind to keep in touch with me over the years,
and I'm getting all of your music and you're putting
it out there. I'm like you, I'm saying, this is great.
What is what is going on here? And this is
(07:08):
the song that seems to be getting the attention that
you have so long deserved.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Yes, And of course it's about summertime love and you
have something summertime flea. Yeah, first time okay, it first
time Okay. Now let's go back to let's get personal. Okay, Yes,
back to your first time as a teenager.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Well, it's it's so funny, you know. June and July.
I start writing this song is about maybe three in
the morning, and I'm writing this and recording and I
have the chorus down and then I meet up that
day with Danny and we finished the song together. So
I have this great song June and July, and it's
not until I'm shooting the music video and I'm watching
(07:49):
the actors Josh Angelica, you know, and I'm like, oh
my god, this is kind of like my story my
first time.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
So you have to see it, just believe it. I
have to see it, you know.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
It's just that when I write, I just let it
out and I don't really argue with what's coming. I
just I just write it down. And and it was
I mean, I'm like, my first time was with an
out of towner. It was in July, and so that's
that's the song. I'm like, okay, that's my story.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Wait wait, wait, wait, okay. You mentioned the video, which
is very well done.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
It's a great video. But in the end, yeah, she
leaves him laying in a tent out in a corn field.
Is that a kiss off or what?
Speaker 1 (08:33):
And she took his shirt obviously.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Yeah, well she's a thief.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Yeah yeah, she left her tent and she just spanished.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
All right, So at what point in the video did
it come to you with that? Hey, that's my story.
Was it the tent or what?
Speaker 3 (08:51):
No, actually, it's the perfume when she sprays perfume inside
the hat, I'm like, oh my god, I know.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
I thought it was live salt. Mosquito said, Okay, she's
got something weird.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
Not romantic.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
No, it's not.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
But I mean she's leaving the guys what they held.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
She care you know, yeah, but I mean, you know
it's those summer flings, you know where they still.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Haven't answer, did yet at what point in the video?
Speaker 3 (09:24):
And you said, okay, this, No, it really was, you know,
the perfume thing, because that's something that happened to me.
Where the girl I want her name is not June.
Don't don't try and find her, guys, I won't tell
you where she's from.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
I'm googling now.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
But she did that, you know, with the perfume thing,
And I was like, oh, yeah, okay, yeah, that's okay.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
I've got a really big question. So it's he says,
three in the morning. What in the world, why were
you up at three in the morning, and just and
why did this idea for the song June in July
pop into your head at that hour?
Speaker 3 (10:00):
I was because I was going to be in the
studio that day with Danny to track a song and
the one I had. I wasn't too sure about it,
so I was like, maybe I should come up with
something better. And it was three in the morning. I
was tired, and I was just like I said, I
just let it out and I don't argue it. So
(10:23):
and that's how it came about. And then with Danny,
what is even strangers that? With Danny? You know, I
just had the chorus. So the song could have went
many directions, but it stayed into the direction of my
personal story. It's kind of funny, well as songwriting should be. Right, Yeah,
exactly exactly.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Are you satisfied, Charlie with all of these personal details?
Speaker 3 (10:46):
Yeah, he's thinking up more details and details.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Is that the last time you saw the first love? Sure?
Speaker 3 (10:58):
Do you need an attorney?
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Limitations? That's okay.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
I will not answer this.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
There's nothing. They're so prosecutal, you can't prosecute anyway.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
I cannot believe the track.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
You got on Wistard Chase is fun.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
Well, it is fun. It is fun hanging with Robbie Johnson.
But there is a serious sign to this man, and
it's interesting because it's not so perfect. Childhood actually made
him perfectly suited to write meaningful music. That story is
coming up.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
What's been the most memorable or surprising fan experience at
a meet and greet or.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
Wherever, someone you know saying, hey, you really saved my life.
I was, I mean I was, My life was going nowhere.
I was discouraged and I was thinking about ending my
life and then I saw you on TV in an
interview and your story just inspired me. And you know,
(12:01):
everything is possible if you just decide to do it
and go for it.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
Yeah, how has music changed your life?
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Uh? Or has it always been a part It has
always been a part of my life. Like I said,
you know, it was always there, but I never realized
the importance that music. You know, the place it was
taken in my life. But it was always there. You know,
the movies, the music, it helped it. It kind of
(12:31):
it raised me because you know, growing up we were,
you know, in poverty. I didn't have much. I had
my imagination and the music, the movies, TV to escape reality.
So yeah, that's it always It's always been there. Well.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
And you know what's interesting, you know, coming from because
all of us, I think, I don't think many people
are highly privileged. We all come from difficult things. In
our background. Everything I see of you, your live performances,
your postings on social media, your music videos, you look
(13:08):
so joyful and so comfortable being an artist in music.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Well you really do. I don't think I'm going to
be so comfortable before seeing me. Oh yeah, oh yeah,
oh yeah. Always always, it's so much stress. And the
last show idea is like, why am I doing this
to myself?
Speaker 2 (13:32):
Why?
Speaker 3 (13:33):
You know, it's painful, But then when you're on stage
and you're connecting with people and you're creating this moment.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
They're like, ah, that's why I'm doing this.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
It's like it's kind of like a drug.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
We need to tell him? Was it the Great God
rest her soul? Mini Pearl from the Grand Old Library?
Wasn't she the one? And I think people have copied
this over the years. She said, No matter how many
years you have been a stage entertainer, if you do
not get nervous every single time, then you don't care enough. Yeah,
(14:03):
so it shows how much you care.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
Yeah, I care.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
So you have to pee before you go to st yes, okay, yeah,
not just pee?
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Okay, Okay, now we're getting into details.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
I had another question that's completely gone now.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
Robbie, this is the first he's afraid of the answer.
That's why he's like, has never lost it before.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
Congratulations.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Well, aside from this morning, what has been the most
unpredictable or surprising thing that's happened to you since you
moved to Nashville. Then I'll follow up with the other
question I was thinking.
Speaker 3 (14:44):
Okay, most surprising thing was, I would say, is going
back to when I started. You know, I was a
sales rep. You know, the sky was a limit. This
sky is always a limit when you're in a sales rep,
you know, and sal and everybody tell me, Robbie, there's
a process, you know. And you're not going to be
(15:05):
on radio next year. You know it's gonna be years
down the road. You're never going to be on TV
and all that. And then my first ever press release
the Late Show, David Letterman wants me on the Late Show.
That was really incredible and I still don't believe it,
but that was it was really incredible. However, I must
say I wasn't quite ready for that, but you did.
(15:28):
I don't think I did. Know.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
Is it online? Can we go look at it and see?
Because I bet you're better than you thought.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Oh no, well, I mean it's just that when it started,
I was, you know, it was kind of like an
out of body experience where I was about, you know,
fifty feet in the air and I had to hold
on to the mic stand to come back down, and
I don't know what was happening what I was singing.
(15:54):
And it's fun because if you do find the video,
you can see because I'm playing with the CBS Orchestra
and Paul Schaeffer he's playing and then I started singing
and he's like, whoa, Well he turns around, he's looking
at me, like what what's happening here? You know, because
I was off key and all that, But then the
song continued and I got in it and it was.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
It was great. It was really yeah experience.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Yeah, so I wasn't well, of course, you know, I
go from being in a car driving to being on
the Late Show with David Lenniman.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
Now my follow a question. Yes being from Quebec, Canada, Yes,
French Canadian? Where's your accent?
Speaker 3 (16:33):
Well, I learned English fairly at a young age. You know.
All what happened is my my grandparents lived in Quebec,
and I think it was in mid sixties seventies, Uh,
there were no more jobs. You know, it was hard,
and they all moved to Hartford, Connecticut. My mom had
(16:55):
already started her family, so she stayed in Quebec, but
all my aunts and uncles are in Hartford, Connecticut. And
so every summer I would spend every summer on Putnam
Putnam Street in Hartford, Connecticut. And also Christmas time, you know,
New Year's would be in Hertford, Connecticut. So there I discovered,
you know, the English language and also American culture. I
(17:17):
fell in love with it, and going back home to Quebec,
we continued, me and my brothers, we continued watching only
American television to learn the language, learn language that we
would watch movies and you know, and the music it's
you know, it's all English.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
It's a what show screwed you up the most? Well?
Speaker 3 (17:35):
You know back then, I would say, because I was
watching you know, the sitcoms, and back then, you know,
they had good values in those shows. You know, don't steal,
don't lie and all that. So it wasn't the honeyboo
boo or that kind of entertainment back then. So so
(17:57):
I mean it was good values and that's where you know,
I got a lot of my male role models because
you know, my parents divorced. I was really young. I
felt my father abandoned us. Not financially, he was sent well,
he was obligated to send money because we had to
go to court and he was sending money. But no love,
no calling hey, happy birthday? No nothing not. Do you
(18:19):
have shoes to start school? Do you have you know
everything you need?
Speaker 2 (18:21):
You know?
Speaker 3 (18:22):
Never?
Speaker 1 (18:23):
Yeah, it's a lot to get over minute when you're young,
it sure is.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
Yeah, it's something a kid can't understand. Yeah. So and
it stays with you. I mean it's it's it's very
deep down inside. But when I tap into this, I just.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Okay. When we come back, Robbie Johnson will tap into
his inner cowboy and will set the mood for Robbie's
heartfelt message to his fans. Do you take accompany with
you wherever you go? Like to Walmart and places like?
Speaker 1 (18:56):
No, No, Jesse's getting bored here.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Jesse takes me everywhere.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
No.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
Well, I like, if you could, could you could you
just do some just do a little background just just
a little background music. I would like, well, I would
like no, just just a little accompaniment in the background
as you talk one on one with your fans about
(19:22):
playing your first fanfare, fan fest, whatever you want to
call it, and you know just where you'd like to
go from here, and just anything you'd like to say
to your fans. This is your little person.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
You want to be serious. Robbie needs to talk heart
to heart to his fans right now.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
Necessarily just whatever, download the single, all.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Right, now, we've got business out of the way. Now
to the heart.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
I just want to say, you know, huge thank you
to the fans, and they're the reason we're doing this.
You know, I want my music, you know, I don't
want of course, it'd be great to hold a Cement
award and do all that, and but I don't do
it for the fame or the money. It's really I want.
(20:12):
And there's a great line in the recent Elvis movie
where the colonel says, you know, we just want to
be eternal. And that's really the motivation where I want
my music to be a part, you know, the soundtrack
of people's lives, and I just want to be remembered.
That's that's all. And the fans you know out there,
you guys, when you share the music when you make
(20:35):
it yours, you put it on your playlist, and you're
living your life, you know, with my music in the background.
I mean, it's it's the best. That's that's that's the
only thing I want perfect. Okay, now guitar solo.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
Are we gonna let Robbie sing for us?
Speaker 3 (21:00):
Robbie, I have well, I have a good I have
a song I wanted to sing. I wrote this song
about cowboys, but I didn't want it to be the stereotype,
you know, where it's a bad guy, a lover and
a runner and you know, heartbreak and all that. I
wanted to sing about the good, hardworking cowboys out there
(21:21):
that you know, raised family or singing, you know in
the church few every Sunday morning, you know, hardworking cowboys.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
Is that?
Speaker 1 (21:31):
Is this the if I were a cowboys song?
Speaker 3 (21:33):
Yes, okay, I'm ready, all right, let's do that.
Speaker 4 (21:46):
I wasn't born in the harm Texas room and wild
and free.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
I wasn't raised with Jesus.
Speaker 4 (21:58):
But now see, I can't humble wanter what my life
would be, What my life would be if I ever
was Cawnble far from the city, I'd be reading on
a horse and a shitty. I'd be working for a
(22:19):
good life. I'd be married to a good wife, and
my kids would looking up to me. I'd be stronger,
ten feet taller. No guy was looking down on me.
Fie Ever was colnble Man, I'd be living my dream.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Fie Ever was Counble Let's work. You know, our conversations
just go in all directions. That's what I love about
doing the podcast. Here we're on Music Row, and I'm
when you're doing a show, I don't care if it's
(23:03):
studio work, if you're doing a show like we do
here on Music Row. When you're on the row, there's
a certain vibe and you feel It's hard to explain,
but you feel it and you sense it and you
just have a lot of fun. That's what this town's
all about.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Well, and that vibe is all about the artists and
the songwriters like Robbie Johnson. So great to see him
having a big song June in July, as he said,
download everybody get June in July. Robbie Johnson on Crook
and Chase Nashville Chats, and of course we always have
your country covered. You can listen to the Crook and
(23:35):
Chase countdown every weekend on hundreds of radio stations all
across America and also streaming on iHeartRadio
Speaker 2 (23:41):
And of course so forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter,
and Instagram at Crook and Chase
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