In this episode of Vinyl Vibes, Jack is joined by Kevin Johnson, an Australian musical icon. After getting the first guitar, Kevin joined his first band The Candymen in his late teens. This was also when he started writing songs. By the mid '60s, Kevin's work as a songwriter got the notice of Col Joye who signed Kevin to his publishing company in 1966. In 1967 Kevin moved to the music capital of Australia at the time, Sydney. It was during this time he released his first singles including his song "Woman You Took My Life" which was later covered by Tom Jones. 

His first big hit came in 1971 with his self-penned song  "Bonnie Please Don't Go". It would reach No. 12 in Melbourne, No. 2 in Sydney, and No. 15 on the Go-Set National Top 60. However following this success he would not release music again for another two years. It was this two year hiatus that inspired him to write the song that would become his biggest hit; "Rock and Roll I Gave You all the Best Years of My Life". In 1973 the song would go to number four on the national charts and is now an Australian musical icon. 

Kevin is still doing music with his most recent album "The Devil Found Work" coming out in 2019. In 2023 he released his first novel "Deep Decisions" and a new complication album also in the same year on Vinyl and CD called The Classics.

Jack Zoomed Kevin to discuss his early musical beginnings, his time in The Candymen, when he started writing songs, how he came to be discovered by Col Joye, his early singles made in Sydney in 1967, how it felt having "Woman You Took My Life" covered by Tom Jones, the success of "Bonnie Please Don't Go", the writing process of "Rock and Roll I Gave You all the Best Years of My Life", his albums throughout his time in music, his recent album "The Devil Found Work", his 2023 novel "Deep Decisions", and upcoming musical projects in the works.   

"We were living in Dee Why in Sydney at the time... we had two children by that stage -Shane and Scott who I later wrote songs about later on - they were playing with the kids  next door and to get away from them I use to go out and write in the store room at the back which had all the tools for the maintenance guys...so I was out there with shovels and picks and whatever else and that's where I finished rock and roll off, in the gardening store room" - Kevin Johnson on this episode of vinyl vibes talking about the writing process of his biggest hit "Rock and Roll I Gave You all the Best Years of My Life"

Episode Hosted and Produced by Jack Hodgins

To hear the full on-demand version of this program, go to https://www.2nurfm.com.au/shows/vinyl-vibes

The website for Vinyl Vibes. 

If you like this content, we'd love to hear from you. 

In this episode of <a href="https://www.2nurfm.com.au/shows/vinyl-vibes">Vinyl Vibes</a>, Jack is joined by <a href="https://www.rocknrolligaveyou.com">Kevin Johnson</a>, an Australian musical icon. After getting the first guitar, Kevin joined his first band The Candymen in his late teens. This was also when he started writing songs. By the mid '60s, Kevin's work as a songwriter got the notice of Col Joye who signed Kevin to his publishing company in 1966. In 1967 Kevin moved to the music capital of Australia at the time, Sydney. It was during this time he released his first singles including his song "Woman You Took My Life" which was later covered by Tom Jones. 
His first big hit came in 1971 with his self-penned song  "Bonnie Please Don't Go". It would reach No. 12 in Melbourne, No. 2 in Sydney, and No. 15 on the Go-Set National Top 60. However following this success he would not release music again for another two years. It was this two year hiatus that inspired him to write the song that would become his biggest hit; "Rock and Roll I Gave You all the Best Years of My Life". In 1973 the song would go to number four on the national charts and is now an Australian musical icon. 
Kevin is still doing music with his most recent album <a href="https://www.rocknrolligaveyou.com/product/the-devil-found-work/">"The Devil Found Work"</a> coming out in 2019. In 2023 he released his first novel "<a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/deep-decisions-kevin-johnson/1143652764">Deep Decisions"</a> and a new complication album also in the same year on Vinyl and CD called <a href="https://www.rocknrolligaveyou.com">The Classics.</a>
Jack Zoomed Kevin to discuss his early musical beginnings, his time in The Candymen, when he started writing songs, how he came to be discovered by Col Joye, his early singles made in Sydney in 1967, how it felt having "Woman You Took My Life" covered by Tom Jones, the success of "Bonnie Please Don't Go", the writing process of "Rock and Roll I Gave You all the Best Years of My Life", his albums throughout his time in music, his recent album "The Devil Found Work", his 2023 novel "Deep Decisions", and upcoming musical projects in the works.   
"We were living in Dee Why in Sydney at the time... we had two children by that stage -Shane and Scott who I later wrote songs about later on - they were playing with the kids  next door and to get away from them I use to go out and write in the store room at the back which had all the tools for the maintenance guys...so I was out there with shovels and picks and whatever else and that's where I finished rock and roll off, in the gardening store room" - Kevin Johnson on this episode of vinyl vibes talking about the writing process of his biggest hit "Rock and Roll I Gave You all the Best Years of My Life"
Episode Hosted and Produced by Jack Hodgins
To hear the full on-demand version of this program, go to <a href="https://www.2nurfm.com.au/shows/vinyl-vibes/">https://www.2nurfm.com.au/shows/vinyl-vibes</a>
The <a href="https://www.2nurfm.com.au/shows/vinyl-vibes">website for Vinyl Vibes</a>. 
If you like this content, we'd love to hear from you.

Jack Hodgins speaks with the people behind the music you love.

Jack Hodgins speaks with the people behind the music you love.

Vinyl Vibes

Jack Hodgens talks to the people who created the music that is the foundation of today's music.

Jack Hodgens talks to the people who created the music that is the foundation of today's music.