Craig Johnson, 56, died on Saturday December 5, 2009 at the Rex Hospital Hospice Unit of esophageal cancer. He was born March 25, 1953 in Ann Arbor, MI, to Frank Crane Johnson and Carolyn Welsby Johnson. Over the years he was a social worker, teacher, and carpenter, but his lifelong passion was music.
Since 1972 he always played in a string band – Skunk’s Misery, Argo Pond String Band, Hambone Sweets, Double Decker Stringband, and Martin and Johnson. He played fiddle, banjo, and guitar, and was a renowned singer. He also wrote several songs and tunes including Away Down the Road, Keweenaw Light, New Harmony, Stambaugh Waltz, and many others. With Double Decker Stringband he recorded several LPs, cassettes, and CDs. He also recorded a CD with Wayne and Margaret Martin. After being diagnosed with cancer Craig was planning to record hundreds of old time songs that he knew by heart. Before he could do so, he lost his voice due to cancer. A solo CD, “Away Down the Road” on 5-String Productions, based on recordings that Craig had made in a few years earlier, was completed before his death with the help of John Beam, Bill Schmidt, Wayne Martin and Tim Brown. The CD stands as a beautiful culmination of Craig’s life work.
Craig learned from the “old masters” of old time music including Clyde Davenport, Luther Davis, Kahle Brewer, and many others. He loved to share his gift of music, and taught at various venues including the Augusta Heritage Center, Pinewoods, Old Songs Festival, Merlefest, Live Oak Festival, Bluff Country Gathering, to name a few. It was at the Augusta Heritage Festival in WV that he met his wife, Brenda VanLunen. They married in 1989 and have 2 children, Alec and Sally.
He played with John Beam, Bruce Hutton, and Bill Schmidt in the Double Decker Stringband for over 30 years, and considered them his dearest friends and brothers. Together they played at concerts and festivals all over the US, Canada, and Europe. Practice was always an excuse to drink beer, tell jokes, and have a good time. After moving to NC in 2001 he enjoyed playing music with his great good friends Wayne and Margaret Martin.
Old time musician and friend of WAMU’s Bluegrass Country, Craig Johnson will be deeply missed. Craig’s full obituary and funeral information can be found here.
