Johnson's Crossroad has been described by friends and fans as everything from "Appalachian Soul" to "Hillbilly Metal." The new album 'Mockingbird' puts songwriter Paul Johnson squarely in line with names like Guy Clark or Zac Brown and his powerful voice evokes memories of folk stars like Tom Waits, Taj Mahal or Burl Ives. The sincerity of his songs and simplicity of his lyrics make you want to pour a brew, put your feet up or head to the hills. Johnson's Crossroad makes you remember what is important in life.

     "I like to keep the words simple," said Paul Johnson. "I try and follow Hank Williams as much as possible, let the words tell the story and the music back it up," Johnson said. His inspiration is simple yet intently focused. "I was born in the mountains of West Virginia, I've always been in the mountains all my life,” said Johnson who now calls Asheville, NC home. A dark power, like the steep slope on the backside of a ravine, where the water tumbles down, seeps into his songs and gives the simplicity of his words the strength of a freight train running through a mountain pass. Dobro, mandolin and fiddle back up his clean lyrics on some, other times its simple finger picking to a folksong.

     "This is what I've always wanted to do, travel around and pick guitar," said Johnson, who writes the majority of the songs for Johnson's Crossroad. Watching his back is mandolin player Keith Minguez, a strong friendship at the core of the group. As they drove across the long ridge to the Blue Ridge Big Sky Music studio (appropriately topping a peak above Moravian Falls, N.C) to record their new album, a few pair of mockingbirds flew up in front of the car and the omen solidified the new project’s name.

     "In 1998 I met Paul and I saw John Hartford on my first visit to MerleFest, it was life changing" said Minguez. Then in 2004 he had enough, "I was 30, living in Florida, drinking with my dad's buddies and they all said the same thing, ‘drink scotch and water and never stop chasing your dream.” He called Paul and in 13 hours was at his door with mandolin in hand. "If Keith wasn't around nothing would get done," laughed Johnson. Friends Corey Lee McQuade (Dobro, banjo, harmonies) and Moses Atwood (keyboard, Dobro, harmonies) sat in on multiple gigs, other friends join in support Johnson's constant search for great sound.

     Years playing the road to empty rooms has mostly passed. Their first CD "Blood in Black and White" put them on the map and won them spots at national events like Merlefest, Floyd Fest, Music City Roots and Bristol Rhythm and Roots, with tours to the northeast and Midwest. 2011 brings them squarely in line for success with return appearances at major festivals, over 150 shows and a world of mountains ahead to climb. Filled with roots, bluegrass, folk, Appalachian old time, blues and more, their music is none of those in the end, creating instead the highly recognizable sound of Johnson's Crossroad.

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Time line:

1998:  Keith Minguez meets Paul Johnson at a house party in Morgantown, WV.  Later that spring Keith returns from his first Merlefest with a copy of John Hartford's 'Areoplane' and picks up a mandolin for the first time.  

1999:  Paul Johnson, Keith Minguez and Geoff Richars become good friends and begin playing the legendary 'Dr. Johns' in Morgantown.  Paul and Geoff start to pen their own songs.

2000:  Minguez moves back to NJ and Paul and Geoff record the 'LCRG' session and remain in Morgantown and continue to perform.

2001: Paul moves back to Lewisburg, WV and begins performing with Corey Lee McQuade (again). They begin their search for a band.

2002-2004:  Walk aimlessly in circles........

2005: Keith Minguez decides to follow a pipe dream and moves to Lewisburg, WV to play music.  After a 13 hour drive he joins Paul Johnson, Corey Lee McQuade, and Xander Hitzig, for a midnight jam, Johnson's Crossroad is born. They play regional shows for the next year.

2006: JXR takes a hiatus, Paul and Keith join Allan Sizemore and Jeanne Hoffman of the Rust Kings and begin touring the east coast. They record the Rust Kings album 'Hotel West Virginia.'

2007: Johnson's Crossroad returns and begins touring outside of their region.

2008: Paul and Keith leave Lewisburg, WV and move to Asheville, NC.