By Jane Turpin
Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN
June 19, 1986

Michael Johnson is looking forward to returning to the Rochesterfest and Rochester musicians are anticipating his return.

Johnson, a nationally known singer and guitarist, will be here Tuesday to perform with the Rochester Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Jere Lantz. The concert, sponsored by Dayton's, will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Mayo Civic Auditorium.

"I know it's terribly cliche to say it, but he's really a nice guy," Lantz said. "Michael is one of the most pleasurable musicians of any sort I've ever had to work with."

It is a great compliment to the Rochester Symphony to be chosen to perform with Johnson, Lantz said. Last year during Rochesterfest, Johnson appeared in Dayton's parking lot at Apache Mall along with the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra, conducted by Lantz.

That concert was a success, but Lantz said, "This year's concert will be as good if not better than last year's. In one way, at least, it's a guaranteed to be better because it will be inside." Lantz said the acoustics will be clearer and the orchestra will not be threatened by the weather.

The Rochester audience response at last year's concert pleased Johnson and he looks forward to performing inside.

"They were vibrant and alive and awake," he said during an interview. "I expect the same kind of feeling this year. Because of the walls and ceiling and floor, the audience feels like a group and the excitement regenerates itself."

Johnson had some new musical arrangements for the concert, but he will also perform his well-known hits, "Bluer Than Blue," "Almost Like Being In Love" and "This Night Won't Last Forever." In addition, Johnson will perform several ballads. "I'm a balladeer at heart," he said.

Songs from Johnson's newly released album "Wings" will be on the program, too. The single from that album "Gotta Learn to Love Without You" is currently number 18 on the country-western music charts.

Lantz called Johnson a thorough professional. "Michael really did his homework" before last year's concert, Lantz said. "Michael was impressive, not only to the crowd but also to the musicians in the orchestra. Michael is a tremendously accomplished musician and a superlative guitarist.

Lantz said the Rochester Symphony enjoys the chance to play a different sort of music from what it normally performs. The symphony will like to play Johnson's music because "they are trained to play serious music at a very high level," Lantz said. "It's like having dessert at all your meals; you get tired of it and it's not all that nourishing."

This will be the first time the Rochester Symphony will play together during the summer at least since Lantz has been conductor. "Maybe it will happen again in the future," he said.

Following his appearance at Rochesterfest, Johnson will play a few concerts around the nation this summer and perform at a few state fairs and municipal celebrations.

A highlight of Johnson's summer will be a vacation to the Wisconsin Dells with his wife and their two sons, ages 3 and 6. "We're renting a Winnebago," Johnson said. "I feel like Chevy Chase or something!"

Admission to the upcoming concert requires only a Rochesterfest button.