Photo by Mary Johnson

Shaun Johnson, front man of Shaun Johnson + Big Band Experience, is mixing the passionate sound of the big band era with his charity work to give fans an experience they won’t forget. Shaun Johnson + Big Band Experience is compiled of some of the best instrumentalists and arrangers in the Midwest. When asked about the band’s sound, Johnson described it as standing on the shoulders of greats while adding the genres of today. Their new album ‘Made for Her,’ recently came out, and is dedicated to all the strong women in Johnson’s life, including his wife, sister, and three daughters. On their tour stops, The Big Band Experience raises money for local charities. Some of the charities they have worked with include: Children's hospitals, Wishes & More, Lunch is Served, Little Kids Rock, Susan G Komen, and community building in Rwanda. Read on in our interview to learn more about his musical career, the band’s mission, and how they are giving back.

Where are you based?
I'm based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The companies that I run are both based in Minneapolis, MN.

How and when did you start your music career?
I started my career immediately upon graduation from college. I was intending to be an attorney but decided to try a music path for two years — believing I could always go back to law if the arts experiment failed. We found an agent who represented us on the college circuit, asked our families to invest (sound system, album, van), and began to perform anywhere people would have us.

If you could collaborate with any artist- dead or alive- who would it be?
I'd love to collaborate with Ben Rector (living), who made one of my favorite albums ever, Magic, or Frank Sinatra.

What was the inspiration for Shaun Johnson + Big Band Experience?
I had always loved the passion, emotion, and horn blowing arrangements of the big band era, and I wanted to raise money for charity in the local towns in which I performed. I FINALLY decided to search for willing musicians, adaptable arrangements, and agents who believed and set out to build a new, more modern, type of big band that worked towards this vision.

Photo by Mary Johnson

For Shaun Johnson + Big Band Experience, you compiled some of the best instrumentalists and arrangers in the Midwest. How were you able to bring everyone together?
It wasn't easy. I visited clubs, schools, chatted with studio friends, asked theater managers and kept an ear to the ground. And then I had what seemed like hundreds of conversations to find the enthusiastic hard-working individuals who were bought into this experiment.

With so many different experiences and music backgrounds within this group, what is your secret for collaborating effectively?
I think I try to listen to all ideas, and I treat everyone how I would like to be treated. I know what it's like to have long rehearsals with no food, or promoters who wonder why you might need water... and so forth. I work diligently to ensure that every musician's experience with me on the road is as carefree as possible; so that, they might concentrate on the music.

How would you describe the band’s overall sound?
The band's sound starts on the shoulders of greats (Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, etc.) but adds flavors from today, whether that be R&B or straight up pop. We are working to bring back a jubilant sound from the past, but on our terms. It's raw and passionate, and straight ahead energy.

You started out fronting for the vocal-group Tonic Sol-fa, and are still an active member. Do you draw any inspiration from this group and apply it to Shaun Johnson + Big Band Experience?
I do take the work ethic (we have managed a 20+ year career on our own) and the creativity (nothing to hide behind in a cappella) into the Big Band Experience. Tonic Sol-fa built and kept a career in entertainment - almost more than music - and I definitely feel it's my job to move audiences and reach every single seat.

Your new album, ‘Made for Her’, just recently came out and you also have a Christmas album in the works. What was it like producing these albums throughout the past year?
I'd never had a chance to write and produce one album - let alone two - of original music. The pandemic, for all its horrible moments, provided me with a rare opportunity. Typically, I perform at around 125 shows per year, which precludes consistent days of collaboration and creativity. The endless days of 2020 going into 2021 allowed me to refocus, work on my voice daily, and record material for the first time that didn't have a tight, looming deadline.

You have a beautiful wife and three beautiful daughters who are featured within the music video ‘This Old Man.’ How has your family inspired you while writing this album?
The album, Made for Her, was a collection of songs not meant for an album. I had been writing singles throughout the pandemic and only realized later that there was a common thread between each song. And that thread was "her." I'd written a song for my sister called "Losing You" which spoke to the death of her husband. I had written a song called "All Because of You" for my wife — after many failed attempts. "This Old Man" was for my youngest, Serafina, who always tells me "I'll never grow up." After hearing a nursery rhyme while tucking her in one night and remembering this phrase, another song was born. Other songs on the album refer to past relationships, my business partner Michelle, etc., and I realized the inspiration for this album was truly the women who'd changed my life in some way.

Do you have a favorite song from ‘Made for Her’?
I think I prefer "Multiplied by Two" because it was an accident. We'd recorded another version - also on the album, and a studio guitarist friend of mine misread an email and thought we needed an acoustic rendition. When I heard this second take, I knew I had to record it again. I love the chords, the simplicity and the resulting focus on the lyrics.

A big reason for why you started the Big Band Experience is to raise money for charities at the holidays. Why is it important for you to give back while you are touring?
I'm not sure why I feel such an urge to give back. Where does that truly come from? I will give credit to my parents who looked for ways to serve our community when I was growing up. Or maybe my college, Saint John's University, which also put an emphasis on service. I only know that I'm trying to show my girls that empathy and kindness are strengths, and I do believe that actions speak louder to them.

What charities do you work with? Why are they important to you?
I've worked with hundreds of charities ranging from Children's hospitals, Wishes & More, and Lunch is Served, to Little Kids Rock, Susan G Komen, and community building in Rwanda. Typically, I ask what charity is important to a particular theater, town or area. I then research the charity myself, often visiting their facilities or participating in their mission. Some of these shared collaborations turn into long term partnerships. I don't want to look back on my last day and say "I sang and that was good enough" or "I was a parent and that was good enough." I am driven to do more.

Beginning in 2018 and 2019 you began touring year-round with philanthropic efforts being a main part of the process. Were you able to incorporate more charities within this tour?
Yes and no. We definitely reached out to more charities but as touring ramped up, we had less time for personal visits and the like. And because of the time constraints, we decided it was smartest to do more work with our philanthropic efforts, but with fewer charities.

In addition to donating proceeds from your tour, you are also very hands-on with the charities you are involved with. What other ways are you giving back?
My wife and I give to St Judes, and we sponsor children in Haiti and Kenya. But more importantly, we often work at the Ronald McDonald House with our kids as well as at local food banks and battered women's shelters.

Photo by Mary Johnson

How are your fans involved with the charity work that you are doing?
We have often raised money at our holiday tour for particular charities but mostly, fans who purchase our music and clothing contribute to each and every show. As well, we put on shows at times where all of the monies raised go directly to a community need. And currently, we are launching a master class that will be fan supported so as to support music in underserved areas.

How did touring change for you during the COVID-19 pandemic? Were you still able to play music virtually? Have you started touring again?
We have started touring again and just finished a 30 city tour. We slowly went back to live performance in June of 2021. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we actually launched a 25 city virtual tour! The tickets were limited — like a real show. We partnered with a theater in each city similar to a normal tour and gave a portion of ticket sales to a predetermined charity. We also sold products, and I did 100s of intros catered to each city. We even changed the set list to make the whole tour as "normal" as possible.

How are you staying positive during the current wave of the pandemic? Are you almost back to normal?
First off, the pandemic taught me once more that there are hundreds of ways to reach people with music. Two, we are watching states, theaters, regions and all protocols. I knew music would be the last to open and was the first to close. I'll follow all guidelines to ensure we can continue to do what we were built to do, what we love.

What is your motto in life?
Sometimes bridges need to be burned. Or "love one another" if you catch me on a Monday.

To hear more from Shaun Johnson, please follow him at the links below:
shaunjohnsonmusic.com
Instagram: @shaunjohnsonmusic
Facebook: @shaunjohnsonmusic

Shaun Johnson + Big Band Experience on the Big Band Sound