Johnette Downing's Page

Artist or company name

Johnette Downing

Please select Artist type. If you are an Artist in Schools or Teacher Artist additional information will be requested upon submission.

Artist

Contact email address.

johnette@johnettedowning.com

Contact phone number.

504 861-2682

Contact physical address (street, city, state, ZIP)

P. O. Box 13367, New Orleans, LA 70185

Artist or company website

http://www.johnettedowning.com

Please provide a brief (250 word) biographical sketch of the artist or a history of the company in question. For orchestras, please also include a biography of the conductor. This information will be viewable by the public.

Johnette Downing is a multi-award winning musician and author performing concerts and author visits for children, and keynotes and workshops for educators globally. She has received twenty international awards and has given concerts, keynotes and workshops in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Central America, North America and the Caribbean. Johnette is dedicated to celebrating childhood, cultural exchanges and fostering literacy; sharing a gumbo of Louisiana music and literary influences.

Please cut and paste quotes from reviews and other publicity. If none, please indicate.

"Johnette Downing possesses an uncanny knack for engaging children and charming them with words and pictures or as a musician capturing and expressing the essence of musical styles and making them come alive and engage children. I have literally seen an entire auditorium sprout a sea of arms swaying to her musical summons. Her books are lively and original and speak "children" as if it were a language unto itself. Both her books and music teach without seeming to by invoking joy and cleverness.""
- Dr. Michael Sartisky, President and Executive Director, Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities


"Children's singer, arts advocate and preschool music teacher Johnette Downing, nicknamed the "Pied Piper for Louisiana music traditions," serves up a mélange of Cajun, Creole, Southern blues, Caribbean and boogie-woogie influences."
- Laurel Fishman, Education Watch – Grammy Foundation, Grammy.com


"Grammy material."
- Stephen McCord, Stephen Edward Entertainment


"The Bonnie Raitt of children’s music."
- Duff, Carrboro, NC


"Bonnie Raitt, move over! There's a new(er) blues belter in town. And she's easy on the ears. New Orleans singer-songwriter Johnette Downing has a velvet set of pipes…"
- Education.com


"With her signature mix of Dixieland Jazz, Cajun, Creole and Zydeco rhythms, her vocal and instrumental sophistication and all-embracing warmth, Downing creates an irresistible musical jubilee."
- Lynne Heffley, The Los Angeles Times


"Your kids won’t be able to sit still or stop smiling."
- Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Daily News


"Downing has certainly found a niche, serving up New Orleans-flavored tunes."
- Publisher’s Weekly


"New Orleans native Johnette Downing whips up a savory jambalaya of blues- and Dixie-flavored tunes. Practically percolating rhythms."
- Moira McCormick, Family Fun Magazine


"The New Orleans native singer/songwriter takes the music of her life – Cajun, zydeco and jazz – and mixes it into a kid-friendly gumbo."
- South Florida Parenting


"Downing is a Pied Piper of Louisiana music traditions."
- Michael Tisserand, Gambit Weekly


"Downing is a performer who clicks with children. Her music and messages are simple and clear. They speak to children in a language that they can relate to. Downing has created a rapport with children that has made her a favorite. Everyone is invited to come hear this exceptional entertainer."
- Beauregard Daily News


"To Downing, songs are the tollbooths into the world of play, the most important destination for any kid."
- Michael Tisserand, Gambit Weekly


"Energetic, charismatic, affectionate tunes. Laissez les bon temps rouler."
- Kit Bloom, Parents' Choice Foundation


"Toe tapping tunes."
- Claire Green, Parents' Choice Foundation, ABC World News Now

Please summarize the activities for touring or school activities.

Concerts, keynotes, educator workshops and student workshops to create cultural exchanges, promote mutual understanding, build language skills and promote literacy through music.

Do you provide a Teacher's Guide?

Yes

Please provide the details of your technical rider. Indicate where you have flexibility.

Artists provides own sounds system for small, Louisiana venues.
For large venues, for festivals and for national and international venues, a professional sound system with wireless headset microphone and guitar mic must be provided by venue.
For educator workshops, a Power Point Presentation set-up or overhead projector must be provided by venue.

Required to give a dollar fee range. Please indicate your range with concise descriptions of activities at the upper and lower ends of the scale

Artist fee varies from $500-$1500 depending upon program type (concert, author visit, keynote or educator workshop). Venues pay for and arrange airfare, lodging, per diem, ground transportation, excess baggage fees and airport pick-up and drop-off.