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West Virginia MN, United States (1980 – present)
Daniel Johnston (b. January 22, 1961 in Sacramento, California) is a prolific American singer-songwriter and artist. He has been classified as an outsider musician.
His songs are typically painfully direct, and often display a disturbing blend of childlike naïvete with darker, “spooky” themes. Johnston’s singing voice is rather high-pitched, and his performances often seem faltering or uncertain; one critic writes that Johnston’s recordings range from “spotty to brilliant”. He also draws and paints; he is a cult comic book artist and his illustrations have been featured with most of his albums.
Johnston was born in Sacramento, California and grew up in West Virginia, USA, but now lives in Waller, Texas. Johnston suffers from manic depression, and has had varying luck with different treatments. He has been institutionalized for periods.
In the late 1970s, Johnston began recording his songs on a $59 Sony Boombox, singing and playing either guitar, piano or harmonica. He gave tapes of his music to anyone who would take them. Johnston created the comic book inspired art that usually accompanied his own recordings. His debut recording Songs Of Pain was released in 1980.
His early songs established a number of themes that would persist through Johnston’s career: Unrequited love, Casper the Friendly Ghost, and comic book superheroes, especially Captain America and Jack Kirby’s other works. “Joe”—a partly autobiographical character—has been featured in a number of songs. Johnston has cited The Beatles as a prime influence.
His songs are typically painfully direct, and often display a disturbing blend of childlike naïvete with darker, “spooky” themes. Johnston’s singing voice is rather high-pitched, and his performances often seem faltering or uncertain; one critic writes that Johnston’s recordings range from “spotty to brilliant”. He also draws and paints; he is a cult comic book artist and his illustrations have been featured with most of his albums.
Johnston was born in Sacramento, California and grew up in West Virginia, USA, but now lives in Waller, Texas. Johnston suffers from manic depression, and has had varying luck with different treatments. He has been institutionalized for periods.
In the late 1970s, Johnston began recording his songs on a $59 Sony Boombox, singing and playing either guitar, piano or harmonica. He gave tapes of his music to anyone who would take them. Johnston created the comic book inspired art that usually accompanied his own recordings. His debut recording Songs Of Pain was released in 1980.
His early songs established a number of themes that would persist through Johnston’s career: Unrequited love, Casper the Friendly Ghost, and comic book superheroes, especially Captain America and Jack Kirby’s other works. “Joe”—a partly autobiographical character—has been featured in a number of songs. Johnston has cited The Beatles as a prime influence.
Top Albums
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1990
Daniel Johnston
Buy- Download Album
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Fun
Daniel JohnstonBuy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital $7.77
- iTunes $9.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $6.25
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Yip/Jump music
Daniel Johnston Buy- Download Album
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- Buy Album
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Hi, How Are You
Daniel Johnston Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
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- Buy Album
- Amazon $15.18
- eBay Search
Top Tracks
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True Love Will Find You In The End
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I Had Lost My Mind
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Mind Movies
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Walking The Cow
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Freedom
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| 8 |
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High Horse
full track
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| 9 |
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Casper The Friendly Ghost
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| 10 |
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Queenie The Doggie
full track
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| 11 |
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Funeral Home
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| 12 |
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Without You
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| 13 |
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Tears
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| 14 |
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Is And Always Was
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| 15 |
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Lost In My Infinite Memory
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Shoutbox
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sourdnavarones wrote:
'fun' imo. just the easiest to litsen to. ten different people would probably tell you different albums though...
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tomothyLOL wrote:
Which album should I start off with?
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yellowcloud wrote:
makes me feel so sad
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Jsuits1984 wrote:
one of the greatest singer/songwriters ever
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naxete17 wrote:
some things last a lifetime...
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gnirrednow wrote:
I really like Daniel Johstons music
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MERN13 wrote:
I really like Daniel Johstons music
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lostcontact wrote:
nardwuar interviewed him http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r13_iYXXKRc includes a performance of grievances
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LOLHAI wrote:
have you seen S. Darko? Why is that girl wearing a dj shirt?
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elly_spazzy wrote:
"Have you seen Devil and Daniel Johnston? I find it really, REALLY incredible. Completely mind-blowing." AGREED! made me love him even more. i've watched it over + over + am still amazed by it :) :)
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LongLiveTheD wrote:
Have you seen Devil and Daniel Johnston? I find it really, REALLY incredible. Completely mind-blowing.
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LongLiveTheD wrote:
i will never understand how this guy is not EVERYONE's influence. i mean it. every one of his songs feels like it's come from the heart of music. [2]
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johntardsbaby66 wrote:
Awesome voice.
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Coggins12 wrote:
Agreed on "Go"; by far my most listened to song of Johnston, it's just incredible.
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liquidamerica wrote:
"go" may be the greatest song of all time.
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johntardsbaby66 wrote:
great
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ThatGuyWho wrote:
Mountain Dew.
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politelydecline wrote:
i will never understand how this guy is not EVERYONE's influence. i mean it. every one of his songs feels like it's come from the heart of music.
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mattribute wrote:
http://thepigeonpost.wordpress.com/2009/11/04/daniel-johnston-manchester-town-hall/
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lady_godivas wrote:
Your picture is still on my wall, on my wall I think about you often, often :)
Videos
See more
Events
-
Jan
29
St. Jerome's Laneway Festival
Alexandria St off St Paul’s Terrace, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
11 shouts
| 60 attendees
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Jan
30
St. Jerome's Laneway Festival
Footscray Community Arts Centre, Melbourne, Australia
34 shouts
| 129 attendees
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Jan
31
St. Jerome's Laneway Festival
Sydney College of the Arts, Rozelle, Australia
18 shouts
| 105 attendees
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Recent Activity
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LeaMandana, armaguitton and pandayly3999 added Daniel Johnston to their libraries. 44 minutes ago
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buger_swamp shared Daniel Johnston with rradioo and coffeeandmilk. 5 hours ago
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peirsos and mcl1150 added Daniel Johnston to their libraries. 8 hours ago
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P_Machado tagged Daniel Johnston with ‘singer-songwriter’. yesterday afternoon
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eriott added Daniel Johnston to the lineup of Daniel Johnston at LAFORET MUSEUM HARAJUKU. yesterday afternoon
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Gedankenhaufen wrote about Daniel Johnston in Meine TOP30 Alben.. yesterday afternoon
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Gedankenhaufen wrote about Daniel Johnston – Hi, How Are You in Meine TOP30 Alben.. yesterday afternoon
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SBBSClub added Daniel Johnston to SBBSClub’s library. yesterday morning
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remcodulac tagged Daniel Johnston with ‘luisterpaal’. yesterday morning
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limboplax, mariamala, joshinme and 5 other people added Daniel Johnston to their libraries. yesterday morning
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