Barry Johnson's music is a big plate of Rock-infused rhythms and drive with a healthy pinch of Soul, slathered with a heaping helping of Gospel-inspired ingredients of B3 organ, vocals, and altar-call-wailing guitars.

Co-produced by legendary Allman Brothers audio guru Bud Snyder, Barry's latest CD "Tenacious Grace" is steeped in dark, warm guitar tones and soul-beckoning B3 organ riffs.

Fans have compared Barry's music to the likes of John Mayer, The Killers, Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood.

Over the years, Barry has performed in a lot of interesting venues; Dutch National television, Belgian National radio, South East Asian refugee camps to mention a few, and stages, festivals and street corners all over Europe and the US. He has accompanied The Allman Bros. guitarist Dan Toler, legendary Gospel singer Jessie Dixon, and CCM artists Tommy Walker and Karen Lafferty.

A multi talented musician-vocalist-song writer. 
Diverse style influenced.......
Enjoys recording but passionate for live performance!
quote..."If you're playin and they're tappin their toes, that's cool, but if you're sweatin and they're dancin......that's Awesome!!"

Soul Purpose is from Sarasota, Florida, USA.. A roots rock and reggae band of original, unsigned music. Eclectic by nature and fiercely independent this band of unschooled ruffians has proven over and over that people are interested in passion and excellence. Live shows prove to be exhilarating while their studio performances are able to corral their unbridled energy
Pat Monahan - Bass, Vocals, Keys, Guitar, Writer

Pat comes to this project from a longstanding Ohio and Florida rock band called Havoc. Years of traveling and national airplay from a contest won, has bought him back to Florida and in a fresh new project where he can flourish as the songwriter he is. Sure there have been other projects in-between, but none so motivating as this project. Pat says, I have never been in a band with better musicians, who know how to play off of each other so well.
Joe Freed - Drums, Vocals

Joe also comes from the Havoc line up and is well versed in many styles of drumming. Notably his double bass kick drum has been known to pound a few songs down everyones throat. A studied and masterful rhythm king, he takes each new song and crafts an irresistible beat. Vocally he adds the needed harmony to further intermingle beat with melody.
Al Owen - Guitar, Vocals, Writer

Al is an accomplished, published songwriter/producer that has produced some local projects ranging from punk to pop rock. You can bet he has had his hand in the Needful Things CD. He has been involved in several original bands over the years. Zion, Majesty, Rapid Pulse, Random Act, B-Movie just to name a few. He learned his craft like a lot of musicians, in church. He was even the director of music for a growing church in Lakewood Ranch FL. Even with all of this on his plate his love is the live show. My favorite thing about live performance is, I can take one of my songs, even if it has not been heard before, and have people singing and dancing to one of my songs!
Mike Hamad - Guitar,Bass, Keys, Vocals, Writer

Mike Hamad joins the porpoise as an accomplished songwriter, guitarist and vocalist. Coming from a family of musicians, his musical prowess is evident not only in his technical ability, but the emotional pull that gravitates towards his every note. A believer in understatement, Mike strives to be subtle, to augment and enhance rather than to bust through walls. He loves the Porpoise mix of ideas and sounds and the pursuit of creativity for its own sake ... and for the sake of making people groove.
Mike Silbaugh aka:Mikey, Guitar, Vocals, Writer

Michael Silbaugh was born in the mid 70's in Pittsburg, PA. He became involved in music at an early age, singing in school and church choirs, then took an interest in violin. Mike's father and uncle played guitar and he decided that he "wanted a piece of that". After discovering the talents of Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, and Eric Clapton, he was convinced that playing guitar was what he wanted to do. He practiced relentlessly, listened to his favorite music and learned as much as he could from the styles of several guitar players. His Dad saw how hard he practiced and how quickly he learned and encouraged Mike by telling him that maybe he would "make a difference in some kid's life one day."

 

Vision behind "PREMONITION"
This project became a truly focused vision back in April 2006 when I began to cut my first tracks and hear them come to life. My sole purpose of this first release was to present a deeply soulful and heartfelt project with an underlying "message of peace". It displays a cross section of my playing and vocal style combined with spiritual elements that guide my focus. There are  instrumentals and vocal pieces with a flowing structure throughout the album. The opening track entitled   "The Burning Sky" has a "Shakti" Indian influenced groove with with a haunting blues intro, written as a musical prayer for Mother Earth. "Freedom Train" has a Southern Rock feel and is totally about freedom, releasing yourself from a bad place moving toward the  good. There's "Notion's Bag" which is a funky and uplifting piece intended to be musical medicine for the people and spirit of New Orleans. "As Above As Below" is an offerring for Mother Earth, to give her respect as if heaven were here on earth, inspired by a painting by the great Native American artist "Bearcloud".  The piece entitled "Aishitemasu" means I love you in Japanese with a subliminal message of "All You Need is Love" featuring my wife Junko's beautiful voice, I wrote this piece in Kyoto Japan looking out our hotel window over this mystical city. The following songs convey a message of Peace, Love and Hope. There's "Sorrows End" which has a cosmic Hendrix R&B type of vibe. "Peace Merchants" is an anthem for peace with a blues funk feel. A highly emotional piece entitled "The Infinite Line" which is for my Mom and and all the good Mom's out there, by loving their children they have a direct line to heaven. "Fall Down On Your Knee's" is about redemption with a Southern gospel feel. A very deep piece entitled "Ashes and the Waterfall" is my anti-war statement about the voices of our ancestors and fallen war veterans that keep whispering in our head to heed the call for war. The last cut "Premonition" is a Delta blues inspired piece with breathing chord voicings that are intended to leave a haunting spirit...This album in its entirety is a painting of my heart and soul...I have totally "spoken my own truth" here...Chris Kent on Bass from (The Larry Carlton Band), Nioshi Jackson on Drums, Shannon Wickline on  B3 Organ and Howard and Dottie Eddy on background vocals. 
"Each moment is the universe"

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