About the Artists

A man who has been referred to in the media as the “Emperor of Boogie-Woogie”, “Duke of the Honky-Tonk Piano” and a “musician’s musician”. Johnny Chimes began his career working small clubs and taverns in his then home state of Illinois.

By age 23, he was touring across the Midwest performing in blues-rock bands. Upon leaving the state, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and spent the next four years learning the craft of songwriting. His first songs were published with ATV/Sony & Warner Music. When he wasn’t crisscrossing the South playing piano in country-rock bands, he would perform at “Writer’s Nite” shows in the city.

Chimes initially began gigging in southern Wisconsin as a solo act—playing bars and supper clubs, gaining notoriety among blues and country musicians and working with many of them. Chimes played the Midwest college coffeehouse & concert circuit for several years, largely handling his own bookings. 

Meanwhile, his son was showing considerable musical talent; father & son began performing together as the “Natch’l Blues Band, which was one of the most popular acts in tMadison and continues to play today.

Chimes performs his own New Orleans-inspired piano & finger-picking guitar regularly at Louisianne’s restaurant in Middleton, Wisconsin.Chimes was made a “lifetime invitee” to the City of Madison’s premiere summer music festival, Fete du Marquette.

To date, Johnny Chimes has recorded ten albums of music—each one reflecting the many facets of his songwriting and musicianship and continues to perform at concert venues across the Metro area.