Break out your best Hawaiian shirt and a lawn chair, and head for the Luau in the Mountains Sunday, June 30 at the Parque de Vida outdoor amphitheater in Cortez.
The event is in memory of Carlton Johnson, favorite local musician who passed on last year.
Johnson was a staple at bars and concerts throughout the area, and his traditional songs, quirky cowboy style and diverse guitar picking put people at ease.
He had a real hankering for island music as well.
Johnson’s story starts out a like country song: In a small West Texas town at the height of the Great Depression, a salesman showed up at 12-year-old Carlton’s family home peddling steel guitar lessons.
“Hawaiian steel guitar music was popular at the time,” Johnson told his family in an autobiography. “You could turn your radio on and if a Hawaiian song wasn’t playing, you only had to turn the dial.”
Young Carlton jumped at the chance to learn steel guitar and honed his craft all his life.
Fortunately for local fans, Johnson secured his niche in Cortez. Over the decades he taught steel and standard guitar to legions of Cortez area residents, owned a music store on Main, performed numerous recitals, and was a regular at the Apple Shed. His musical service to the community continued into his elder years playing at the Cortez Farmers Market, concerts in the park , the Cortez Cultural Center and many Hosanna Hoedown concerts.
Johnson’s repertoire has been laced heavily with island fare. He brought smiles and dancing feet with his variety of ragtime, swing, and a touch of country.
“We wanted to do something bigger and better to honor Carlton,” said friend and musical colleague Linda Carter. “He was such a humble man and would be embarrassed by this huge party for him. But I think it will give his fans and students a sense of closure. He gave so much musically and really set a great standard for excellent music in the area.”
Passing down music to his three sons has brought much pleasure to all. Carlton’s daughter, Sylvianne Johnson, recalls one special memory of a shopping trip with her elderly father. A lady stopped them as if meeting a celebrity. “You’re Carlton Johnson, aren’t you?”
Carlton quietly responded, “Music is my life.”
After Johnson’s death in 2012, Carter knew that a Luau in the Mountains was the perfect tribute for this year’s Hosanna Hoedown. Elders from the Valley Inn and Vista Grande, the event’s sponsors, will be bused to the island retreat at Parque de Vida. All Montezuma County residents are invited, so don’t miss a party for the ages.
There will be Polynesian dancing to Hawaiian songs, and some recorded music by Carlton Johnson and friends. Johnson’s vast collection of stringed instruments will be on display as well. Carlton’s last band, Roscoe, will perform as well as former students, including local Doc Bill Rainer.
Admission is free with donations appreciated for a cause that Carlton believed in: The International Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association Scholarship Fund.
Residents are invited to sit back and imagine the swaying palms, the lulling roll of the surf, of hula girls weaving luau magic. Be sure to wear your Hawaiian shirt and bring a lawn chair!