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Cory M. Johnson (born October 3, 1981) is an American musician, composer, sound engineer, and music producer. In 2003, as a representative of the Tallahassee Community College Forensics Team and one of the top competitors in theatre and oral interpretation in the State of Florida, Johnson won a Gold Medal at the Phi Rho Pi National Competition in Portland, Oregon in two categories, Prose and Duo Interpretation. That year Johnson was also winner of the Jennifer Pickman Award, given to the top novice competitor in the State of Florida on the community college circuit.

In 2006, Johnson earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music - Liberal Arts, with a concentration in commercial music, from Florida State University. His principal instrument was voice, which he studied under the direction of Ryan Harper of the the Midtown Music School in Toronto, Canada.

Johnson began playing shows as the front man for his first band, Sight Unseen, in Tallahassee, Florida in 2001, opening for bands such as Mile, Social Burn and New Address. He became a popular performer on the capital city music scene with several groups, including Proper Villains, Blue Manhattan and Black Jacket. Johnson also performs throughout the Florida Panhandle as a solo artist under the name Upside Avenue.

As Johnson was building his reputation as a performer and earning his degree, he also began working as a live sound engineer. He was employed for six years as an Audio System Specialist for the City of Tallahassee, and honed his skills providing sound support for numerous private entities. When he graduated from FSU, Johnson opened his own recording studio, Alchemy Sound Studios, and production company, Alchemy Sound Productions, in Tallahassee, where he has worked with such notable artists as Seeking Sui, Aaron O’Rourke, King Cotton Blues Band, and A Big Goodbye.

In the summer of 2014, Johnson released his first solo project album under the name Upside Avenue. The album, Studio Sessions: Vol. 1, is a compilation of songs composed by Johnson and featuring his work in several genres including acoustic, acoustic pop and alternative rock. The album will be followed by Studio Sessions: Vol. 2, which will complete the compilation of his original works written from 2003 to 2014.