User:Stevieandthejohnson

1990-2000

Steven Johnson began his entertainment career as a stunt double and scene extra on TV's "Saved By The Bell" in 1990. He enjoyed three years on set as a double for Dustin Diamond, "Screech" and he and Mr. Diamond took guitar lessons from the studio gaffer Paul Demond. After "Saved By The Bell" was cancelled in 1993 Steven adopted the stage name, Stevie, and headed to the resort town of Aspen, CO. His music career took a quantum leap one evening in 1996 while performing in the Black Diamond Coffeehaus, when Aspen resident and coffeehaus patron, John Fogerty, caught one of Stevie's sets. So impressed with Stevie, Mr. Forgerty proclaimed Stevie to be "the best singer-songwriter of his generation" and was instrumental in introducing Stevie to Strange Folk Record's president Mitch DelConroy. Recorded in 1997 in only three days, Stevie's first record, "Axe to Grind" was met with a tepid response both critically and in sales. Unfortunately this led to Stevie's dismissal from the Strange Folk Record label in the spring of 1998 and he began a downward spiral. With his confidence waning and an increasing dependence on alcohol Stevie spent the next three years in and out of alcohol treatment centers and in January of 2000 Stevie was arrested for indecent exposure and jailed in Memphis, TN.

2000-Present

Upon his release Stevie returned to his mother's home and her care in July of 2000. January of 2001 saw Stevie's ascension to normalcy as he enrolled in Davis and Elkins College in the small mountain town of Elkins, WV. He also started playing music again. He has been mostly sober since 2001 and can be seen playing his unique brand of folk music in a number of coffee houses and clubs in the mid-Atlantic region. On April 4th 2008 Stevie participated in a collegiate version of the popular TV show, American Idol, and placed third. His performance was memorable for both his stage presence and his off color banter with the judges.