Bio
Chris come from the urbanized prairies, forests, and swamps of Houston, Texas, ancestral home of the Caddo / Mississippi nations. My family is a part of the African Diaspora resulting from the Maafa and includes people with deep love of humanity, food, music, nature and spirituality. Making music, art, food, and other works is a way I shape a collective identity rooted in my ancestry. Influenced by the vivid and practical imaginations of Sun Ra, Octavia Butler and Alice Coltrane, I’m driven to create inner and outer worlds free from the specter of anti-Blackness.
Mission
I seek to ease the unecessary suffering of human and nonhuman beings by helping people perceive the world more clearly and take better care of themselves. I do this by creating and performing music, easing the burden of digital technology, and establishing healthy relationships with food.
Web Development & Design Projects
- Katinnganiq Makespace Network (Pinnguaq Association). Makerspace IT implementation. System design w Synology, Docker, Gitea, NGINX Proxy Manager, and Mastodon. 2023.
- Pinnguaq Association. Web development consultation. Technical lead, DevOps, technical strategy, WordPress support. 2023.
- African American Graphic Designers. Marketing website support. Web development on WordPress. 2020.
- Relax Station. Massage studio website redesign. Web design and development on WordPress. 2020.
- Kera MacKenzie. Artist Portfolio Website. Web design and development on Kirby CMS. 2020.
- Sahara Lounge. Music Venue Website. Web design and development on WordPress. 2019.
- Hiba Ali. Artist Portfolio Website. Web design and development on Grav CMS. 2019.
- Jenkins Electric (Hunt + Gather). eCommerce website. Web development on WordPress and WooCommerce. 2019.
- Environmental Defense Fund (Howdy Design). Interactive iPad experience. Web development on WordPress. 2018.
- NurturMe (Howdy Design). eCommerce website. Web development on WordPress. 2018.
- DigiDaybook. Marketing website. Web development on WordPress. 2018.
- Austin Rhythm and Drum. Marketing website. Web development and design on WordPress. 2018.
- Bettinger Realtors. Real estate angeny website support. Web development on WordPress. 2017.
- Colleges of Distinction (Design it Please). Marketing website enhancement. Web development on WordPress. 2017.
- Jenkins Electric (Howdy Design). Marketing website. Web development on WordPress. 2017.
- Copacino + Fujikado (Howdy Design). Marketing website enhancement. Web development on WordPress. 2017.
- Food and City (Design it Please). Marketing website enhancement. Web development on WordPress. 2017.
- Real Massive. Marketing website enhancement. Web development on WordPress. 2017.
- Vintage American Guitar. Archival website enhancment. Web development on WordPress. 2017.
- Sahara Lounge. Music venue website. Web development and design on WordPress. 2015.
- Battleground Texas. Political action committee advocacy website enhancement. Web development on WordPress, Blue State Digital. 2014
- 3Q Digital. Marketing agency website build. Web development on WordPress. 2014.
- Sylla Music. Business card design and printing. 2013.
- JumpStartMD. Health agency website build. Web development on WordPress. 2013.
Music Recordings / Discography
- Black Earth by R. Chris Johnson. Tenor saxophone, flute, bansuri, percussion, music production. 6 February, 2024.
- El Adiós by Superfonicos. Tenor saxophone. 12 June 2020.
- Darkness Falls on the Edge of Time by Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone on Mame Se, Allo Allo Boom, Showdown, Darkness Falls, Blood of Royalty, and Hamza. 11 October 2019.
- Cumbéalo by Superfonicos. Tenor saxophone. 10 May 2019.
- Suelta by Superfonicos. Tenor saxophone. 5 October, 2018.
- Unbreakable by Soul Track Mind. Tenor saxophone on all tracks exceprt Silloute. 16 September, 2016.
- Moment of Resolution by R. Chris Johnson. Alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute, percussion, music production. 12 August, 2012.
- Chesterfield by Chesterfield. Alto saxophone, tenor saxophone. Arrangement. 11 November, 2011.
- Drone Tones by R. Chris Johnson. Music production. 1 September, 2011.
- Life on the Underground by R. Chris Johnson. Tenor saxophone, flute, music production. 1 August, 2011.
- In the Devil’s Playgroud. Electric Dee and Ghostwriter. Tenor saxophone on track 5. 29 June 2011.
- Ghost of Soul by Soul Track Mind. Tenor saxophone. Arrangement. 2010.
Selected Musical Performances
2022 – 2024
- Stay Black and Live Juneteenth Festival. Zoumountchi. Tenor Saxophone. 22 June 2024.
- Solidarity Share Fare. R. Chris Johnon x Justice. Alto saxophone. Eugene, OR. May 28, 2023.
- Meridian Brothers (Bogota, Col) w Superfónicos. Epistrophy Arts. Tenor saxophone. Austin, TX. 16 August 2022.
2019
- 9th Annual Chilren in Nature Workshop. Bramaya West African Drum and Dance. Tenor Saxophone. Austin, TX. 23 November 2012.
- Austin to Africa Benefit. Bramaya West African Drum & Dance. The Sahara Lounge. Austin, TX. 20 October 2019.
- Transpecos Music Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Marfa, TX. 27 September 2019.
- River Revival Music Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. New Braunfels, TX. 26 September, 2019.
- Texas Music Museum International Music Festival. Bramaya West African Drum and Dance. Tenor saxophone, djembe. Austin, TX. 8 September 2019.
- Noorderzon Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Groningen, Netherlands. 15 August 2019.
- Point Éphémère. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Paris, France. 14 August 2019.
- Musikfeswoochen Winterthur. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Winterthur, Switzerland. 13 August 2019.
- Palais Sommer. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Dresden, Germany. 11 August 2019.
- 3000 Grad Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Wustrow, Germany. 10 August 2019.
- Druckluft. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Oberhausen, Germany. 9 August 2019.
- At the B-Sites. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Den Bosch, Netherlands. 8 August 2019.
- Boulevard Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Den Bosch, Netherlands. 8 August 2019.
- Watt En Schlick Fest. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Kurhaus Dangast Strand, Germany. 3 August 2019.
- Appletree Garden Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Diepholz, Germany. 2 August 2019.
- Skandalös Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Neukirchen, Germandy. 01 August, 2019.
- Schlachthof. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Wiesbaden, Germany. 31 July 2019.
- Les Nuits Secretes Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Aulnoye-Aymeries, France. 27-28 July 2019.
- Burg Herzberg Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Breitenbach, Germany. 26 July 2019.
- Habitat Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Hohenlockstedt, Germany. 25 July 2019.
- Woodstock 69 Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Bloemendall aan Zee, Netherlands. 24 July 2019.
- Totaal Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Bladel, Netherlands. 23 July 2019.
- Bluedot Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Chesshire, United Kingdom. 21 July 2019.
- Zwarte Cross Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Lichtevoorde, Netherlands. 20 July, 2019.
- World Refugee Day. Bullock Museum. Bramaya West African Drum and Dance. Tenor saxophone, djembe. Killeen, TX. 15 June 2019.
- KUTX Presents Superfónicos Cumbéalo Single Relase. Superfónicos. Tenor saxophone. Mexican American Cultural Center. Austin, TX. 11 May 2019.
- Festival d’été de Québec. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor Saxophone, flute. Quebec City, QB, Canada. 7 July 2019.
- Montreal Jazz Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Montreal, QB. Canada. Tenor Saxophone, Flute. 6 July 2019.
- The Texas Taco Tequila & Music Festival. Superfónicos. Tenor saxophone. San Antonio, TX. 25 May 2019.
- Akamba Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Tenor saxophone, flute. 27 April 2019.
- Boone Elementary. Bramaya West African Drum and Dance. Tenor saxophone, djembe. Austin, TX. 4 April 2019.
- Congo Square. Bramaya West African Drum and Dance. Tenor saxophone, sangban dundun. Austin, TX. 24 March 2019.
- Nrmal Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Ciudad de México, Mexico. Tenor saxophone. 1 March 2019.
2018
- Sahara Lounge. Bramaya West African Drum and Dance. Tenor saxophone, djembe. Austin, TX. 30 November 2018.
- Texas Music Museum International Music Festival. Bramaya West African Drum and Dance. Tenor saxophone, djembe. Austin, TX. 9 September 2018.
- Saturnalia Festiva. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone. Austin, TX. 17 November 2018.
- Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone. Santa Fe, NM. 31 October 2018.
- Formula 1 Pirelli 2018 United States Grand Prix. Superfónicos. Tenor saxophone. Austin, TX. 21 October 2018.
- Pappy & Harriets. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor Saxophone, flute. Yucca Valley, CA. 28 October 2018.
- La Lagunitas Festival. Goldwn Dawn Arkestra. Tenor Saxophone, flute. Pamona, CA. 27 October 2018.
- Si Se Puede. Superfónicos. Tenor Saxophone. Empire Control Room and Garage, Austin, TX. 20 October 2018.
- Casa Marianella. Spirit of the Drum. Alto saxophone, Austin, TX. 30 September 2018.
- Austin City Limits Music Festival. Superfónicos. Tenor saxophone. Austin, TX. 12 October 2018.
- Fall Pecan Street Festival. Superfónicos. Tenor Saxophone. Austin, TX. 22 September 2018.
- Austin City Limits Music Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone. Austin, TX. 5 September 2018.
- Contemporary Ancestral Colombian Orchestra. Jaime Ospina. Tenor Saxophone. Sahara Lounge. Austin, TX. 19 April 2018.
- Behind the Mask. Akirash. Tenor saxophone. Big Medium. Austin, TX. 18 April 2018.
- Austin to Africa Benefit. Bramaya West African Drum and Dance. Tenor saxophone, sangban. Sahara Lounge. Austin, TX. 25 March 2018.
- USA to Africa Business and Matchmaking Conference. Bramaya West African Drum and Dance. Tenor saxophone, djembe. Austin, TX. 9 March 2018.
- Black History Month, San Antonio Military Medical Center. Bramaya West African Drum and Dance. Tenor saxophone, djembe. San Antonio, TX. 22 February 2018.
- Soundhealing Exhibition by Vernon Adams. Spirit of the Drum. Tenor Saxophone. 17 February 2018.
2017
- Flamingo Cantina. Bramaya West African Drum and Dance. Tenor saxophone. Austin, TX. 3 November 2017.
- Spider House Presents: Greater Houston Community Foundatoion Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund and Emancipet. Superfónicos. Tenor saxohpone. The Ballroom. Austin, TX. 24 September 2017.
- Money Chicha Live Taping w Third Root. Superfónicos. Tenor Saxophone. Antone’s Night Club. Austin, TX. 15 September 2017.
- Luna. Superfónicos. Tenor saxophone. San Antonio, TX. 9 September 2017.
- Hard Proof + Superfónicos. Tenor saxophone. Threadgill’s. Austin, TX. 26 August 2017.
- 27th Annual Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival. Superfónicos. Tenor Saxophone. Fiesta Gardens. Austin, TX. 20 August 2017.
- Texas Taco Tequila and Margarita Festival. Superfónicos. Tenor saxophone. Heritage Park. Conroe, TX. 19 August 2017.
- Festival De Cumbia En La Capital. Superfónicos. Tenor saxophone. Barracuda Lounge. Austin, TX. 29 July 2017.
- Superfónicos + Chulita Vinyl Club. Tenor Saxophone. Caroline Restaurant. Austin, TX. 28 July 2017.
- The Wine Down by Dreaming Tree Wines. Superfónicos. Tenor saxophone. 3TEN ACL Live. Austin, TX. 28 June 2017.
- Texas Folk Life Exhibition. R. Chris Johnson, Abou Sylla. Djembe, dunduns, balafon. San Antonio, TX. 10 June 2017.
- Levitation Presents. Superfónicos. Tenor saxophone. Barracuda Lounge. Austin, TX. 6 May 2017.
- SXSW Satur-DAZE. Superfónicos. Tenor saxophone. Half Step. Austin, TX. 18 March 2017.
- SXSC III in Austin, Elk Records. Superfónicos. Tenor saxophone. Flamingo Cantina. Austin, TX. 17 March 2017.
2016
- Internatonal Night, University of Texas at Austin. Bramaya West Africa Drum & Dance. Alto Saxophone. Frank Erwin Center. Austin, TX. 9 November 2016.
- Congo Square. Bramaya West African Drum & Dance. Tenor saxophone. Vortex Theatre, Austin, TX. 15 October 2016.
- US / Africa Expo. Bramaya West African Drum & Dance. Tenor Saxophone. 14 – 15 October 2016.
- Austin Music Museum. Bramaya West African Drum & Dance. Tenor Saxophone, djembe. 11 October 2016.
- Austin International Music Extravaganza by Cosmic Intuition Productions. Cosmic Intution. Alto saxophone. Spiderhouse Ballroom. 13 September 2016.
- Austin to Africa Benefit. Bramaya West African Drum and Dance. Alto Saxophone. Sahara Lounge, Austin, TX. 5 June 2016.
2015
- US Africa Cultural Expo and Business Matchmaking. Bramaya West African Drum & Dance. Tenor saxophone. Austin, TX. 21 November 2015.
- World Music Unleashed. School of Indian Percussion and Music. Bramaya West African Drum & Dance Tenor saxophone. Northwest Hills Church. 7 November 2015.
- An Evening in Africa. Sunset Valley Arts Comission. Bramaya West African Drum & Dance. Tenor Saxophone, djembe. Austin, TX. 19 September 2015.
- HONK TX Five Year Celebration. Bramaya West African Drum & Dance. Tenor Saxophone. Spiderhouse Ballroom. Austin, TX. 28 March 2015.
- Peace and Rhythm Festival by Cosmic Intuition Productions. Cosmic Intuition. Bramaya West African Drum and Dance. Alto saxophone, djembe. Family Life Center. Austin, TX. 7 March 2015.
- Black History Month, Harmony Public Schools. Bramaya West African Drum and Dance. Alto Saxophone. Austin, TX. 20 February 2015.
- One Billion Rising Revolution Austin. Bramaya West African Drum and Dance. Alto Saxophone. Austin, TX. 14 February 2015.
2014
- Luna Night Club. Soul Track Mind. Tenor Saxophone. San Antonio, TX. 27 June 2014.
- Soul Track Mind. Tenor saxophone. Queen City Music Hall. Ft. Worth, TX. 15 June 2014.
- Austin International Music Extravaganza. Cosmic Intuition Productions. Cosmic Intuition. Alto saxophone. Family Life Center. Austin, TX. 17 May 2014.
- Continental Club. Soul Track Mind. Tenor saxophone. Austin, TX. 10 May 2014.
- The Rustic. Soul Track Mind. Tenor saxophone. Dallas TX. 9 May 2014.
- House of Fifi DuBois. Soul Track Mind. Tenor saxophone. San Angelo, TX. 25 April 2014.
- Luna. Soul Track Mind. Tenor saxophone. San Antonio TX. 19 April 2014.
- Monnalisa at Hotel Sorella. Soul Track Mind. Tenor saxophone. Houston, TX. 18 April 2014.
- Central Market – North. Soul Track Mind. Tenor saxophone. Austin, TX. 11 April 2014.
2011
- Momo’s. Soul Track Mind. Tenor Saxophone. Austin, TX. 14 May 2011.
- Luna. Soul Track Mind. Tenor Saxophone. San Antonio, TX. 28 May 2011.
Theatre Performances
- Miracle on 34th Street. Flute, Tenor saxophone. Georgetown Palace Theatre. Georgetown, TX. 2012.
- Buddy Holly Story. Tenor Saxophone, Actor (Apollo Host). Georgetown Palace Theatre. Georgetown, TX. 2012
Grants and Awards
- Black Fret Artist. Superfónicos. December, 2019.
- Texas FolkLife Apprenticeship. R. Chris Johnson, Abou Sylla. Djembe, dunduns, balafon. January, 2017.
- Gates Millineum Scholar. R. Chris Johnson. 2003.
Video
- Luminated. R. Chris Johnson. 2024
- Trinity. R. Chris Johnson. 2024.
- Tender. Katrina Simpson. 19 March 2019.
- Austin360 Studio Sessions. Superfónicos. 10 April 2018.
- Sigue Palante. Superfónicos. KUTX Austin. 27 July 2017.
- International Music Festival Presented by the Texas Music Museum. Zoumountchi. George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center. Austin, TX. 24 January 2014.
- Africa Night. Zoumountchi. Sahara Lounge. Austin, TX. 2 March 2014.
- Peace Concert. Zoumountchi. VUKA. Austin, TX. 2013.
Press
- “Luminated, Black Earth”. Untapped Show, KAZI FM 88.7. 6 July, 2024. Austin, TX.
- “Black Earth.” Leftovers, Twisted Soul. 17 May, 2024.
- “Luminated, Black Earth.” BandCamp Weekly #736. 23 April, 2024.
Ensembles and Performing Groups
- Superfonicos
- Bramaya
- Cosmic Intuition
- Zoumountchi
- Chesterfield
- Soul Track Mind
- Innervisions Gospel Choir
Music Residencies
- Afro Jazz
- Africa Night
Education
- UX Fundamentals Aquent Gymnasium, 2017
- Front End Development Certification, freeCodeCamp, 2016
- BS Electrical Engineering. Systems and Signals, Microcontrollers. The University of Texas at Austin. 2008.