Biography
Johnny Sansone, born September 27, 1957, in Orange, New Jersey, is a celebrated American blues singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist known for his mastery of the harmonica, accordion, guitar, and piano. Raised in a musical household—his father played saxophone with Dave Brubeck’s band during World War II—Sansone began learning saxophone at age eight and soon picked up guitar and harmonica. A formative moment came at age twelve when he saw Howlin’ Wolf perform, cementing his lifelong dedication to the blues. He further honed his craft under the guidance of blues harmonica legends James Cotton and Junior Wells, and by age thirteen, he was sitting in with blues greats like Honeyboy Edwards.
Sansone’s career is marked by restless exploration and a deep connection to American roots music. He spent his early professional years backing Chicago blues icons such as Jimmy Rogers, Robert Jr. Lockwood, and John Lee Hooker, and fronted Ronnie Earl’s Broadcasters in the 1980s. After moving between Colorado, Austin, Florida, and Chicago, he settled in New Orleans in 1990, where the city’s vibrant musical culture profoundly shaped his sound. Inspired by the funeral of zydeco legend Clifton Chenier, Sansone added accordion to his repertoire, blending swamp rock, Cajun, and zydeco influences into his blues foundation. His 1997 album 'Crescent City Moon' earned widespread acclaim and multiple awards, solidifying his reputation as a leading figure in modern blues and Louisiana roots music.
Over a career spanning four decades, Sansone has released more than a dozen albums and garnered numerous accolades, including a Grammy nomination, a Blues Music Award, a Juno Award, and multiple 'Best of the Beat' and 'Big Easy' awards. He is a founding member of the Voice of the Wetlands All Stars, collaborating with New Orleans legends like Dr. John, Cyril Neville, and Tab Benoit. Sansone’s dynamic stage presence, innovative songwriting, and commitment to musical authenticity have made him a vital force in contemporary blues and roots music.
Fun Facts
- Johnny Sansone’s father played saxophone with Dave Brubeck’s band during World War II, exposing Johnny to jazz and blues from a young age.
- He began playing harmonica and guitar by age ten and sat in with blues legend Honeyboy Edwards at just thirteen.
- Sansone was inspired to take up the accordion after attending the funeral of zydeco pioneer Clifton Chenier.
- He is a founding member of the Voice of the Wetlands All Stars, a group dedicated to raising awareness about Louisiana’s environmental issues through music.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- James Cotton - Studied blues harmonica technique and style (Personal instruction and influence on harmonica playing) [1970s]
- Junior Wells - Studied blues harmonica and encouraged Sansone to develop his own style (Personal mentorship, influence on phrasing and individuality) [1970s]
- Howlin' Wolf - Major inspiration after Sansone saw him perform live at age 12 (Live performance influence) [1969]
Key Collaborators
- Ronnie Earl - Fronted Ronnie Earl's Broadcasters in the 1980s (Performances and tours with the Broadcasters) [1980s]
- Anders Osborne - Frequent collaborator and songwriting partner in New Orleans (Voice of the Wetlands All Stars, joint performances) [1990s–present]
- Voice of the Wetlands All Stars - Member of New Orleans supergroup with Dr. John, Cyril Neville, Tab Benoit, and others (Albums and live performances) [2000s–present]
- Sonny Landreth - Guest slide guitarist on 'Crescent City Moon' ('Crescent City Moon' album) [1997]
- Jon Cleary - Guest pianist on 'Watermelon Patch' ('Watermelon Patch' album) [1999]
- Joe Krown - Guest organist on 'Watermelon Patch' ('Watermelon Patch' album) [1999]
Artists Influenced
- No widely documented direct proteges - Sansone is recognized more for his collaborative and inspirational role in the New Orleans blues and roots scene than for mentoring specific artists
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| The Lord Is Waiting the Devil Is Too | 2011-05-05 | Album |
| Into Your Blues | 2022-08-10 | Album |
| Poor Man's Paradise | 2007-09-13 | Album |
| Hopeland | 2018-04-15 | Album |
| Lady On the Levee | 2015-04-24 | Album |
| Once It Gets Started | 2013-04-22 | Album |
| Watermelon Patch | 1999-10-12 | Album |
| Watermelon Patch | 1999-01-01 | Album |
Top Tracks
- The Lord Is Waiting the Devil Is Too (The Lord Is Waiting the Devil Is Too)
- Leavin" (The Lord Is Waiting the Devil Is Too)
- Poor Man's Paradise (Poor Man's Paradise)
- Happiness, Love & Lies (Poor Man's Paradise)
- Into Your Blues (Into Your Blues)
- Desperation (Into Your Blues)
- Sinking Ship (The Lord Is Waiting the Devil Is Too)
- Corn Whiskey (The Lord Is Waiting the Devil Is Too)
- Once It Gets Started (Once It Gets Started)
- The Night the Pie Factory Burned Down (Once It Gets Started)
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
johnny sansone has been played 9 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2, 2026 | 12:36 | crescent city moonfrom Crescent City Moon | New Orleans Music Showw/ Black Mold or Bill DeTurk | |
| Dec 3, 2025 | 14:01 | OZ Radiofrom Lady On The Levee | Sittin' at the Crossroadw/ Big D | |
| Nov 17, 2025 | 13:35 | Lady On The Leveefrom Lady On The Levee | New Orleans Music Showw/ Murf Reeves | |
| Nov 5, 2025 | 13:33 | derelict junction | New Orleans Music Showw/ Missy Bowen | |
| Oct 22, 2025 | 12:33 | crescent city moon | New Orleans Music Showw/ Missy Bowen | |
| Oct 6, 2025 | 11:06 | People Like You And Mefrom Into Your Blues | New Orleans Music Showw/ Murf Reeves | |
| Oct 1, 2025 | 15:33 | Desperationfrom Into Your BLues | Sittin' at the Crossroadw/ Big D | |
| Sep 24, 2025 | 14:54 | Corn Whiskeyfrom The Lord is Waiting And The Devil is Too | Sittin' at the Crossroadw/ Big D | |
| Sep 24, 2025 | 12:10 | OZ Radiofrom Lady On The Levee | New Orleans Music Showw/ Missy Bowen |