Listen: Rhanda Johnson’s “Look to Me”

By Courtney Lowery, 2-22-07

Montana singer-songwriter Rhanda Johnson has just released her debut album "Look to Me," a compilation of original songs full of strong vocals and intimate lyrics.

Rhanda, a 48-year-old mother of two and grandmother of one, says on her Web site of the release, "It's a dream come true! You know, it's like having a baby. It's an amazing personal creation that has a gestation period and when it's finally born you find yourself saying, "I'm never gonna do this again!" Then you recover and you are so ready for another." Her family is central to the songwriting on this first album and on immediate listen, you get a sense of Rhanda's devotion to faith and family.

Rhanda has offered up Track No. 11 from her new CD for NewWest.Net's Local Music Soundoff (www.newwest.net/missoulamusic) listeners. Click here to hear "If I Was My Own Girlfriend."

The Missoula Folklore Society is helping Rhanda celebrate the release this Saturday, February 24 at 8 p.m. at the Loft at 424 Higgins Ave. Missoula's own Jacob Kuntz will open for Rhanda, who will be joined onstage by the band Divine Potion, including Richard Bishop on guitar, Bruce Allen on mandolin and guitar, Carla Green on upright bass, Liz Shone-Slater on percussion, Rachael Wogsland on fiddle and Lois Mandelco-Stienberg on backup vocals. Guitarist Bill Mize will also make a guest appearance.
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