Peter Johnson

Peter Johnson was the first person to introduce live folk music to Passim, when new owners Bob and Rae Ann Donlin took over the site of what once had been the legendary Club 47, intending to run it as a gift shop. Patrons begged them to bring back the music, so Peter introduced singers of traditional songs and players of jigs and reels from Scotland and Ireland.

Born in Boston and raised in Newport, Peter founded Living Folk Records and Concerts a decade earlier. He was also a musician; a record producer; a Ford model; and an actor who shared the stage with Claire Bloom.

Over the years, Living Folk audiences grew and moved with Peter to larger venues as he brought performers such as Clannad from Ireland and Silly Wizard from Scotland to Harvard Square venues. After Living Folk folded, Peter continued to host ceilidhs and hoots at pubs and coffeehouses in Boston and Cambridge. His memoir, The Laughing Lesson, released in October 2019, is published by Peter E. Randall Publisher. Copies will be sold at the concert and also available at Pathway Book Service. Visit www.Laughing Lesson.com for more information.