Tenry Johns -The King Kong Rocker - Moving On

www.tenryjohns.com

12 Tracks

Bassist and vocalist Tenry Johns’ fourth CD is Moving On. Tenry Johns has taken the common route to the blues. He was born in the Mississippi Delta where he started his first band while still in his teens. After high school, he moved to Chicago as did other members of his family. In Chicago, he first played in a band with his cousin, Johnny Drummer. Johns and his brothers then formed the Johns Brothers Band with Denise LaSalle on lead vocals. He now writes and produces his own material on his own label, Tenry Music. He calls himself “The King Kong Rocker.”

The opening track, “Move On…Don’t Stop” is an R&B lite number reminiscent of Tyron Davis’s style, but not Davis’ voice. “You’ Alright” is a soul blues ode to his woman who lets him be himself. The music has more depth than the opening track. “What’s Wrong” and “I Ain’t Gonna Cheat” are OK. “You’ All I Need” is “You’ Alright” reworded and slower. The slower version is even better. “I Ain’t Comin’ Back” is one of those idle threat songs about leaving considering he hasn’t left yet. “Get Out Of That Mess” has a similar theme as “Move On…Don’t Stop.” The music on “I’m In Love” is nice. The remaining tracks are OK. “Rockin’ In America” is the heaviest rocker but it does not make him worthy of the moniker “The King Kong Rocker.” The nickname must be an inside joke because I don’t get it.

Johns’ voice is only OK; the lyrics are OK. The music is the best aspect of this CD. I especially like the lead guitar work on tracks 2 and 3 by Bob Savage and on track 8 by Larry Kucera.