Member Directory Listing - About Us:
Jerry Johnson lives in a restored century-old schoolhouse in Vermont’s fabled Northeast Kingdom. He taught for 29 years at the middle school, high school and college levels. He is a retired professor from Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts where he was a finalist for the school’s excellence in teaching award. In addition, he has been a civil engineer, tennis pro, carpenter, artist, freelance writer and editor. Jerry is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst where he was honored with the Eastern College Athletic Conference Award as the school's top scholar-athlete. He received his master’s degree from Purdue University.
Jerry is the author of two celebrated books, Up the Creek Without a Saddle and Noah’s Song. In Jerry’s own words: “I was blessed when Jon Gailmor and Pete Sutherland, two legendary Vermont master musicians, took a number of my poems in Up the Creek Without a Saddle set them into song for a beautiful CD album to accompany the book. I was again blessed when my dear friend Adrien Patenaude illustrated Noah’s Song and when Jon Gailmor set “Noah’s Song” into music for a delightful CD to accompany this book.”
Jerry’s work has received kudos from several noted authors. Here are a few:
In the words of Howard Mosher: “Up the Creek Without a Saddle and the music of Jon Gailmor and Pete Sutherland are a lyrical celebration of the ‘Vermont Tradition’ at its best.”
In the words of Sydney Lea, Poet Laureate of Vermont: “Jerry Johnson has the true songwriter's gift: his lyrics seem so simple, but that's a deception. The more one listens — and the tunes are brilliantly served by the excellent Jon Gailmor and Pete Sutherland — the deeper they get. What a pleasure this album is!”
In the words of Reeve Lindbergh: “Noah’s Song is another wild and warmhearted rhyming tale from Jerry Johnson, full of happy mayhem, with an ark-full of creatures creating all kinds of adventures … fun for children of all ages and all species! Noah’s Song is further enhanced by the bright, delightful paintings of Adrien ‘Yellow’ Patenaude, and accompanied by the always captivating music of one of Vermont’s master musicians, Jon Gailmor.”