Johnny Z
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johnnyzawacki.bsky.social
Johnny Z
@johnnyzawacki.bsky.social
This will be the basis of the tray art, for my Making Contact album. It will be released on my birthday, 11/15/2025. Although we musical artists appreciate streaming, real support comes from the physical sale of our songs.
A song I chose to kick off the Making Contact album is "Sittin' on the Train". It's the first and only to include other musicians on my past five album releases. Ron Patterson (bass) & Tom Loewe (backing vocals). Here's the YouTube music link, but it's everywhere.

music.youtube.com/watch?v=FSU7...
Sittin' on the Train
YouTube video by Johnny Z - Topic
music.youtube.com
December 28, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Here's a song I wrote with Bryan MacMillan and Tim Fuller. It was written during the folk rock era, popularized by The Eagles, and definitely echos that time.

open.spotify.com/track/7e57Y0...
Packin' for the Highway
open.spotify.com
December 27, 2025 at 6:39 PM
The song that's getting the least love (oka plays), on Spotify, is 'You're on You're Own'. It was written in response to the death of John Lennon, not directly addressing it, but my mood. Give it some love here or on you favorite streaming service. Thanks!

open.spotify.com/track/3rYVm5...
You're on You're Own
open.spotify.com
December 26, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Joolz Guides is taking a walk around London highlighting Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol sites. This is both informative and entertaining, plus perfect for the season!

youtu.be/FpNv0k0YVHA?...
A Christmas Carol in London: Walking Dickens’ Winter World
YouTube video by Joolz Guides - London History Walks - Travel Films
youtu.be
December 24, 2025 at 3:31 PM
A song from Making Contact, 'Questions Remain' has been added to this Spotify playlist!

open.spotify.com/playlist/5SG...
December Indie
open.spotify.com
December 23, 2025 at 3:20 PM
It's nice that my music is being listened to. Now, "Cat In a Tree" has reached rarified strata which will contribute to my royalties. Thanks to all of you that stream my music!!!

open.spotify.com/track/07lmYK...
Cat in a Tree
open.spotify.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Rarely, I look at songs that have not made the Spotify (pay) grade and today I did just that. As of today, "The Bridge of Sighs" has had more than twice the number of streams as that of most of its siblings. Thanks to everyone that listens to my work/passion!
open.spotify.com/track/3E6E3S...
The Bridge of Sighs
open.spotify.com
December 20, 2025 at 3:39 PM
The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has been renamed to reflect the narcissist sitting in the Oval Office. Established as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy by an Act of Congress. This is inappropriate and it dishonors the memory of the former president.

www.kennedy-center.org
Queue-it
www.kennedy-center.org
December 19, 2025 at 5:42 PM
If you're not in the Owosso area, fear not. Making Contact is available to you.

Get the CD made for you, for a limited time, with the manufacturer shipping it to your door at . . . kunaki.com/sales.asp?PI...
kunaki.com
December 17, 2025 at 9:17 PM
I've only released four cover tunes, over the years. There are two Stephen Foster and one Marta Keen (Thompson). Here's the fourth, a Graham Nash classic.

music.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku3S...
Just a Song Before I Go
YouTube video by Johnny Z - Topic
music.youtube.com
December 17, 2025 at 7:39 PM
The second is "It Happens That Way", a slowed down doo-wop tune, along the lines of The Beatles "Oh! Darling". It's one of those songs that seemed to simply flow from me, when I started writing it.

open.spotify.com/track/75tgjg...
It Happens That Way
open.spotify.com
December 16, 2025 at 9:31 PM
I've had not one, but two songs enter the Spotify paying royalties category, today! The first is "Cover It Up", a song I've never played live. It defies genres, borrowing from funk, pseudo rap and someone said country (the latter, I don't see). Judge for yourself.

open.spotify.com/track/7EtQoc...
Cover It Up
open.spotify.com
December 16, 2025 at 9:26 PM
As song Kevin Beamish and I wrote together, "Daddy Was a Rounder", has been added to this Spotify playlist!

open.spotify.com/playlist/6BR...
All Rock 'n' Roll
open.spotify.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:18 PM
"That's Enough", a Beatles influenced song, particularly that of John Lennon, has been added to this Spotify playlist!

open.spotify.com/playlist/7mG...
Beatlesque
open.spotify.com
December 15, 2025 at 3:32 PM
The infectious "You Know What to Do" has quietly slipped into making the Spotify (pay) grade, my 30th song to do so. I don't play guitar on the song at all, leaving those duties to Jon Claussen (lead) and Paul Urbanski (rhythm). I left my guitar on the master tape.

open.spotify.com/track/7xDrgT...
You Know What to Do
open.spotify.com
December 14, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Spotify has sent me a breakdown of what my songs have done on their platform. 26,000 streams is quite remarkable (for me). Royalty-wise I've had about $60 come in to me from all platforms, not only Spotify. I guess I'll celebrate with Aldi's $4.95 sparkling wine, rather than Dom Pérignon.
December 13, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Here I talk about the writing of the song, "Iliki", which is on the Making Contact album. youtu.be/bzHSxHqfcbA
"Iliki" (the writing of a song)
YouTube video by Johnny Zawacki
youtu.be
December 12, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Today, would have been Kevin Beamish's 69th birthday. Before he died, we were working on an album of his songs, which I completed and released for him, posthumously. Happy Birthday, my friend!

spotlightrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/the-ro...
The Road to Water, by Kevin Beamish
7 track album
spotlightrecordings.bandcamp.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:22 PM
The latest case brought before SCOTUS is once again showing us that the conservatives fully endorse anointing trump as an authoritarian dictator. My song and video, "Before the End", continues to be relevant.

youtu.be/RkU2992_HcI?...
"Before the End" by Johnny Z (official music video)
YouTube video by Johnny Zawacki
youtu.be
December 9, 2025 at 4:50 PM
"The Bridge of Sighs" has developed its own traction and has been getting streaming plays. Initially, I was going to position this song first, on Making Contact, but tucked it a few songs in. Maybe I was onto something. What do you think?

YouTube Music:
music.youtube.com/watch?v=KOua...
The Bridge of Sighs by Johnny Z on Apple Music
Song · 2025 · Duration 4:11
music.apple.com
December 7, 2025 at 9:31 PM
If you've found you liked the songs, from Mind the Gap, and would like a physical copy, I've a few that I can put in your hands. The Shiawassee Arts Center, in Owosso MI, also has some, or you could order from the manufacturer and they'll send it to your doorstep!

kunaki.com/sales.asp?PI...
kunaki.com
December 6, 2025 at 4:22 PM
"Blue Drink", written for Kimberly, was my most recent song to make the Spotify (pay) grade, so it's somewhat poetic that "Good Night, Sweet Dreams" would be the next. This one is a lullaby, for Sarah, and it has one of the best chord progressions I've ever written.

open.spotify.com/track/50AxTH...
Good Night, Sweet Dreams
open.spotify.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Just got back from a Christmas shopping walk and I visited the SAC. Guess what? They have my 7 CDs available for sale there, along with a plethora of other gift ideas!
December 4, 2025 at 9:54 PM
I've not seriously considered instrumental music as a place I'd venture as a solo artist. That is, not until 'Just Desserts (Instrumental Version)'. This has just been added to another Spotify playlist. Maybe there's something to this too long ignored genre!

open.spotify.com/playlist/7hn...
✨ Purely Instrumental ✨
open.spotify.com
December 1, 2025 at 5:53 PM
"Packin' for the Highway", a song I wrote with friends, Bryan MacMillan and Tim Fuller, and included on Making Contact has been added to this playlist. Begun in 1976, then revised in 1979 and 2024, it's finally reached its final form.

open.spotify.com/playlist/6xy...
A Little Bit Of Everything
open.spotify.com
November 30, 2025 at 3:53 PM