Limelight Artist Spotlight: That Johnny Kid

That Johnny Kid debuts "Red Sky"

Fourteen is the age of high school and new experiences with the teenage years having barely begun.  Few 14-year-olds have grand accomplishments under their belts or are on the immediate cusp of those accomplishments, yet Johnny Cerisano (better known as “That Johnny Kid“) is certainly beyond the average 14-year-old.

With his debut album “Red Sky”, which calls to mind Satriani, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and other guitar greats, That Johnny Kid exhibits an uncanny maturity and mastery of the instrument, having spent the last six years working on original music and cover songs ranging from gospel to classical music. We think you’ll agree the future is extremely bright for this burgeoning superstar.

Spotlight on That Johnny Kid

• Website: http://www.thatjohnnykid.com/
• Hometown: Centreville, VA
• Influences: “Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, Alex Skolnick, Boston, Dan Leonard, Eddie Van Halen, Lincoln Brewster, Kansas, Joe Cerisano (Dad’s cousin), and Dad. My father gave me his 1983 Ibanez for Christmas when I was eight in 2004. Right from the start, I was hooked and practiced hours each day. I’m 14 now and still do.”
• Cover song licensed: “Canon Rock” (an arrangement by Jerry Chang) “O Come All Ye Faithful/O Holy Night” (an arrangement by Paul O’Neill of Trans-Siberian Orchestra)

• Story behind the cover: “After seeing a version of Canon Rock on YouTube, I was stunned and decided I had to master that piece. When putting together this record, I knew that Canon Rock needed to be on it. It is so full of great technique and is really rockin’. Also, Trans-Siberian Orchestra is one of my favorite groups. My Dad’s cousin is Joe Cerisano, a featured TSO vocalist. With my record being released just before Christmas, I wanted to include “O Come All Ye Faithful/O Holy Night”. I recorded it in 2009 with a broken right hand and a cast on my arm. Playing with a cast made it challenging in some ways, but it also “accidentally” added some pretty awesome harmonics. There are eight other cuts on my new record, including another Christmas bonus cut. It is my hope that Red Sky will reach people in multiple ways.”

That Johnny Kid’s debut “Red Sky” is available for purchase via CD Baby.  You can also check out videos of his performances direct on his site (ThatJohnnyKid.com).