Bio
BIG NEWS! The Akademia Awards winners were just announced and I'm excited to share with you that I won “World Beat Artist of the Year”! Here's the announcement:
"The Akademia Music Awards is pleased to present the award for Artist Of The Year to Johannes Linstead for extraordinary achievement in the World Beat genre, presented at the Akademia Gala Event in Los Angeles on July 28, 2023."
From having over 500 million streams, to being named Canada’s “Guitarist of the Year,” to winning eight “Best Album” awards, to seven top-ten US Billboard charting albums, and winning the “People’s Choice” award in the UK, Johannes Linstead has become recognized internationally as one of the best selling guitarists in the Instrumental, New Age, Jazz and World Music genres.
Johannes’ vibrant music brings together musicians from many diverse ethnic backgrounds, including Cuba, Greece, Palestine, France, Canada, Australia, Iran, and the Dominican Republic. Upbeat rumbas and emotional ballads are fused with Latin percussion, and the occasional violin, piano, and accordion add distinct spices to his colorful albums.
Chances are even if you don’t know the name you’ve heard his music. Johannes’ songs have been used in some of the most popular TV shows, such as Miami Housewives, Californication, The Following with Kevin Bacon, Burn Notice, Gene Simmons Family Jewels, Pawn Stars, Person of Interest, and many others. World champion figure skater Stephane Lambiel used Johannes’ song “Zabuca” as part of his choreography during the Winter Olympics, and several of Johannes' songs were featured in hugely popular video game Tropical 4 and 5.
In December 2019, Johannes’ holiday song, Tropical Christmas, became a verified hit on US radio, charting at #1 for two weeks as “Most Added” song on the Top 40 New Music Weekly chart, and #1 “Most Increased” song, putting him ahead of artists like Taylor Swift, Maroon 5, and Justin Bieber.
Johannes is an endorsed “Influential Artist” with Yamaha Guitars USA, the largest musical instrument manufacturer in world. He is also an endorsed artist with D’Addario, the largest string manufacturer in the world, and partnered with D’Angelico Guitars of New York city.
The group consists of congas, accordion, bass and Spanish guitars, creating a rare on-stage chemistry that moves audiences to their feet, clapping along with the music and occasionally shouting out “ole!” They perform at many of the top music venues in the US and Canada, including the Catalina Island JazzTrax festival in California, which was named the #1 jazz festival in the US. Johannes’ legendary concerts have brought the group as far as the Middle-East, performing for royalty in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Together, Johannes and his group set the stage on fire as they let loose a fiesta of Afro-Cuban percussion and Spanish guitar magic.
When creating new music Johannes derives his inspiration from his many travels, from Spain to the Caribbean, from India to the Middle East. Each new land bringing him a wealth of exotic sounds and rhythms to colour his musical pallet. Having developed a love for the tropics since childhood, Johannes now calls the Dominican Republic his home away from home.
A deeply spiritual person, Johannes is a certified Kundalini yoga instructor and conducts yoga and music retreats when his touring schedule allows. In 2006 he founded Divine Earth (divineearth.org), a humanitarian organization promoting meditation, yoga, holistic living, and the healing power of music.
Johannes states, “I use music as a way to express what words cannot say. Every note contains a part of me and all the love, joy, hope and compassion in my heart. I believe that music has the power to uplift humanity – I see it all the time at every one of my concerts. To be able to bring happiness to so many people is a true blessing.”
Discography:
SINGLES
KEALAKEKUA BAY - June 2, 2023
SHADES OF NIGHT - APRIL 21, 2023
SOMEWHERE BEYOND THE CLOUDS - March 3, 2023
ALBUMS
BOHEMIAN STRINGS (June 25, 2021 - winner of "Best Song" in the World Beat category in the Akademia Awards; #2 on the ZMR Int'l Radio Charts; #2 in the OWMR Awards for "Best Acoustic Album")
TROPICAL CHRISTMAS – single (November, 2019 – #1 for two weeks “Most Added” song and #1 “Most Increased” on the Top 40 New Music Weekly chart; #15 on the Top 40 National Radio Hits chart; #61 on the Hot 100 chart; #18 Indie Music Single chart; #35 AC/Hot Ac New Music Weekly chart)
AZUL (September 29, 2017 – #12 on Billboard’s World Music chart; #5 Billboard’s Heatseeker chart; #7 on Billboard’s “Most Added” Smooth Jazz; #2 on ZMR Int’l Radio charts; winner “Best World Album” TIMA Awards)
MIDNIGHT RHUMBA (October 28, 2014 – #10 on Billboard’s New Age chart; winner “Best World Album” and “People’s Choice Award” in the OWM Awards (UK); 2 months in Top Five on ZMR Int’l radio charts)
TALES OF A GYPSY (October 22, 2012 – #1 on Amazon.com Int’l Latin charts; #1 on eMusic.com; nominated for 3 ZMR Awards)
MISTICO (September 25, 2009 – #1 on eMusic.com’s World Music and Jazz/Blues charts; winner of “Best World Album” and “Best Instrumental Album – Acoustic” in the ZMR Awards; Top Ten on ZoneMusicReporter.com radio chart for two months)
CAFE TROPICAL (April 25, 2006 – #4 on Billboard’s New Age Chart; #1 on eMusic.com World Music Chart)
MEDITERRANEA (September 2004 – #6 on Billboard’s New Age Chart; Winner “Best World Album” NAR Lifestyle Music Awards; #7 on NAR’s Top 100 Radio Airplay Chart for Sept.’04)
ZABUCA (2003 – 34 weeks on Billboard’s New Age Chart, peak #8; NAR’s Top 100 New Age Radio Airplay for 2003)
GUITARRA DEL FUEGO (2001 – 36 weeks on Billboard’s New Age Chart, peak #6; “Best Contemporary World Album” NAV Magazine; #8 on Billboard’s Top Ten New Age Indie Sales)
KISS THE EARTH (2000 – 9 weeks on Billboard’s New Age Chart, peak #12)
SOL LUNA TIERRA (1999 – 3 weeks on Billboard’s New Age Chart, peak #17)
