AARON JOHNSON
AARON JOHNSON
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Aaron Johnson is a native Colorado musician that has been blessed with a long music career starting in the late 1960s. He's been a member of numerous music groups and has enjoyed a successful solo career, with extensive experience in live performance and as a studio musician. His album recordings were released in the 70s, 80s and 90s. A short-lived retirement in 2001 ended in 2013 when Aaron was asked to play guitar for his Messianic Synagogue. Divine circumstances led Aaron back into the transformed music industry, playing in two bands and engaging in the formidable effort of releasing his entire catalog of music in the digital age of internet streaming. He remains busy and his musical abilities are in demand. The AJP web site serves as the platform informing followers of his activities and upcoming releases and events.
NEWS JULY 27, 2026
NEWS JULY 27, 2026
DECADE 7.0, the entire re-recording of the DECADE album is complete and can now be heard at the DECADE web site or on You Tube. Includes the added track "O SHANNA, O SHANNA."
MIDNIGHT MOUNTAIN HOUR REVISITED, SAN JUAN STORIES, FINALLY, THE EXPERIMENT, ELECTRIC WILDERNESS and DEEP BLUE can now be heard in their entirety at their respective web sites for FREE (with occasional ads).
Aaron Johnson's 4th studio album, FINALLY, released in 1984, was re-released onto streaming services on July 22. SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES the first video single, was released on July 17th. The second video single ARMOR OF GOD, is slated for release on July 29. Listen to FINALLY ON SPOTIFY here.
MIDNIGHT MOUNTAIN HOUR REVISITED, released last year, can be heard in its entirety for FREE via You Tube and at the MIDNIGHT MOUNTAIN HOUR web site. The engrossing "listening enhancement video" of Aaron's symphonic piece is posted above.
The VOYAGER album has been released on You Tube as well, as well as the VOYAGER web site. All tracks from the album can be heard at the VOYAGER WEB SITE. Lyrics are included in the videos, or they can be accessed on the site. The album was recorded in 2022 and was the impetus leading to MIDNIGHT MOUNTAIN HOUR and the AJP PROJECT. Aaron considers it his best work in production with an ensemble.
Aaron Johnson's 8th solo effort, the soundtrack album DEEP BLUE was released July 1st. The re-release includes two re-redone tracks produced this year. One of these tracks is also a video single. Watch DIVING DOWN UNDER (see above to view and listen).
The STIFFWATER BAND, in which Aaron got his start in music, regrouped to celebrate their 53rd anniversary in memory of their lead singer, David McKinnis, who passed away in early June after a battle with cancer. In attendance was Jim Bennett, Mike Kloepfer, Ken Herfert, Aaron Johnson, Keith Goates, Kevin Goates and Ron Ardia.
Plans to produce new material for a Keith Goates project and a remix and remaster of Firehouse 400 are underway. Finishing touches on the last Stiffwater album are also ongoing, with Keith Goates finishing up the album's mixing. Aaron Johnson will assist in mastering the album utilizing technical expertise enlisted from Blair Ashby.
AJP PROJECT SCHEDULE UPDATESRelease plans have been accelerated to complete the AJP project ahead of schedule. This is due to changes in the industry that might have an affect on the endeavor. Release dates for the final albums have been moved up, and a more compressed, rapid-release of singles and related events will culminate in the project's completion by mid September. An eventual shift of focus to You Tube for the entire line of Aaron Johnson albums and related projects is proposed for ease of public access with no fee involved and ease of managing content.
MIDNIGHT MOUNTAIN HOUR REVISITED, SAN JUAN STORIES, FINALLY, THE EXPERIMENT, ELECTRIC WILDERNESS and DEEP BLUE can now be heard in their entirety at their respective web sites for FREE (with occasional ads).
Aaron Johnson's 4th studio album, FINALLY, released in 1984, was re-released onto streaming services on July 22. SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES the first video single, was released on July 17th. The second video single ARMOR OF GOD, is slated for release on July 29. Listen to FINALLY ON SPOTIFY here.
MIDNIGHT MOUNTAIN HOUR REVISITED, released last year, can be heard in its entirety for FREE via You Tube and at the MIDNIGHT MOUNTAIN HOUR web site. The engrossing "listening enhancement video" of Aaron's symphonic piece is posted above.
The VOYAGER album has been released on You Tube as well, as well as the VOYAGER web site. All tracks from the album can be heard at the VOYAGER WEB SITE. Lyrics are included in the videos, or they can be accessed on the site. The album was recorded in 2022 and was the impetus leading to MIDNIGHT MOUNTAIN HOUR and the AJP PROJECT. Aaron considers it his best work in production with an ensemble.
Aaron Johnson's 8th solo effort, the soundtrack album DEEP BLUE was released July 1st. The re-release includes two re-redone tracks produced this year. One of these tracks is also a video single. Watch DIVING DOWN UNDER (see above to view and listen).
The STIFFWATER BAND, in which Aaron got his start in music, regrouped to celebrate their 53rd anniversary in memory of their lead singer, David McKinnis, who passed away in early June after a battle with cancer. In attendance was Jim Bennett, Mike Kloepfer, Ken Herfert, Aaron Johnson, Keith Goates, Kevin Goates and Ron Ardia.
Plans to produce new material for a Keith Goates project and a remix and remaster of Firehouse 400 are underway. Finishing touches on the last Stiffwater album are also ongoing, with Keith Goates finishing up the album's mixing. Aaron Johnson will assist in mastering the album utilizing technical expertise enlisted from Blair Ashby.
AJP PROJECT SCHEDULE UPDATESRelease plans have been accelerated to complete the AJP project ahead of schedule. This is due to changes in the industry that might have an affect on the endeavor. Release dates for the final albums have been moved up, and a more compressed, rapid-release of singles and related events will culminate in the project's completion by mid September. An eventual shift of focus to You Tube for the entire line of Aaron Johnson albums and related projects is proposed for ease of public access with no fee involved and ease of managing content.
THE AJP PROJECT
Aaron was convinced by his wife and daughter to release his entire album collection into the digital age. Releases will be digital only, available in a variety of download options. Album artwork and lyric content will be available at the AJP network of websites. The albums are listed below, and this web site will track their release as well as public performance appearances and other applicable events. Links to websites will be added as they are developed. Watch for announcements coming soon! Contact Aaron or Ellen to be placed on the notifications list!
AJP PROJECT CHARTER
AJP PROJECT CHARTER
- Encourage support of local live music in the community
- Educate enthusiasts on the impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) on our music and the industry
- Encourage the social activity of listening to music with family and friends, away from the phones and screens that have so much control of our lives
OVER AND OUT
OVER AND OUT
Released in 1986 and once thought to be Aaron's last vocal offering, this heavy duty rocking album was plagued with technical issues to be addressed four decades later with the 2026 re-release. The album has undergone a complete makeover with new recordings of the original songs and new material, transforming Over and Out into an exciting new effort appropriately reflecting Aaron's extensive solo recording career.
Release date is set for August 5 of 2026.
FINALLY
FINALLY
Initially released to high acclaim in 1984, this full-on rocking album originally featured Aaron's best song "Silver Lake," which would later become part of the San Juan Stories double album. As a result, some unreleased and new material is now included. The album has been fully remastered. A number of these songs were performed by Aaron's rock group Voyager and are featured on the 2022 Voyager album (see below).
ISLANDS OF THE HEART (Also performed by Voyager in 1984 & 2022)THE VISITOR (Also performed by Voyager in 1984 & 2022)EASTER ISLANDFASHION RACE (Also performed by Voyager in 1984)ARMOR OF GOD (Composed and recorded for the 2025 release of Finally)SO MUCH FOR PARADISE (Composed in 1994, updated for 2026 Finally release)SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES (Also performed by Voyager in 1984 & 2022)FINALLY PARTS 1 & 2 (Includes new material recorded in 2026)
FINALLY ON SPOTIFY
DEEP BLUE
DEEP BLUE
AJP collaborated with ED-IT productions serving up a soundtrack for a video presentation of diving exploits around the world. This 1999 instrumental offering was a new direction for Aaron's solo career, featuring some new instruments, including marimbas, classical guitar, grand piano and Celtic harp. This album also marked AJP's first CD release and would be the catalyst for the reissue of all AJP projects in CD format in 2000. The music would subsequently be featured in various AJP video productions. New versions of 2 tracks were produced for the 2026 release.
DEEP BLUE was released July 1st. The video single DIVING DOWN UNDER is posted above. The entire album can be heard on the AJP INSTRUMENTALS PAGE.
DEEP BLUE was released July 1st. The video single DIVING DOWN UNDER is posted above. The entire album can be heard on the AJP INSTRUMENTALS PAGE.
THE EXPERIMENT
THE EXPERIMENT
Aaron's first foray into instrumental music would become the source for numerous AJP media productions in the following decades. In 1987, Aaron composed this 30 minute continuous piece of music in seven pieces, then performed them live by playing each instrument's part in only one take, to see if a live performance could be done by one person in the course of 10 hours. The Experiment was a success and proved Aaron's technical musical prowess in a studio setting.
The Experiment is now available on most streaming services.
The Experiment can be heard at AJP INSTRUMENTALS PAGE
ELECTRIC WILDERNESS
ELECTRIC WILDERNESS
1989's Electric Wilderness was a labor of love, and was an essential tool in the information war waged against Colorado metropolitan cities trying to remove water from the state's cherished Holy Cross Wilderness. Aaron teamed up with the Holy Cross Defense Fund in a civil lawsuit to stop the proposed water diversion project by composing and recording Aaron's second instrumental effort, and to great effect. The project successfully created public support and awareness and was Aaron's biggest selling album. 1990 was a year full of interviews and appearances in promotional support of the effort. The cities were compelled to abandon their water diversion plans, Holy Cross remains protected to this day and Aaron's music stands as a timeless reminder that a few devoted people can truly make a difference. Music from the album would serve in numerous AJP media productions to follow. Learn more and listen to ELECTRIC WILDERNESS HERE.
ELECTRIC WILDERNESS is now available on most streaming services.
DECADE
FEBRUARY 2026 RELEASE OF DECADEOriginally released in 1982, Decade would become appreciated as a collection of some of Aaron's finest compositions. The album was engineered by Aaron's long time music partner Mike Kloepfer, both of whom currently perform together in the local Colorado band Spirit Ridge. San Juan Stories/Legacy drummer Scott Blumenreich played on two songs. The 2026 release features bonus tracks of updated recordings of two songs, a "sequel," and a new song recorded in late 2025.
AUGUST 2026 RELEASE OF DECADE 7.0The entire Decade album was re-recorded, recreating the original performances as closely as possible, including the return of guest vocalist Laura McKinnis for another striking rendition of "Quiet Feet." The intent was to improve and update the sound quality of these vital songs that are among Aaron's favorites, to preserve his musical legacy for family and fans. This version of the album is available exclusively on the DECADE web site via You Tube.
Refer to the DECADE WEB PAGE for album background, lyrics, original and new artwork and a special video message from Aaron.
AUGUST 2026 RELEASE OF DECADE 7.0The entire Decade album was re-recorded, recreating the original performances as closely as possible, including the return of guest vocalist Laura McKinnis for another striking rendition of "Quiet Feet." The intent was to improve and update the sound quality of these vital songs that are among Aaron's favorites, to preserve his musical legacy for family and fans. This version of the album is available exclusively on the DECADE web site via You Tube.
Refer to the DECADE WEB PAGE for album background, lyrics, original and new artwork and a special video message from Aaron.
SAN JUAN STORIES
SAN JUAN STORIES
Aaron Johnson's magnum opus!
Originally released December 7th 1979, this ambitious double-LP project was the massive effort launching Aaron's career. The songs reflect life in Colorado's San Juan mountains, past and present, and features a wide pallet of sonic landscapes, ranging from folk rock to full orchestral arrangements, done at the height of synthesizers being fully implemented into a pop rock production. Innovative and pioneering at the time, the sonic onslaught of this majestic 97 minutes endures today in a timeless fashion. The music defies dating with amazing sound and exceptional music talent by an impressive cast of supporting musicians.
The 2025 release of the fully remastered San Juan Stories includes a bonus track of SAN JUAN FANFARE recorded in 2025. You can listen to the album at the SAN JUAN STORIES WEB SITE PAGE. Includes extensive background information on the album, musician list, photos and lyrics.
SAN JUAN STORIES ON SPOTIFY
MIDNIGHT MOUNTAIN HOUR
MIDNIGHT MOUNTAIN HOUR
Originally released in 1978 on cassette and 8-track, most of the master recordings were lost. The album was completely redone in 2025 and features Aaron's symphonic composition "The Midnight Mountain Hour," composed at 22 years of age. The symphony was originally performed by a 3-piece rock ensemble. It has now been vindicated as a viable symphonic composition with a complete orchestration. 7 additional songs in the bluegrass genre are also included. The album celebrates living in the majesty of Colorado's Rocky Mountains.
Listen to the album at the MIDNIGHT MOUNTAIN HOUR WEB SITE
VOYAGER
VOYAGER
Aaron played guitar, keyboards and bass in local Colorado band Voyager in 1984 to 1986, being one of the first bands in the region to feature a female lead singer. Primarily a live performance project, Aaron regretted over the following decades not capturing Voyager's incredible energy in a studio recording. This vision was finally realized in 2022 when the band reunited to fulfill this long held desire. The album can be heard at the Voyager web site, You Tube and most streaming services.
WHEN THE RAINS CAME
WHEN THE RAINS CAME
A recent addition to the complete release of Aaron's material is this collection of songs. This anthology of material was composed between 1973 and 1983, but never recorded. Based after a concept Aaron's band Stiffwater had proposed for a recording in the early 70s entitled "When the Rains Come," this album brings that idea to fruition while also serving as an appropriate cap on Aaron's recording career. Aaron has looked forward to finally bringing these songs to life, as they reflect on his storied past in the early days of Stiffwater, teen angst, soul searching, heartbreak, longing and passion, all subjects not previously addressed in Aaron's other works, and an intriguing change of direction. Also includes one new song composed and produced especially for this release.
Production of this album is complete, with a release date of mid August, marking the completion of the AJP Project.
STIFFWATER
STIFFWATER
The band that launched Aaron Johnson's music career formed in 1973 and has remained active over an impressive 50 years. Aaron would not have the track record he enjoys today were it not for the Stiffwater band! The AJP PROJECT has developed a web page devoted to this important history featuring an impressive catalog of Stiffwater music that has developed over the decades alongside Aaron's own music career. Be sure to check it out!
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