From Mammoth Bone discoverer to upcoming musician

You may recognize the name Sonny Johnson from his discovery of a Mammoth bone in 2016 when he was just 12 years old. He found the bone while he was out shed hunting (deer antler hunting) about one-fourth mile from his home. He first thought a part of the bone was a rock, but his dad, John Johnson, recognized it as a bone. A palentologist was called. He came from the University of Kansas to help with the excavation. This discovery was one of the inspirations that developed into the Mammoth Festival which is now an annual Jewell County event. This year the Mammoth Festival will take place Friday and Saturday, June 16 and 17. Sonny, now known as Sonny B, will be performing his music on Saturday.

Sonny has long been interested in music. His first guitar was a First Act guitar bought at a discount store. Later, a $5 guitar bought at a garage sale became his first full-size guitar. He has played the guitar for 15 years. When he was old enough to correctly hold the full-size guitar Sonny B started learning songs from Metallica and Iron Maiden.

Sonny B said that by the age of 13 his mind had become the mind of a musician because he was able to hear the notes and replicate them on guitars. "The notes just became like a second language to me," Sonny said. He learned the basic chord shapes and the name of those shapes from his dad. "I just started listening to songs and playing like that," he said. His mom, Betty Johnson, encouraged Sonny to learn "The Star Spangled Banner" for her. His dad recorded this, and put it on YouTube where somebody saw it and said, "We need to have him (Sonny B) play this for the Fourth of July." So Sonny played in front of Burr Oak residents for the first time. This was set up by Renita Volker.

Sonny B, formed a band with Andrew Babson and Davin Coil. The band played at the Burr Oak 150th Anniversary Celebration and the Mammoth Festival the year after his first performance at the Fourth of July. "Before COVID really hit," Sonny said, "I had plans to go and do shows that were 45 minutes long." Josh Lippold was setting up these shows because he liked what he saw at Sonny's performance. Because of COVID, however, those shows were canceled. "Ultimately I'm really grateful that it did happen that way because I wouldn't be as prepared as I was for my early shows," Sonny said.

Before the COVID pandemic, Sonny B didn't seriously consider making music his career.

"My first offical set was opening for Blackwater here in Mankato," Sonny said. This was a 15 minute set where he played two songs by GreenDay and a song from Van Halen. It was for a class reunion. After that, Sonny B and Andrew performed at the Mammoth Festival. They played for many 150th celebrations and it was his first time to do two shows in one day.

Davin separated from the band, but Sonny gave him high praise. "If I had Davin," Sonny said, "I believe I'd be further than I am now." Davin and Sonny had grown up together playing saxophone in junior high and throughout high school.

After Sonny graduated high school, his musical career took off. He was invited to go on tour by Young Crooked. A week after graduation, a family friend came to a family reunion in Plainville. The friend told Sonny he wanted to make a video of him performing to send to another friend who did a lot of music things. After viewing the video the friend wanted Sonny B to go on tour.

During this tour, Sonny B performed in Des Moines, Topeka, Wichita and McPherson. After the tour, Sonny got invited back to Wichita to play at a fundraiser for Baby J. The event was raising money for the baby's headstone. Even though there was conflict between Crooked and the fundraiser's hosts, Sonny B still performed because he hadn't signed with Crooked's record label. Had he signed, Sonny would not have been able to perform at that event. Crooked didn't play, but he still joined the audience to support Sonny.

Sonny writes his own music for bass, guitar, vocals and drums. He has own studio, where he does his music writing and playing, and has all of his guitars. Sonny's parents are big supporters.

The biggest gig that Sonny played that gave him a lot of pride was the class reunion. "It's really a matter of persepective on what biggest means," Sonny said. "But the class reunion being my first gig where people cheered for me was really big for me." Sonny said the scariest venue he has played at was Saturday, May 27 in Omaha for The Iron Maiden Cover Band. "Two or three energy drinks about an hour before I go on helps cushion the adreniline," Sonny said, when asked if he gets nervous before playing.

Sonny does have a record label called Iron Virus Records, that has started distributing some of his music. Sonny B will be touring this year. His aim is to perform at the Red Rocks Ampitheater in Colorado because a lot of his family is from Colorado. One of Sonny's dreams is to play at the Superbowl.

Sonny hasn't been signed to any record label yet, he is waiting to sign with a big, well known record label that will last and one where he won't lose his rights to his music. All of Sonny's music is copyrighted, and he receives proceeds everytime one of his songs are played. He is in front of 150 platforms, including TicTok, CBS, NBC, Fox and Paramount. When Sonny B is the first act, other performers have a hard time following. At 19 years old, Sonny B has had his fair share of performing at bars, that ensured he was not in the business after 9 p.m. since he is a minor.

Many people in the Burr Oak and surrounding Jewell County area have watched Sonny B's achievements. From when he found the Mammoth bone, to his first time playing the Star Spangled Banner, to today, residents of Burr Oak and Jewell County look forward to seeing all of his next achievements.