Dr. Nick Johnson
Longtime WPFW DJ Dr. Nick Johnson; courtesy of Johnson

For 20 years, Nick Johnson, under his radio sobriquet of Dr. Nick, has charismatically and creatively brought the sounds of blues and soul, new and old, popular and obscure, to listeners via a trio of outlets. An Anacostia High graduate and former air traffic controller, Johnson started with the D.C.-based WPFW in 2004. Two years later, he moved to XM Satellite radio, where he worked until 2009 when he returned to WPFW, where he stayed until 2022. (From 2021 to 2024, Johnson also worked at the Austin, Texas, station ATX Soul Radio.) 

His WPFW program “Southern Soul Rumpin’” was beloved for Johnson’s expert curation of lighthearted, double entendre-filled southern soul songs about love, lust, and cheating. While he retired in June from being a full-time host, the now-Maryland resident returns sometimes to WPFW as a fill-in DJ. 

Despite retirement, Johnson, who was inducted into the Alabama Blues Hall of Fame as a blues DJ this past May, is staying active in the music world. He’s currently a board member of the newly formed Southern Soul Foundation. Once a frequent MC at local concerts, Johnson tells City Paper he’s hosting just one more event—the Oct. 12 celebration of Lamont Savoy, in honor of the longtime owner of Lamont’s nightclub in Indian Head, Maryland, who sold the establishment in July 2024 but is staying on as a booker for the music programming under the new ownership. 

Johnson says his “favorite venue in the area was the Carlyle Club. I was brokenhearted when [the short-lived downtown jazz club] ceased operations” earlier this summer. “Now, my fave is the Birchmere,” Johnson says. “It’s the size of the place, the fact that there’s not a bad seat in the house, and the proximity that make it attractive to me.” 

For City Paper’s Fall Arts Guide, Dr. Nick Johnson shares the upcoming shows he’s looking forward to: 

A Big Southern Soul End of Summer Celebration at Lamont’s on Sept. 28. Performers include Jeff Floyd, Donny Ray, Karen Wolfe, J-Red the Nephew, Hardway Connection, and Jesi Terrell. The event starts at noon on Sept. 28 at Lamont’s, 4400 Livingston Rd., Indian Head, Maryland. $50–$55.20.  

Alison Crockett; courtesy of Crockett

Lamont Savoy’s Celebration at Lamont’s on Oct. 12. Performers include TJ Hooker Taylor, Hardway Connection, Shirleta Settles, and more. The event starts at noon on Oct. 12 at Lamont’s, 4400 Livingston Rd., Indian Head, Maryland. (301) 283-0225. $30–$40. Call the club’s voicemail at (301) 283-0225 for more information.

Buttercup Presents: Soul Sessions Vol. 1 at the Blue Dolphin on Oct. 17. Performers include E.J. Thomas, Duane Nelson, Andre Jackson, David Lawson, and Tony Smith. The event starts at 7 p.m. on Oct. 17 at the Blue Dolphin, 1166 MD- 3 South, Gambrills, Maryland. $44.52.

Alison Crockett’s Holiday House Party at Blues Alley on Dec. 12 and 13. The local vocalist partners with Chelsey Green on violin on Dec. 12 for a night of acoustic jazz, soulful melodies, and a mix of classic and contemporary sounds of the season. On Dec. 13 she melds rhythm and blues, gospel, go-go, bossa nova, and swinging jazz. The show starts at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 12 and 13 at Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW. $57. 

Check out more of our 2024 Fall Arts Guide here.