Evan Johns

Early life Johns was born in Washington, DC and raised in McLean, Virginia. His mother worked for the National Symphony Orchestra. Johns dropped out of high school in the 10th grade and eventually graduated from Emerson Preparatory School. He later began hitchhiking and train-hopping around the country.

Career Johns began his musical career in the Washington, D.C. area. There, Johns met and played with guitarist Danny Gatton, writing three songs (including the title track) for Gatton’s 1978 album, Redneck Jazz. After his stint with Gatton, Johns founded his own band, called "the H-Bombs", which became popular playing regular gigs in the D.C. area.

Personal life In the mid-1990s, Johns began to suffer alcohol-related health problems and stopped playing regularly in 1998, but continued to write and record music until his death.

Johns was married and divorced twice.

Johns died on March 11, 2017, from complications following surgery, in Austin, Texas.