Johnny Iguana

Brian Berkowitz, known professionally as Johnny Iguana, is an American Chicago blues pianist, singer and songwriter. He has recorded albums with Junior Wells, Carey Bell, Koko Taylor, Lil' Ed Williams, Eddie Shaw, Matthew Skoller, Lurrie Bell, Carey Bell, Oh My God, and the Claudettes among many others. By the age of 22, college attendance necessitated a move to New York City, where he balanced education with a job writing book back covers, coupled with more practice in playing his organ. At the age of 23 and, through a contact met at a blues jam session in a mid-town Manhattan bar, Berkowitz introduced himself to his hero Junior Wells. plus the 2002 release, The Best of Junior Wells: Live Around the World.

Following his departure from Wells band, Johnny Iguana formed a trio, Stevie Lizard & His All Reptile Orchestra. A couple of short lived bands kept Johnny Iguana in work. Chicago Spectacular! featured Lil' Ed Williams, John Primer, Billy Boy Arnold, Bob Margolin, Matthew Skoller, Billy Flynn, Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith, Bill Dickens and Michael Caskey. B.B. King's nephew, Phillip-Michael Scales, supplied the vocals on the Gil Scott-Heron-penned track. Realising that any subsequent tour would mean many of those who appeared on the album would be engaged elsewhere, it led to the invitation given to Scales to ensure some touring continuity.

Johnny Iguana commented on his career so far by stating "In the past, playing the main stage at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2012 with Chicago Blues: A Living History was a highlight (the whole bill was Bob Dylan, then us). Playing at the Taste of Chicago to 500,000 people with Junior Wells was memorable, too."

In the 2021 Blues Music Awards, he had a nomination in the 'Instrumentalist - Piano (Pinetop Perkins Piano Player)' category, and the 'virtual' ceremony took place on June 6, 2021.

Discography Solo albums Chicago Spectacular!

Track listing

Selected other recent releases For other output, see Oh My God Year Title Artist Record label 2015 The Blues is Alright! (live compilation) Junior Wells RockBeat Records 2015 Sauvignon Nick Shaheen Self released 2015 No Hotel The Claudettes Yellow Dog Records 2015 Muddy Waters 100 John Primer Raisin' Music 2016 Blues Immigrant Matthew Skoller Tongue 'N Groove Records 2017 Austin Texas the Rock Opera Franky and the Band Round Rock Records 2018 Dance Scandal at the Gymnasium The Claudettes Yellow Dog Records 2020 High Times in the Dark The Claudettes Forty Below Records