Johann Löwenberg is a Canadian singer/songwriter, composer and publisher.

Born in Yorkville Village springtime 1950, Johann was Toronto’s very first rock ‘n roll baby. “Music was always around me” says Löwenberg, “be it early Elvis recordings or my dad’s collection of jazz, swing and big band tunes.” Johann was a boy soprano performing with various youth choirs before his big debut as soloist, opening for the Vienna Boys Choir at Massey Hall in 1962. In 1964, “I had a front row seat for the Beatles and there was no looking back.” His dad took him to Ronnie Hawkin’s club on Yonge Street where he started to learn the ‘art of performing’ from the master himself.

“I had a couple of guitar lessons with Bruce Cockburn over at the Folklore Center” says Johann, “and thought I was ready for the big time.” He was a regular visitor at the ‘pad’ on Dupont Street where visiting folk artists would stay. “With the like of Peter, Paul and Mary, The Mammas and Pappas and The Lovin’ Spoonful, I was on cloud nine. Gordon Lightfoot was my idol and Murray McLauchlan my template.”

Löwenberg started writing his own songs in 1966. When people started shouting out requests, he’d play one of his own and pass it off as one of theirs. In the early 70’s, he became quite active in the coffee house circuit at Fat Alberts with Tony Hanik, Glen Hornblast and Sam Larkin. Around this time he started recording some of his songs. His first pro recording gig was with Steve Hurej at Clare Burt Recording in 1976.

“I remember this like it was yesterday” says Löwenberg. In the early 80’s, Johann worked with Dennis Hill at Great Shakes. From about 1986 on, he worked with Terry Clements at Studio North. “We had been friends since he first came to town to work with Lightfoot.” This resulted in some fine crafted tunes with Terry, Red Shea and Rick Haynes. Remastered versions of these songs were recently released. ‘How Time Flies’ 2020 and ‘Folk ‘n’ Blues 2022.

In 2012, Johann picked up his Gibson with pen in hand and forged out a new batch of material. “I was ready for round two” says Löwenberg and with co-producer Andreas Schuld, set out to record three marvelous themed albums. ‘Echoes of the Road’’ 2016, “Waltz of the Blues” 2018 and newly released ‘The Pirate in Me” 2024.

‘This has been a long and winding road” say Johann