Johnny Lawrence

Destined for Greatness

By Robert Waldner

With a family lineage steeped in musicality, young Johnny Lawrence was destined for musical prominence. “I grew up watching my dad sing and play guitar. He

was a songwriter and an amazing storyteller,” says Johnny. “When I was a kid, my dad introduced me to music from the grunge era.” Hearing masterpieces like

‘Rooster’ by Alice In Chains and Pearl Jam’s ‘Jeremy’ solidified his desire to become his own unique musician. A native of Virginia Beach, VA., Johnny brought his

prowess to St. Augustine in 2019. Today he graces the Ancient City scene with a diverse musical background that stands out among the local talent pool. Having

grown into a skilled guitarist, vocalist, pianist, and bass player, Johnny utilized the influences of his father and his favorite bands as the catalyst for his own success.

Today, Johnny plays and tours with multiple tribute bands, most notably alongside his stepfather, Lin Doak, in the band ‘Little Ozzy’. “Lin has done an amazing job

with growing our presence,” he says. “He got to meet the Dark Prince himself eight years ago. Ozzy said to him, “you sound just like me!” So, our band is actually

endorsed by Ozzy Osbourne.” Additionally, Johnny performs with ‘Nirvanna’, a Nirvana tribute band as well as ‘Linkin Park Tribute Band’ and ‘Arms Wide Open

A Tribute to Creed’. “I recently came back from touring Australia, Malaysia, and Thailand with Nirvanna,” he says. “It was an unforgettable experience.”

As well as his pivotal band contributions, Johnny is nurturing his own solo career. “I’ve been releasing original music that has been in the works for the past five or

six years,” he says. Writing and performing under the band name ‘The Southall 5’, Johnny recorded his latest music in his home state of Virginia. The songs were

produced by Bill Leverty, founding member and guitarist for the band Firehouse. With session drummer Orlando Rivera on all singles, Johnny is featured on guitar,

bass, and vocals. “I’ve had a lot of local support,” he says. “Thanks to Eric Wenstrom from Music Matters, my church family, my parents, my wife Mallory, and the

generous people of St. Augustine, I’ve found success here.” When he is not performing, Johnny enjoys time with Mallory and their two dogs Lucy and Winnie. “My

dream is to share my music with the world,” he says. “I owe everything I’ve accomplished to the glory of Christ.”

"Loving Our Town" October 4, 2025