Philanthropic entertainer John “SohoJohnny” Pasquale is a remarkable person. A native of the SoHo area of New York, he’s a noted driving force behind preserving classic music. He also famously uses music to bring people together to help others. He hosts events for American Cancer Society, Meals on Wheels, and Humane Society among others, partnering with the biggest names in the music and entertainment industries to raise money for where it’s needed most.
Compassionately driven by the loss of his father to cancer and his mother to COVID-19, SohoJohnny created “Let Me Help Inc.” – a non-profit to assist people hurt by abysmal life events. In THIS INTERVIEW Johnny spoke to us about what he does and why he does it.
Johnny, let’s have some fun first. How do you feel about young DJs today spinning music, current records and classics, on vinyl?
I think it’s WONDERFUL! I think it’s fantastic!
Here’s part of the rub. We live in a tech age, and COVID pushed more of the industry to streaming even though it was going that way anyway. When you go to a concert, you’re stimulating many senses. It’s not just the sounds and the vibrations from music. It’s also visual. And you can smell it; like when you go to a KISS concert you can smell the smoke from the fireworks. You feel the excitement in the crowd and the people going crazy next to you. That whole experience. How it relates when it comes to vinyl? People can touch it. You feel it.
The “Let Me Help Inc.” virtual celebrity benefit concert you held last year had an incredible lineup – Sir Patrick Stewart, Jeff Goldblum, John Lodge of The Moody Blues, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, Jane Lynch, Charlie Sheen, and Cedric The Entertainer!
Verdine White of Earth Wind & Fire was also there, and Kenny Lee Lewis of The Steve Miller Band took part in an event you held following that one. This is such a fan question: Which of those men, Verdine or Kenny, do you consider the most dynamic bass player?
Oh, gosh! [Laughs] I hate answering questions like that!
As music fans we have to ask you that question!
A lot of the time it’s not a matter of who’s better. We all have different flairs and different styles, especially when you’re talking about somebody that’s part of a band. I relate it to my humble upbringing in the Bronx.
I’m so fortunate for people from different cultures, diversities, and ethnic backgrounds who came together and worked together in the Bronx. I saw that, and I saw what it could be if we worked together. It’s the same thing with a band. You’re drawing this portrait, and everybody has a stroke with their paint brush. In the end it’s a thing of beauty. So, I’m not going to say better, but for a style I’ll say Kenny Lee Lewis.
Kenny is fantastic. I’m very thankful to him for supporting my shows. Of course, Verdine is great too. I’m just so grateful for the support I’ve gotten for what I’ve been doing. Those champions came and devoted time.
That’s a very special thing, Johnny. You bring together these iconic names in music for remarkable charitable causes. We think that shows the power of music beyond it simply being entertainment.
When I’m on social media I hear about people being sad and upset about everything. We need to show hope, and music is such a beautiful tool for that. I have this quote on my website. I said, “The breadth of love is spoken in the language of musical expression.”
Why is sharing the spotlight important to you?
It’s not about me. It’s about us. It’s about working together. If we work together, if we all start that one ripple in the ocean and we all do it together, we’ll create a tidal wave of love and good faith. That’s what we need now.
You’ve surely earned some perks from what you do. And we’re talking about things like VIP access, guest passes, and special invites. What was the best concert you got to attend for free?
For free… For free throws me off because I wouldn’t remember what was free or not! [Laughs]
I’ve been to a lot of shows. I get invited backstage, or I know the folks who run the venue, or I know somebody there. I remember we got backstage with Paul Anka. He’s amazing. I had my cousin with me. Paul still had energy. He was jumping around the stage like he was young man! That’s a good one that comes to mind.
I’m a big fan of The Who. Pete Townsend did a gig at The Metropolitan downtown. He had Billy Idol with him, and I remember getting backstage. I don’t know how I got backstage! When I got back there it was great. Roger Daltrey was there so I saw two of the original Who members! That was a moment!
We bet it was! What’s another cool moment that stands out?
There’s been plenty of them. And doesn’t even have to have music. Barbara Eden and Hal Linden. God bless him and God bless her. She was amazing with what she did on I Dream of Jeannie. I could probably give you a long list.
Johnny, you have a list of your own talents. You get on stage and you sing. You also dance. How would you rank yourself as a performer? Do you consider yourself a good singer? Do you consider yourself to be a good dancer?
To me… I think… I get overruled by passion. It’s just complete passion and unbridled joy. It’s connecting with the audience. I become animated. Do I think I’m the best singer or the best dancer? To me, I don’t think it’s ever been important. Maybe I am, maybe I’m not. It doesn’t matter. The connection I see with the audience, and the glee and the love, that’s enough to answer the question better than I can answer it. Humbly, I can’t say I’m a great this or that. When I’m out there I just can’t help myself. I’m completely animated. I’m on autopilot with so much positive energy.
Did you sing and perform for your family when you were growing up?
I would do anything for my family. I would sing all the time. Was I actually singing for my family so much? Honestly, not as much. I was more, like, go to school. My dad didn’t have a formal education. He lived through the depression and had no money. It was a big thing for him to make sure his kids had an education.
I remember we had an organ when I was kid, so I was played the organ. I didn’t know how to read the music, but I had the ear for it. Music was just me singing all the time, constantly singing songs. I would spend the day with a song still singing in my mind even when it wasn’t coming out of my lips. I was just musically inclined that way. As you get older you get more of an understanding of what was going on inside you. |THIS.
[Mr. Joe Walker]
