Snapshots of James Johnston’s life lie scattered across his parents’ loungeroom floor.
Countless newspaper articles. A catalogue of awards. Adjudicators’ reports. Almost two decades worth of photos. It makes for impressive reading.
But it is a single golden leaflet among the files and clippings that is the subject of our visit to the Johnston family home:
Written confirmation that James has made the Top 100 of this year’s Australian Idol competition.
James starred on national television last week, impressing judges Kyle Sandilands, Marcia Hines, Delta Goodrem and Ian ‘Dicko’ Dickson at the Sydney auditions with his outstanding vocals and boyish good looks.
The 18-year-old will again be broadcast across the nation this Sunday night as he competes against 99 other hopefuls for a spot in the prestigious final 24.
Even as a toddler, it seems the boy from Cedar Party has been destined for big things.
“I think he made his first musical appearance at a Cubbyhouse Childcare Christmas party,” mum Marie says.
“He was this little four-year-old, wearing his boots and his cowboy hat. They even gave him a guitar for decoration.
“Then he just started belting out Garth Brooks songs. We didn’t even know he could sing!”
So where did the voice come from?
“There’s always been music in the family,” Marie explains.
“My mother had a beautiful voice when she was younger, and she was always dragging me along to shows and musicals. I used to play guitar and sing a bit myself, but I was practical enough to know I was never going to be a professional.”
James’ father Grant is also a big fan of country music.
“We’d always have Hank Williams and Garth Brooks playing in the car when the kids were young,” says Marie. “We’d all sing along, including James. Somewhere along the line it must have sunk in.”
Marie and Grant Johnston moved to the Manning Valley from Sydney in 1989 when an opportunity arose for Grant to take over his father’s farm machinery business. Marie and Grant settled on a property at Cedar Party, 15km outside Wingham, with their three-month-old daughter Shona. On November 26, 1990, James came along. He is the third Sagittarian in the family.
“I clearly remember running around pregnant and pushing a pram while trying to sell someone a used tractor,” says Marie. “We’d always have the kids with us when we did business. They were always well behaved and knew when to let Grant and I do the talking. We treated Shona and James like adults.”
Marie describes James as a practical child.
“He was never into fantasy,” she says. “He liked what he could see and touch and he was always asking us questions about how things worked.
“I remember he was very particular about his toy cars. He’d always line them up in a certain order.”
James started kindergarten at Wingham Brush Public School in 1995. He moved onto Wingham High in 2002 and graduated with his HSC last year.
At school he preferred maths over English, and he was never much of a sportsman.
“He couldn’t run for peanuts,” laughs Marie. “I used to joke with him and say, ‘It’s a good thing you can sing mate!’.
“He is quite good at sports that require balance though. James is really into his motorbike riding and can stand up on waterskiis fairly well. If he’s doing something that’s got a rhythm, he’s usually pretty comfortable.”
And rhythm he’s got.
James first appeared on the stage age four at the Taree and District Eisteddfod. He entered a vocal section where most of the competitors sing nursery rhymes. He launched into the rock classic Wild Things.
He built a reputation as a youngster singing and playing country tunes on his guitar, but as he’s grown up, he’s settled into a more laid-back acoustic style in the vein of John Mayer, Jason Mraz and Jack Johnson.
He appeared as a solo performer in the massive Star Struck musical production seven years in a row, and has also featured at local events such as the Wingham Akoostik Festival and the 2009 From the Ashes bushfire fundraiser.
But despite James’ prodigious talent, his parents have always been keen to create a ‘no pressure’ environment for him to prosper.
“I feel there’s a lot of pressure on kids in entertainment,” Marie says. “Because James started at such an early age, we were very mindful not to put pressure on him. We just wanted him to enjoy himself.
“Everyone was always telling James he was going to be a star, that he was destined for big things. But he’s always maintained his modesty.
“He’s the last person to tell you how good he is.”
Email a friend