‘We’ll Answer The Call,’ John McDonough’s new concept EP, chronicles the narrative of Joe Rantz, the Washington Husky rowing squad, and their epic attempt for gold in the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games.
Joe Rantz, have you heard of him? His incredible narrative has spawned a book, a George Clooney-directed film, and now a gripping concept EP by John McDonough. Joe Rantz was a member of the 1936 Olympic Gold Medal-winning University of Washington eight-oared crew squad. On June 17, 2022, the EP will be released.
‘We’ll Answer The Call’ conveys a story of survival and self-determination via five songs. Rantz’s mother died of throat cancer when he was four years old. Rantz later lived alone in a half-finished cottage in the woods while attending school as a young teen due to rising friction with his step-mother.
I am so obsessed with this story I flew to Seattle to see the Husky Clipper. The Husky Clipper is the original and restored eight man boat that was used to win gold in Berlin, and is now hanging in the University of Washington boathouse. It’s a beautiful boat and a true piece of art. It was a very moving experience for me to see it, and the last song on the EP is sung from the point of view of this boat.” – John McDonough
John McDonough is a singer/songwriter from Chicago, Illinois, whose performances include favorites from the 1960s and 1970s as well as unique and poignant originals. John’s acoustic guitar skills, passionate voice, and intimate lyrics combine to create a unique modern singer/songwriter sound. John spent 25 years playing in and around Austin, TX before migrating to Chicago in 2020. He entertained the boisterous crowds of 6th Street, the suburban dinner crowds, and everyone in between.
John left psychotherapy ten years ago to focus solely on music, and in that time he has released five CDs of original music, played over 500 shows, performed at eleven major music festivals, appeared and performed on local and national radio several times, and embarked on successful tours across the United States. ‘Dreams and Imagination,’ ‘Surrounding Colors,’ and ‘Can You See Me Now,’ all published between 2014 and 2019, got positive reviews and airplay in Europe and the United States, with all three albums lasting six months on the Americana Music Association Record Chart.
John released an acoustic CD titled “Second Chances” in 2021. The Josie Awards and Blues And Roots Magazine selected ‘Second Chances’ for Album Of The Year. It features fresh, acoustic renditions of his favorite songs from past releases. John’s singing powers have been compared to Elton John, Harry Chapin, and Van Morrison, while his emotional story telling has been compared to Damien Rice and James Blunt’s songwriting techniques. John is looking forward to the June 17th, 2022 release of his new concept EP, ‘We’ll Answer The Call.’ Joe Rantz, the Washington Husky rowing squad, and their dramatic bid for gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games are the subjects of this EP.
For more information, please visit John McDonough’s website.
KEEP IN TOUCH:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY
