Johnny Catena, the much loved owner of Café 290, Atlanta’s premier music venue for more than 30 years, passed away on November 15, 2024. More than a club owner, Johnny was the quintessential bigger-than-life character, a lover of music and the musicians who play it. In our newly posted Episode 49 of Music Life and Times, several of Atlanta’s preeminent musicians—Joe Gransden, Kipper Jones, Melvin Miller, William Green, Gary Harris, and Music Life and Times host Kevin Bales—check in to pay tribute to Johnny, to talk about what he meant to their careers, and to share some of the often hilarious moments that being in Johnny’s presence allowed them to be part of.
Enjoy our extended podcast with these great musicians—and use the links to hear how great they play.