“A NIGHT AT THE DISCO” Christian John Wikane with Johnny Butler III and DJ John Murph

DJ John Murph will also be present to play music before and after the book event itself.

About the author:

Christian John Wikane is a NYC-based music journalist and essayist. Since 2003, he’s interviewed more than 600 recording artists, songwriters, and producers, including Paul McCartney, Janelle Monáe, Donna Summer, Pete Seeger, Annie Lennox, Maurice White, Jimmy Scott, Carly Simon, and Kenny Gamble. He and filmmaker Sekou Luke currently produce the video series “Unscripted: Conversations with Christian John Wikane,” which features his interviews with GRAMMY, Tony, and Emmy-winning artists, and have also produced “Unscripted Live” at the Apollo Theater, City Winery, and Lincoln Center (2024 “American Songbook” series). Christian’s also a contributing writer for PEOPLE Magazine and was Contributing Editor for PopMatters online magazine from 2006-2023. He was also credited as a consultant for HBO’s Emmy-nominated Tina Turner documentary, Tina (2021), as well as CNN’s Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over (2021) and HBO’s Love to Love You, Donna Summer (2022).

The event will be moderated by Johnny H. Butler III.

Johnny H. Butler III, baritone, is a native of Washington, DC, and holds an M.M. (Vocal) from the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music at The Catholic University of America. While at CUA, he was a scholarship recipient and studied under the direction of Professors Regina McConnell and Jason Stearns, respectively. Mr. Butler earned a B.M. Ed. (Vocal), from the University of the District of Columbia, where he was under the vocal tutelage of Professor Nelda Ormond. The UDC music faculty awarded him a music scholarship from the Colonial Dames XVII Century, given to students demonstrating musical excellence. Mr. Butler has also done further vocal study with Mark Oswald (MET Opera, Manhattan School of Music), Stanley Cornett (Peabody Conservatory), and with the late Louis Nabors at the Amalfi Coast Music Festival & Institute.