Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Kristen Jacobsen | 250724-N-ZK115-7798 GREAT LAKES, Ill. (Jul. 24, 2025) Seaman Recruit Andrew Johnston...... read more read more
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“I picture myself sometimes in the United Center or in an arena,” mused Seaman Andrew Johnston during an interview for NBC 5 Chicago in 2018. “Even though I’m in the subway, that’s my end goal.” For years, Johnston performed regularly in Chicago’s subway stations and on busy street corners, garnering a social media following that helped him land appearances on Steve Harvey, Windy City Live, and America’s Got Talent. Upon graduating from the U. S. Navy’s Recruit Training Command in August, SN Johnston embarked upon a professional singing career that will take him even beyond these once far-fetched dreams. Johnston was practically born into his love for music and singing. Surrounded by aunts and uncles who played instruments, sang, or both, he joined them as soon as he was able. Family gatherings and holidays were perfect excuses for all-night jams, and garage band sessions were a way of life rather than a passing phase. In fact, music making was such an ingrained part of daily life that it was not until the overwhelming response to his eighth-grade talent show performance of “Flying Without Wings” that he realized he possessed something special. Buoyed by thunderous applause and the whole school chanting his name until he finally got on the school bus, Johnston entered his freshman year of high school beginning to dream that singing could be more than a pastime. Upon graduating from high school, Johnston began proactively navigating licensure regulations for busking, performing live music for voluntary donations, in downtown Chicago’s busiest locations. These included public transportation stations and landmarks such as the Wrigley Building. Regularly posting videos of his performances to social media enabled him to reach an even wider audience, as did his local fans, who began filming and posting their own videos of him. Soon, Johnston found himself receiving national attention, enabling him to appear on numerous television shows and news programs. This was a welcome change from street performing, where murky regulations and varying interpretations of noise violations can cause issues ranging from frustration to equipment confiscation and even arrest. One such television show is America’s Got Talent. Johnston performed John Lennon’s “Imagine” on the Judges Cut episode of Season 13, winning him a well-earned standing ovation. His experience on the show was his first taste of the professional music industry. Working with its producers instilled in him the importance of professionalism, timeliness, accountability, and discipline – all skills that would become invaluable in the not-too-distant future. In addition, the audition to become a contestant was a valuable experience in and of itself. Most professional musicians take several auditions before winning jobs, but few get the experience of taking and winning them for national television. It is unlikely, then, that anyone who knows Johnston was surprised when he won an audition in 2025 to become a Vocalist in the U.S. Navy Fleet Bands. With nine Fleet Bands stationed around the world, he will not merely achieve his dreams of singing in arenas. He will exceed them. Fleet Bands project the Navy’s pride and professionalism across the globe, often going where ships cannot. They perform in venues ranging from orphanages in Ghana to castles in the United Kingdom, and concert halls and parks across the U.S. TV shows are still in his future, with ensembles performing on morning shows, talk shows, and news broadcasts all over the world. Winning the Navy audition was “a huge relief” for Johnston, who often felt stagnant and unfulfilled in the years between appearing on America’s Got Talent and embarking on his naval career. Failed talent show and TV auditions and a stint as a Production Vocalist on a cruise ship left him wanting more. Consequently, the prospect of having to go through boot camp did not deter him from pursuing the next chapter in his musical journey. In fact, Johnston credits years of performing on the streets of Chicago with preparing him for the rigors of basic military training. It “taught me to be ready for anything” and to “expect the unexpected,” he explains. When he began learning about Warrior Toughness, the Navy’s system designed to build toughness in the mind, body, and soul, it resonated with him right away. By the time he reported to Recruit Training Command, the system’s primary goals of continuing to fight despite setbacks, optimizing performance, and performing under pressure were well-developed skills. He also credits his unique experience with being able to hone his craft and learn what really moves a wide variety of people. This was evident in his performances at weekly graduation ceremonies at Recruit Training Command, where he performed with the Recruit Choir for several weeks until he graduated on August 7th. When he took his place before the solo microphone each week to sing “America the Beautiful,” his experience and passion radiated throughout the drill hall, leaving the audience breathless as he sang the final words “from sea to shining sea.” For a moment, listeners from all over the country were united simply as Americans. It is clear he has found his calling. “Being in the Navy allows me to live out my passion for music and singing in a most fulfilling way,” he confirms. When asked what advice he would give to others seeking to follow in his footsteps, he encourages them to “just keep singing,” echoing his declaration in 2018 that “as long as I’m singing and using the gift that God gave me, I know that something is going to come along, and I’m ready.” He is living proof of the simple efficacy of his motto.
| Date Taken: | 07.25.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 11.14.2025 10:55 |
| Story ID: | 550848 |
| Location: | GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS, US |
| Hometown: | CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, US |
| Web Views: | 34 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Just Keep Singing A Sailor’s Journey from the Subway to Centerstage, by PO1 Kristen Jacobsen, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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