A "national treasure?"

Well, that sounds like pretty heady praise for anyone.

Prudence Johnson has been called that by a Pulse magazine music critic.

Austin music fans will have a chance to judge for themselves Friday, Feb. 21, when Johnson appears on stage at 7:30 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre.

For the last 25 years, Johnson has been demonstrating she is no ordinary vocalist.

Want to hear jazz? Johnson sings it. Want to hear country? Johnson sings that, too.

Want to hear pop, folk or Broadway music? Johnson also sings those songs.

For instance, her latest CD "Moon Country" is a collection of American music icon Hoagy Carmichael songs.

Wrap a silky alto around the Tin Pan Alley legend's classics and a new classic recording is born.

A founding member of the jazz group, Rio Nido, the Twin Cities artist has also collaborated with her husband, Gary Rue, when the couple lived in Nashville, Tenn.

She was nominated for a Grammy award in 1992 for a collection of lullabies for young and old and paired with swing band leader for the CD "King Swings, Pru Sings."

She has toured the Soviet Union twice, performed on stage and had a cameo role in Robert Redford's movie "A River Runs through It."

If the historic Paramount Theatre is a national treasure, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, its only natural.

Let Pulse magazine's national treasure meet Austin's for a night of unique song stylings.

Tickets are $15 or $12 for students under age 16 and seniors. They can be purchased in advance at the box office or Black Bart's/Nemitz's.

For more information about the concert, fans can also go to the web site www.paramounttheatre.org

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at :mailto:lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com