For years, Danva Johnson has stood outside a gas station near North 68th Street and West Villard Avenue in Milwaukee, singing gospel songs to whoever happened to be pumping gas or walking by. Johnson, who is blind, never set out to go viral. But this summer, a video of him singing did exactly that, racking up millions of views and setting off a wave of community support that included a GoFundMe campaign topping $8,000.
The clip that changed things came from Quierra Imani, who joined Johnson in singing outside the gas station and later shared the moment online, according to CBS 58. Imani said she had been having a difficult day when she heard Johnson singing the lyrics “you’ve got to treat everybody right and love one another,” and the encounter left an impression on her. She said Johnson communicated with and empowered her through his music, and that he touches many people in the community and around the world.
Once Imani’s video spread, people began reaching out to her asking how they could help Johnson, which led her to start a GoFundMe campaign for his living expenses and new equipment. The fund brought in more than $8,000. In a video update posted to Facebook on July 31, Imani confirmed she had officially delivered the raised proceeds to Johnson, who advised her to set aside a portion in a savings account for her child.
A Voice Rooted In Delta Blues Tradition
Johnson’s musical instincts trace back to family. He is the son of Mississippi Delta blues legend James “Super Chikan” Johnson, an award-winning musician and custom guitar builder known for crafting instruments out of recycled materials, who was featured on CBS’s 60 Minutes in November 2023, according to the Music Maker Foundation. That same 60 Minutes report described how Delta blues traditions faced economic pressures in rural Mississippi, pushing artists from that region toward industrial cities like Milwaukee, where many carried their gospel and blues heritage with them…