Clarenda Gaudio Johnson

Clarenda Gaudio Johnson, Sign Language Singer
Clare Johnson began her musical sign language career 45 years ago in Chicago as the sign singer of the  band, FOXFIRE, presented by Silent Sounds Inc. Her range of genres were rock and jazz, most notably signing jazz with Bradley Parker-Sparrow and Joanie Pallatto. In addition to music, another passion was theater where she interpreted in the Loop and off Loop theaters, introducing and establishing signed theater to the Chicago Deaf community. When not on stage, she served the Deaf as a professional medical interpreter. Clare’s life long passion was to bring the arts, in all its forms, to the Deaf community of all ages. She and her band mate, John E. Magnan, shared their love of music and passion for performing with an audience who, until FOXFIRE, had never been invited to share in the beauty of music. Sign language adds a visual dimension to a song’s lyrics by painting pictures in the air in a hand ballet of sound and sight.

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