Johnny Crescendo is a disability civil rights singer and songwriter, born in 1952 in Salford UK..

In 1990 Johnny co-organised the huge demonstrations against Telethon resulting in their demise two years later. It was here where he coined the phrase "Piss on Pity" which eventually found its way onto the worlds best selling disability "T"shirt.

Johnny founded the Direct Action Network (DAN) in 1993, an organisation that uses public demonstrations and non-violent civil disobedience to increase the awareness and liberation of disabled people. DAN became instrumental in getting the Disability Discrimination Act of 1995 passed in the UK and for getting commitments from the UK government to make all transport accessible.Johnny also works for ADAPT American Disabled people for Attendant Programmes Today who are currently fighting to redirect funding to support disabled people in the community as opposed to Nursing Homes. DAN has also taken up this campaign in the UK. As well as being a performer, Johnny is a philosopher and teacher and one of the most experienced trainers and consultants on disability issues, designing and leading courses and workshops on topics such as Arts and Disability, Empowering Disabled People and the Social Model of Disability. He appears regularly on television and radio and has had numerous articles published in national and international magazines.

Johnny’s song "Choices and Rights" became the anthem for the disabled people’s movement in Britain in the late 1980s. His second album, "Easy Money" was made up of songs entirely about disability issues. His third album "Pride" produced in Manchester and backed by a rock band the POP (Piss on Pity)squad spawned new anthems including the Title track "Pride" the Dylanesque and haunting "Ballad of Josie Evans"and the soul searching "I don't wannabe a wannabe."

His fourth album (only released in the USA) is Not Dead Yet and contains the song "Tear Down the Walls" which has become the anthem for the disability movement in the United States.

Johnny has now released a compilation album "Tear Down The Walls" which has the 20 most popular songs from the 4 earlier albums.

Johnny is married to Cassie James a leading activist from the USA. They met in jail in Atlanta Georgia. They have a 3 year old daughter Danyell !. In 2004 Johnny moved to Philadelphia USA to be with his wife and daughter Danielle. Johnny plans to visit the UK regularly to continue his activism and visit his daughter by a previous relationship Yasha who is 13.

JOHNNY CRESCENDO

HonMMus (Honorary Master of Music)