By Ardine Isma

 Special to CSMS MagazineAs I read the article on Konpa’s advances to the world stage last week, I quickly searched the links that Christine Jean-Pierre gave the readers to check those newly non-Haitian Konpa artists. It didn’t take me long to discover their great talents. They are really great. But one of them caught my attention immensely. His nom d’artiste is Loony Johnson, although his real name is Antonio Miranda, the son of Cape Verdian immigrants, who live in Lisbon, Portugal, where Loony was born and raised.            His love of music started when he was six years old, listening to Michael Jackson, Kris Kros, and MC Hammer. In his teenage years, he was in an amateur Cape Verdian hip-hop group called the Pirates of the Ghetto, performing in talent shows in schools and community centers.            In 1996 and 1997 he began his music career as a disc jockey in clubs and parties. It was there in performing in clubs that he got the name Loony Johnson. Then in 1998 he had his big singing appearance in the album Tangle with the group Capeverdeano To Semeando in the songBes.            In 2003, he signed with Section Zouk records and began working on his debut solo album called Loony. The album features production and guest appearances from Ali Angel, Kaysha,Warren, and Elizio. The first single L in the air was released in December, 2006, and was one the highest requested songs in RNJ Antilles in Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana. The video for L in the air was first released on YouTube and got an estimated 89,000 hits from the website.            The album Loony was released in January of 2007 and sold about 15,000 copies worldwide. The album made his fan base stretched from the Caribbean to his homeland of Cape Verde, in Africa.            Loony Johnson is a talented performer with great dance moves, beautiful model looks, and great Konpa and Zouk melodies in songs such as L in the air, Sexy Night, and Signal, featuring Ali angel. Many agree that Loony, young and energetic, will continue to enjoy great success in the Konpa/Zouk genre for many years to come.Also see Milca: New Haitian diva crowned in Paris while Konpa is breaking new grounds