Davey Johnstone

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Johnstone(left) performing Funeral For a Friend at an Elton John concert.

Davey Johnstone (born 6 May 1951 in Edinburgh, Scotland), is a rock guitarist and vocalist, best known for his work with Elton John, Alice Cooper, and Meat Loaf.

Johnstone's first work was with Noel Murphy in 1968, where he received his first album credit. In 1969 Johnstone worked as a session musician with the British folk group, Magna Carta, on their Seasons album. After Lyell Tranter, the second guitarist in Magna Carta left the band, Johnstone took his place. He played as a full-time band member on two Magna Carta albums: Songs from Wastie's Orchard, and a live album entitled In Concert. During his stint with Magna Carta, he played a wide variety of instruments including guitar, mandolin, sitar, and dulcimer. It was during his work with Magna Carta that he caught the attention of Magna producer Gus Dudgeon who asked Johnstone to play on Bernie Taupin's self-titled 1970 solo album, which resulted in a meeting with Elton John and Johnstone playing on his 1971 album Madman Across the Water. Johnstone was then welcomed into Elton John's band full time. Johnstone released a solo album, Smiling Face, in 1973 through Rocket Records and created a short-lived band called China that released a self-titled album in the late 1970's. He has also appeared with other artists like Leo Sayer, Bob Seger, and Rod Stewart, to name a few.