Eric Johnson

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For other persons named Eric Johnson, see Eric Johnson (disambiguation).
Eric Johnson

Background information
Also known as "EJ"
Born August 17, 1954 (1954-08-17) (age 53)
Austin, Texas, USA
Genre(s) Instrumental rock
Rock
Years active 1974 – present
Associated acts G3,
Alien Love Child,
Electromagnets
Website http://www.ericjohnson.com
Notable instrument(s)
Fender Eric Johnson Signature Stratocaster
Gibson ES-335
Signature Martin acoustic

Eric Johnson (born August 17, 1954) is a guitarist and recording artist from Austin, Texas. Best known for his success in the instrumental rock format, Johnson regularly incorporates jazz, fusion, New Age, and country and western elements into his recordings.[1]

Guitar Player magazine calls Johnson "One of the most respected guitarists on the planet".[2] Johnson composes and plays not just instrumental songs, but also sings and plays piano.

Widely recognized for his guitar skills, Johnson's stylistic diversity and technical proficiency have drawn praise from Carlos Santana, Allan Holdsworth, Larry Carlton, Steve Morse, Billy Gibbons, Johnny Winter, Jeff Baxter, Prince, B.B. King, Joe Satriani and the late Stevie Ray Vaughan. His critically-acclaimed, platinum selling 1990 recording Ah Via Musicom produced the single "Cliffs of Dover", for which Johnson won the 1991 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.[3]

Contents

[edit] Life and career

Johnson's talent developed at an early age. Born into a musically inclined family, he and his three sisters studied piano, his brother started his own band in his teens; his father (an Austin physician) was a singing enthusiast. At age 11, Johnson took up the guitar and progressed rapidly through the music of his influences: Eric Clapton, Chet Atkins, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, Wes Montgomery, Jerry Reed, Bob Dylan, and Django Reinhardt, among others. His first professional experience came as a member of the psychedelic rock band Mariani at just 15 years of age. In 1968, Johnson recorded a demo tape with the group which saw extremely limited release; years later the recording would become a prized collector's item.[1][4][5][6][7]

After graduating from Holy Cross High School, Johnson briefly attended the University of Texas at Austin and traveled with his family to Africa. He eventually returned to Austin, and in 1974 joined the local fusion group Electromagnets. The group toured and recorded regionally, but failed to attract attention from major record labels and disbanded in 1977. However, the strength of Johnson's playing attracted a small cult following to the group's early recordings, and decades later their two albums were given wide release on compact disc.[8][9]

Following the demise of the Electromagnets, Johnson formed a touring trio, the Eric Johnson Group, with drummer Bill Maddox and bassist Kyle Brock. They played to respectable audiences on the Austin music scene, and in 1978 recorded a full length album entitled Seven Worlds. Although the album showcased Johnson's considerable playing ability, a combination of contract disputes, financial wrangling, and mismanagement held up the album's release – and Johnson's career – for several years. True to form, Seven Worlds was released two full decades later in 1998 on Ark21 Records after Johnson secured the rights to the master recordings[10][11]

Unable to secure a new management contract, Johnson nonetheless continued to build his professional reputation by working as a session guitarist for nationally known and regional acts, appearing on recordings by Cat Stevens,[12] Carole King,[13] and Christopher Cross[14] among others. All the while, he continued to toil on the local scene, thrilling audiences with his flashy-yet tasteful-electric guitar playing. His career rebounded in 1984 when pop superstar Prince caught one of Johnson's performances on the public television program Austin City Limits. Despite the story of Johnson being signed to Warner Brothers courtesy of Prince, it was singer Christopher Cross and producer David Tickle who recommended Johnson to be signed to the label. 1986 saw the release of Johnson's major-label debut, Tones with Tickle as co-producer.[15]

Johnson's May 1986 Guitar Player magazine cover story "Who Is Eric Johnson and Why Is He On Our Cover" was a successful risky bold move that helped promote the release of Tones which brought Johnson considerable praise, if not widespread commercial success, and raised his profile in the guitar and music community.[16] Despite the track "Zap" being nominated for the 1987 Best Rock Instrumental Performance Grammy Award, the album did not sell well, and soon after Warner Bros. let Johnson's contract expire. He signed on with indie label Cinema Records which was distributed by Capitol Records.[17]

By the time Johnson released his Capitol Records debut Ah Via Musicom in 1990, he was a bona fide "guitar hero,"[citation needed] regularly winning awards for his musicianship in the guitar press. During this period, Johnson was also drawing recognition for the rich, violin-like tone he coaxed from his vintage Fender Stratocaster. The album's second cut, "Cliffs of Dover", exemplified his unique sound and won Johnson a 1991 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. Ah Via Musicom was a crossover hit, and was soon certified platinum. A 5.1 DVD-Audio version of Ah Via Musicom was released in 2002 from Capitol Records without Johnson's input, but was soon dropped. Johnson apologized to fans on his website for the DVD-Audio release.[18]

Johnson is an admitted perfectionist, and those traits seemed to work against Ah Via Musicom's follow-up release. Unhappy with his recordings, Johnson mastered—then subsequently scrapped—several completed tracks for the new album and delayed its release for a period of six years. In actuality it took three years to complete the album as Johnson toured for three years supporting Ah Via Musicom, and dealing with setbacks involving musical growth, and personal issues while recording his next album Venus Isle.[19][20]

When Venus Isle was finally released on September 3, 1996, it received mixed reviews and did not match the success of its predecessor. The album at this time has sold 250,000 units and Johnson was dropped from Capitol Records soon after that. It was a unique album with world influences in which it demonstrated Eric Johnson's growth as a guitarist, songwriter, producer, arranger, and vocalist. The Venus Isle title track showcased the talents of musician AmitChatterjee.

A successful month long tour from October to November 1996 with fellow guitarists Joe Satriani and Steve Vai named the G3 (tour), resulted in a successful platinum selling compact disc and DVD titled G3: Live in Concert.

In 1998, Eric Johnson was among the judges in Musician magazine's Best Unsigned Bands competition, along with Ani DiFranco, Moby, Art Alexakis of Everclear, Keb' Mo', and Joe Perry of Aerosmith.[21]

In 1994, Johnson had formed a side project called Alien Love Child and played shows sporadically while Johnson was recording Venus Isle. The positive fan feedback from the shows made Alien Love Child a permanent gig where a live performance recording, Live And Beyond,was finally released in 2000 on Steve Vai's Favored Nations label, showcasing new songs. The Alien Love Child project helped free Johnson's perfectionism involving recording music and obsessive tinkering with guitar equipment gear.[22][23][24]

Johnson eventually returned to the recording studio, releasing Souvenir, an Internet release, in January 2002 on his own Vortexan Records. The album received nearly 65,000 plays in the first 7 weeks it was made available on mp3.com.[25]Johnson promoted Souvenir with an electric tour in 2003 and an acoustic tour in 2004.[26][27]

In 2004, Eric Johnson was invited by Eric Clapton to perform at Clapton's successful Crossroads Guitar Festival. According to Johnson, he was scheduled to perform onstage with Clapton, but the opportunity fell through.[28]

Johnson's next studio album Bloom was released in June 2005 also on Steve Vai's Favored Nations label. The album was divided into three sections based on vibe of songs that showcased Johnson's musical versatality.[29] His December 1988 Austin City Limits performance was released on both DVD and compact disc on New West Records in November 2005. His instructional guitar DVD, The Art of Guitar, (Hal Leonard Corporation) was also released at the end of 2005.

In January 2006, an individual named Brian Sparks was arrested for posing as Johnson by bilking businesses out of about $18,000 worth of guitars and equipment.[30]. Also in 2006, Johnson's guitars that were stolen 24 years ago, were recovered.[31]

In September 2006, Eric Johnson took part in a theatrical production titled "Primal Twang: The Legacy of the Guitar" - the first definitive theatrical journey through the guitar’s colorful and surprisingly controversial 3500-year history, filmed by the Adams Entertainment Group. In September 2007, Johnson took part in a second theatrical production by Adams Entertainment titled "Love In: A Musical Celebration" in which he performed a Jimi Hendrix set which paid tribute to the year 1967 "The Summer Of Love".[32] Also in late 2006 Johnson also took part in a second G3 (tour) in South America with Joe Satriani and John Petrucci.

Johnson's current projects did include an all-acoustic project[33] and a live video from his 2006 Tour with Joe Satriani.[34] However these have been shelved, as Johnson is cutting a new studio album at this time.[35]

His hit single "Cliffs of Dover" appears in the game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. In addition, Johnson is currently a featured instructor at Web site http://www.guitarinstructor.com.

[edit] Guitar and Equipment Gear

Eric Johnson is best known for playing stock Fender Stratocaster and Gibson ES-335 electric guitars through a triple amp setup that consists of Fender Amplifiers, Dumble Amplifiers, and Marshall amplification along with effects pedals such as a Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face, TC Electronic Stereo Chorus, Dunlop Cry Baby wah-wah, Electro-Harmonix Memory Man Delay, an MXR Digital Delay, a Line 6 Echo Pro Studio Modeler, and a Maestro Echoplex tape delay of which all are connected to multiple A/B boxes to create sounds and tones that are both clean and distorted; Although the majority of Eric's setup is predominantly vintage, he has recently started using more modern effects including a stereo chorus made by Analog.Man and a JTM45 vintage handwired re-issue from Marshall.

Eric Johnson was also responsible for putting the Tube Driver pedal created by Brent Butler on the map which is an essential part of his guitar sound.[36]

Johnson has also played other guitar brands such as Robin, Rickenbacker, and Jackson Charvel, which appears on the cover of the "Ah Via Musicom" album.

He has also been known to use series wired or 'coil tapped' Dimarzio HS-2's in the neck and bridge position of his stratocasters; although this setup is not hum-cancelling, it still cancels around 70% of the AC hum.

In 2001, Eric Johnson added a Custom Shop '59 Les Paul Reissue to his guitars of choice.

C. F. Martin & Company released a limited-edition signature Eric Johnson Signature MC-40 in 2003, built to his specifications. Johnson donated five percent of the profits from his signature Martin guitar to Jefferson Medical College as a tribute to his father who attended.[37]

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation released a Eric Johnson Signature Fender Stratocaster in 2005 also built to his specifications. Johnson has also released other signature gear such as GHS Eric Johnson Nickel Rockers Electric Guitar Strings, DiMarzio DP211 Eric Johnson Custom Pickups, and a Fullton-Webb amplifier. According to an article in the June 2007 edition of GuitarOne magazine, there is a possibility of an Eric Johnson signature Jazz III guitar pick from Jim Dunlop Manufacturing in the future.

Johnson was also featured in a video for Line6 GuitarPort product.

In late 2006, Johnson switched from recording in analog format[38] to digital format.[39]

As well in the works from Fender Musical Instruments Corporation is an Eric Johnson rosewood neck signature Fender Stratocaster.

[edit] Solo albums

[edit] Singles played on

  • Mariani (1970) Tracks "Re-Birth Day" and "Memories Lost and Found" - Sonobeat 118
  • Christopher Cross (1976) Tracks "It's All With You" and "Talkin' About Her" - Starburst ARC
  • Bill Maddox - Project Terror (1976) Tracks "In Memory of Buda" and "Thermal Underwear" - E. G. Records
  • Bill Colbert (1982) Tracks "That Rider Down" and "Mama's Little Baby" - Texas Re-Cord Co.

[edit] Albums played on

Group albums

  • Perpetuum Mobile (1970) by Mariani
  • Electromagnets (1975) by Electromagnets
  • Live and Beyond (2000) by Alien Love Child
  • Electromagnets 2 (2006) by Electromagnets - Vortexan Records

Compilations

  • The Austin Christmas Collection - (1980), Track "What Child Is This"
  • The Austin Christmas Collection Volume 2 - (1983) Tracks "What Child Is This" and "Is There A Santa Claus"
  • Various Artists: Guitar Speak - (1988), "Western Flyer"
  • KLBJ's Local Licks Live (1990) - "Camel's Night Out"
  • Instrumental Moods - (1991) "Cliffs Of Dover"
  • Guitar's Practicing Musicians Vol 2 - (1991), Guitar Recordings "Cliffs Of Dover"
  • KLBJ's Local Licks Live - (1993) "Desert Rose"
  • True Voices (1995) - "At The End of The Day" with Susan Cowsill
  • KLBJ's Local Licks Live - (1996) "S.R.V."
  • 13th Millennia Soundtrack - (1996), Texas World Records
  • G3 Live in concert (1997) by Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Eric Johnson
  • Merry Axemas Volume 1 (1997) Various Artists - Track #2 - "The First Nowell"
  • Guitar Gods (1998) Various Artists - Track #1 "Trademark"
  • KGSR 107.1 Broadcasts Vol. 7 (on "Tribute to Jerry Reed" and "The Only Thing That's Real"- recorded July 8, 1999). Same recording is also on KGSR 107.1 Broadcasts Vol. 8 1999
  • The Best of Rockline (1999) - Track 11 - "SRV"
  • Moods Box Set (1999) - "Cliffs Of Dover"
  • Rock Guitarist Forever Best (1999) - Track 4 - "Soulful Terrain" (Japanese Release)
  • KLBJ Local Licks Live - (2001) - Track "Shape I'm In"
  • Band Together - (2002) - Track "Shape I'm In"
  • Texas Guitar Slingers Vol. 1 (2002) - Track "Enzo Shuffle"
  • Fender Stratocaster 50th Anniversary (2004) - Track #5 "Trademark"
  • Don't Mess With Texas - Vol 2. (2004) - Track "Boogie King"
  • KGSR 107.1 Broadcasts Vol 12 (2004) - Track "Song For George"
  • Keep Punching (2007) - Track 3 - "Forever Yours"
  • Cliffs of Dover on Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (2007)


Guest appearance work

  • Once Upon a Rock (1977) by American Peddlers - Track "Circle Song"
  • Back to Earth (1978) by Cat Stevens Track #3 "Bad Brakes"
  • Gene Morris (1979) by Gene Morris - Track "My Friend"
  • Pearls (1980) by Carole King
  • Johnny Dee & The Rocket 88's by Johnny Dee & The Rocket 88's - Track "No More"
  • Christopher Cross (album (1980) by Christopher CrossTrack #9 "Minstrel Gigolo"
  • One to One (1982) by Carole King
  • Long Time Friends (1982) by Alessi - Track #4 "Rise Up"
  • Til You Came Along (1982) by Bobby Giles
  • Shake Russell and Dana Cooper (1982) by Shake Russell and Dana Cooper - Tracks "Waitin' Here For You" and "Goin' Down Judah"
  • World Beat (1983) by Dan Del Santo - Track "Ain't That Askin' A Little Too Much?"
  • Pressure (1983) by Pressure - Track "Save A Little Time"
  • Peripheral Vision (1984) by McColl & Tracey
  • Marc Anthony Thompson (1984) by Marc Anthony Thompson - Track "Recover Gracefully"
  • Stand Up (1985) by Steve Morse Band - Track #5 "Distant Star"
  • Street Language (1986) by Rodney Crowell Track #2 "Ballad Of Fast Eddie"
  • Guitar Speak (1988) by Various Artists- Track #3 "Western Flyer"
  • Willie Jones (1990) by Willie Jones - Tracks "So Long", "Mary Jean"
  • Inside Out (1990) by Jay Aaron - Track "Ronda"
  • The Urge (1991) by Stuart Hamm Track #5 "On Our Dreams" and Track #6 "Lone Star"
  • Rush Street (1992) by Richard Marx - Track "Keep Coming Back"
  • The Hunter (1992) by Jennifer Warnes - Track #7 "Lights of Louisiana" and Track #10 "I Can't Hide"
  • Rendevous (1992) by Christopher Cross- Track #8 "Nothing Will Change"
  • Herman Harris: Herman Harris & the Voices of Hope - 1993
  • Read My Licks (1994) by Chet Atkins- Track #5 "Somebody Loves Me Now"
  • What The Hell Was I Thinking? (1994) by Dweezil Zappa - Unreleased track "What The Hell Was I Thinking?"
  • Wave of the Hand (1995) by Carla Olsen - Track #2 "I'm Tryin'"
  • Angelica (1997) by Various Arists - Track #6 "Ave Maria"
  • Merry Axemas (1997) by Various Artists - Track #2 "The First Nowell"
  • Angels, Horses & Pirates by Little Blue (1997)- Track #1 "Wait Until You Get Here"
  • Rosebud (1998) by Stephen Doster - Track "There Is No Time"
  • Walking in Avalon (1998) by Christopher Cross - Track #4 "When She Smiles"
  • Koko's Hideaway (1999) by Van Wilks - Track #11, "Vanatized".
  • Fingers and Thumbs (1999) by Adrian Legg - Track #1 "Lunchtime At Rosie's"
  • Been A Long Time (2001) by Double Trouble - Track #9 "In The Garden"
  • More to Life Than This (2003) by Mike Tramp - Track "On The Good, the Sad and the Ugly"
  • A Guitar Supreme, Giant Steps in Fusion Guitar (2004) by Various Artists Track #1 "Resolution"
  • Fusion for Miles, A Guitar Tribute: A Bitchin' Brew (2005) by Various Artists Track #3 "Jean Pierre"
  • Industrial Zen (2006) by John McLaughlin - Track #2 'New Blues old Bruise'
  • Viva Carlos: A Supernatural Marathon Celebration (2006) by Various Artists - Track #6, "Aqua Marine".
  • Hero Shuffle 2006) by Rex Paul - Tracks #3 "Hero Shuffle" and #8 "Reminds Me of Austin"
  • Walk On (2006) by Roscoe Beck - Track #4 "Together All The Time"
  • Grand and Green River (2007) by Kara Grainger - Track #11 "Across The Water"
  • The Devil Knows My Name (2007) by John5 - Track #10 "The Washing Away of Wrong"
  • Freeway Jam: To Beck and Back Jeff Beck Tribute (2007) - Track #3 "Beck's Bolero"
  • Lovers (2008) by Bobby Whitlock and CoCo Carmel
  • From The Reach (2008) by Sonny Landreth - Track "The Milky Way Home" - release May 20, 2008


Instructional DVDs

  • Eric Johnson: Total Electric Guitar (1990) by Hot Licks
  • Eric Johnson: The Fine Art of Guitar (1996) by Hot Licks
  • Eric Johnson: The Art of Guitar (2005) by Hal Leonard Corporation

Television Appearances and Videos

  • Electromagnets: Live on PBS Playback (1975) re-released on VHS (1998)
  • Double Trouble with Special Guests - Austin City Limits (2001)
  • House Of Blues [Internet Webcast Live] - Alien Love Child Tour (2001)
  • Big Wreck and Friends [Internet Webcast Live] - Roy Thomson Hall - Toronto, Ontario (2001)
  • Guitar Show - Australian Television Broadcast (2002)
  • Jennifer Warnes DVD-A from AIX - unreleased (2003)
  • Crossroads Guitar Festival (2004) Warner Brothers
  • James Burton International Guitar Festival (2005) filmed for a future release.
  • Live in Austin, Tx (2005) NewWest Records
  • Satriani LIVE (2006) Epic Records
  • Primal Twang: The Legacy of the Guitar (2006) filmed for a future release.
  • Love In: A Musical Celebration (2007) filmed for a future release.
  • HDNet Concert Series. Eric Johnson - Live at the Grove (2008) - filmed in 2006 for a future DVD release.


[edit] Awards and chartings

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Pinson, Matt. "Eric Johnson: In Full Bloom" - MusicPlayers.com - 2006-08-06
  2. ^ Leslie, Jimmy. "On Tackling Odd Meters: Eric Johnson" - Guitar Player Magazine - August 2006
  3. ^ a b "Eric Johnson" - at Grammy.com
  4. ^ Simon, Scott. "Eric Johnson's Guitar Gets to Austin's Roots" - NPR - August 13, 2005
  5. ^ Landers, Rick. "Eric Johnson Interview" - Modern Guitars Magazine - August 11, 2005
  6. ^ "An Interview with Eric Johnson" - Boston Beats
  7. ^ Sonobeats Page."Mariani with Eric Johnson"
  8. ^ Obrecht, Jas."Eric Johnson:An Underground Legend Surfaces" - Guitar Player Magazine- May 1986
  9. ^ Endres, Cliff."Electromagnets - Selling Jazz to the Schlock-Rock Hardheads" - Electromagnets Bio
  10. ^ Musician's Friend."Musician's Friend's Artist Spotlight Exclusive Interview with Eric Johnson, Part 1 and 2" - Musician's Friend
  11. ^ Santiago, James. "Eric Johnson On Seven World's" - "EricJohnson.com"
  12. ^ Junior, Chris. "Storytime: Eric Johnson" - the Medleyville US - March 22, 2004
  13. ^ Galusha, Rick."Strato-Master" - OmahaCityWeekly - 2005
  14. ^ Willcox, James."StarPolish Interview: Eric Johnson" - Starpolish.com - November 6, 2003
  15. ^ Mccoy, Brian. "Guitar hero Eric Johnson finds he still has plenty to learn" - Record Net - September 13, 2007
  16. ^ Blackett, Matt. "Editor's Note" - MusicPlayer
  17. ^ Hernandez, Raoul. "Up from the Skies: Eric Johnson's Lifelong Quest" - The Austin Chronicle
  18. ^ "DVD-Audio Review" - HighFidelityReview - April 2002
  19. ^ Hernandez, Raoul. "Austin Chronicle Interview - Part 1"
  20. ^ Hernandez, Raoul. "Austin Chronicle Interview - Part 2"
  21. ^ Weeks, Lisa. "Soundbites" - Tucson Weekly - November 6, 1997
  22. ^ Levy, Adam. "Eric Johnson Cuts Loose on a Rockin' Live Album" - Guitar Player Magazine - December 2000
  23. ^ Vance, Brian. "Eric Johnson: Chasing The Tone Carrot" - Gibson Guitars Online - June 28, 2001
  24. ^ St. James, Adam."Eric Johnson: Moving Beyond Perfection" Guitar.com - Part 1 & 2 - October 26, 2000
  25. ^ Griswold, Susan. "Eric Johnson - Official Biography" -Fishman
  26. ^ Baker, Brian."Magic Johnson" CityBeat.com
  27. ^ Wallace, Lynn."From Heaven To The Moon" FSUNews.com
  28. ^ Wolf, Sandra. "A New Texas Jam" -Dallas Observer
  29. ^ Leslie, Jimmy. "Obsessive Perfectionist Eric Johnson Is Trying Go With the Flow" - Guitar Player Magazine - September 2005
  30. ^ RedOrbit Breaking News "Man Poses As Grammy Winner to Get Guitars"- January 3, 2006
  31. ^ "Eric Johnson recovers stolen guitars" - ErnieBall.com - March, 2006
  32. ^ Kirby, Dave "The perfectionist Eric Johnson finds artistry in the details" - September 27 - October 3, 2007
  33. ^ Sculley, Allan. "Don't try rushing Eric Johnson " - the North County Times - June 22, 2005
  34. ^ Todd, Andrew. "Eric Johnson at the Grove of Anaheim"Vintagerock.com
  35. ^ Alvarez, Ted. "Guitar hero Eric Johnson plays in Beaver Creek" - the Vail Daily News - September 24, 2007
  36. ^ Roscoe, John. "Tone From Heaven: B.K. Butler Interview"
  37. ^ "Jefferson Medical College Students to Benefit from Generosity of Grammy-Winning Guitarist Eric Johnson" - Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
  38. ^ Digidesign.com "Richard Mullen on Recording Eric Johnson"
  39. ^ Euphonix.com"Guitarist Eric Johnson Adds Euphonix to Studio Arsenal" - December 5, 2006

[edit] External links

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Second guitarist
Third guitarist
Discography