Johnny A.

Johnny A.

Johnny A. playing at the Twilight Festival on June 14, 2007.
Background information
Born 1952
Malden, Massachusetts, United States
Genres Instrumental rock, jazz, blues
Instruments Guitar
Years active 1975–present
Labels Aglaophone Records, Favored Nations
Website www.johnnya.com
Notable instruments
Gibson Johnny A. Signature Edition

Johnny A. is an American guitarist/songwriter, born in Malden, Massachusetts.[1]

Growing up in Boston as a young child, he became interested in music, starting with drums at age six. Upon being exposed to The Beatles in 1964 (age 12), Johnny bought a $49 Lafayette Electronics guitar. In the late seventies, he formed a band called The Streets, performing mostly in the Boston area. In 1986, his band Hearts On Fire, placed second in the WBCN Rock & Roll Rumble only to be edged out by Gang Green.

As a sideman, Johnny played with percussionist Mingo Lewis as well as brief stint with drummer Doug Clifford and then with keyboardist Bobby Whitlock. He then began a seven year stint as guitarist and musical director with The J. Geils Band front man Peter Wolf. He played on Wolf's albums, and co-produced one of them, Long Line 1996, as well as joining him on world tours.

In 1999 Johnny A. launched his solo career and independently released his debut CD sometime tuesday morning. The album was re-released in 2001 on Steve Vai's Favored Nations Entertainment label. The album spawned the #1 single "Oh Yeah" across the USA on the AAA radio format. It marked the first time in over a decade that an instrumental had achieved the top spot on radio. "STM" went on to sell over 90,000 copies. The album was then picked up for distribution by Danny Goldberg at Artemus Records. In 2004 "Get Inside" was released on the Favored Nations Label yielding 2 radio singles, "I Had To Laugh" and a radio edit of the title track "Get Inside." In 2006 Warner Bros./Alfred Publishing released a Johnny A. instructional DVD entitled "Taste, Tone, Space." Johnny A.'s recent release (2010 Aglaophone Records) is One November Night. A live DVD/CD set recorded at Sculler's Jazz in his hometown of Boston, MA. Johnny A. is the recipient of The Boston Music Award's - Blues Artist of the Year 2010

Gibson's Custom Shop designed a Johnny A. Signature Edition guitar per his specifications.[2]

Contents

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Name

Johnny says his last name, Antonopoulos[3] (of Greek origin), was always getting mispronounced. "It's always been Johnny A. since age eight," he says.[4]

Style

Johnny's style often recalls Danny Gatton as well as some aspects of Jeff Beck and Pat Martino.[5] His style walks the fine line between rock, jazz, and blues, often employing copious use of the whammy bar, adding to the texture.[6] Among his musical influences, he cites The Beatles, Everly Brothers, Wes Montgomery, Chet Atkins, Jeff Beck, Steve Howe, Jimi Hendrix, and Les Paul.[7]

Discography

Sometime Tuesday Morning

Release 1999 - international re-release 2001
Tracks:
1. "Sometime Tuesday Morning"
2. "Oh Yeah"
3. "Wichita Lineman"
4. "Two Wheel Horse"
5. "In The Wind"
6. "Yes It Is"
7. "You Don't Love Me"
8. "Up In The Attic"
9. "Walk Don't Run"
10. "Tex Critter"
11. "Lullabye For Nicole"
12. "Walkin' West Ave."

"Sleigh Ride"

2002 radio promo single
Tracks:
1. "Sleigh Ride"
2. "Oh Yeah"

Get Inside

2004
Tracks:
1. "Hip Bone"
2. "I Had To Laugh"
3. "Poor Side of Town"
4. "Sing Singin'"
5. "Get Inside"
6. "Bundle Of Joy"
7. "Krea Gata"
8. "The Wind Cries Mary"
9. "Ignorance Is Bliss"
10."Sway A Little"
11."Stimulation"
12."Another Life"

Taste • Tone • Space

2006
Instructional guitar DVD

One November Night

2010 - Live DVD/CD 2-disc set
Tracks:
1. "I Had To Laugh"
2. "Sing Singin'"
3. "The Wind Cries Mary"
4. "Tex Critter"
5. "Lullabye For Nicole"
6. "Two Wheel Horse"
7. "Get Inside"
8. "The Night Before"
9. "Krea Gata"
10."Ignorance Is Bliss"
11."Wichita Lineman"
12."Memphis, Tennessee"
13."Jimi Jam"
14."Walk Away Renée"

Other contributions

References

  1. ^ Johnny A. Interview
  2. ^ Gibson Signature Model Artist Johnny A. Displays His Melodic Mastery on New DVD
  3. ^ Philadelphia City Paper March 11-17, 2004
  4. ^ Johnny A. | Archives | Reviews
  5. ^ "Pop Matters". http://www.johnnya.com/archives/reviews_popmatters.htm. 
  6. ^ Joyce, Mike (April 22, 2005). "Guitarist Johnny A., Getting Everybody's Licks In". The Washington Post. p. C08. 
  7. ^ A., Johnny (2005). Taste - Tone - Space (DVD). Alfred Publishing Co.. ISBN 0-7579-4075-7. 

External links