Wayne Johnson
Encyclopedia
Wayne Johnson is an American
jazz
and acoustic guitarist
based in Southern California
. Johnson won a joint Grammy Award
in 2004 for his contribution to the album Pink Guitar, which featured the songs of composer Henry Mancini
.
Johnson attended Boston's Berklee College Of Music
in the late 1970s, and shortly thereafter joined the vocal group Manhattan Transfer
for more than 20 years. To date, he has recorded eight solo CDs, most often in a trio with bassist Jimmy Johnson
and drummer Bill Berg
, who were founding members of the group Flim & the BB's
. Currently, he is a guitarist for Bette Midler's Las Vegas show at Caesar's Palace.
Johnson has performed worldwide with numerous other artists including Rickie Lee Jones
, Elton John
, John Tesh
, Akiko Yano
and Lee Oskar
. He is also a music educator and instructor, and serves as a clinician for Taylor Guitars
.
Johnson grew up in Spokane, Washington
where he studied guitar under Jack C. Campbell, a pioneer in the chord-melody guitar technique.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and acoustic guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
based in Southern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Johnson won a joint Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
in 2004 for his contribution to the album Pink Guitar, which featured the songs of composer Henry Mancini
Henry Mancini
Henry Mancini was an American composer, conductor and arranger, best remembered for his film and television scores. He won a record number of Grammy Awards , plus a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously in 1995...
.
Johnson attended Boston's Berklee College Of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
in the late 1970s, and shortly thereafter joined the vocal group Manhattan Transfer
The Manhattan Transfer
The Manhattan Transfer is an American vocal music group. There have been two manifestations of the group, with Tim Hauser being the only person to be part of both...
for more than 20 years. To date, he has recorded eight solo CDs, most often in a trio with bassist Jimmy Johnson
Jimmy Johnson (bassist)
Jimmy Johnson is an American bass guitarist best known for his work with James Taylor, Allan Holdsworth, Lee Ritenour and Flim & the BB's...
and drummer Bill Berg
Bill Berg
William Daniel Berg is a retired Canadian ice hockey player.-Playing career:Playing on both wing and defense, after a minor league apprenticeship with the Springfield Indians of the American Hockey League - with whom he won a Calder Cup in 1990 - Berg started his National Hockey League career with...
, who were founding members of the group Flim & the BB's
Flim & the BB's
"Flim & The BB's" was a contemporary jazz band that became popular not only to jazz fans but also "tech-heads" because of the methods and type of equipment and technology that went into their recordings...
. Currently, he is a guitarist for Bette Midler's Las Vegas show at Caesar's Palace.
Johnson has performed worldwide with numerous other artists including Rickie Lee Jones
Rickie Lee Jones
Rickie Lee Jones is an American vocalist, musician, songwriter, and producer. Over the course of a three-decade career, Jones has recorded in various musical styles including rock, R&B, blues, pop, soul, and jazz standards.-Childhood:...
, Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, John Tesh
John Tesh
John Frank Tesh is an American pianist and composer of pop music, as well as a radio host and television presenter. His 10-year-old 'Intelligence for Your Life Radio Show' reaches 14.2 Million listeners/week, and is syndicated by Teshmedia on 400 stations in US, Canada, and the UK...
, Akiko Yano
Akiko Yano
is a Japanese pop and jazz musician and singer. She was born as Akiko Suzuki in Tokyo and raised in Aomori, Aomori, and later began her singing career in the mid-1970s...
and Lee Oskar
Lee Oskar
Lee Oskar is a Danish harmonica player, notable for his contributions to the sound of the rock-funk fusion group War, which he formed with Eric Burdon, his solo work, and as a harmonica manufacturer...
. He is also a music educator and instructor, and serves as a clinician for Taylor Guitars
Taylor Guitars
Taylor Guitars is an El Cajon, California‐based luthier, specializing in acoustic guitars, as well as semi-hollow and solidbody electric guitars. It was established in 1974 by Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug.- History :...
.
Johnson grew up in Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
where he studied guitar under Jack C. Campbell, a pioneer in the chord-melody guitar technique.