He is a saxophonist born Plas John Johnson Jr. in
Donaldsonville, Louisiana who first performed and recorded in and around
New Orleans with his brother Ray, who was a pianist, under the name the
Johnson Brothers Combo.In 1951
he toured with the Charles Brown Blues Band before doing his time in the
military with the US Army.Once his service finished in 1954 he settled in Los Angeles, California,
and studied at the Westlake School of music, but left after a year or so to
concentrate on his career.He
became an extremely sought after and acclaimed session musician and before
long was backing many of the big R&B artists of the day as well as
being hired by Maxwell Davis to perform in his place while he spent his
time on production.The mid-1950s
came along and Capitol Records took him on to perform on recordings by some
of the most popular artists at the time and also Les Baxter composed songs
specifically for him to perform.He was also used by Motown and others and could be heard on many of
the hit records of the day such as "Rockin' Robin" by Bobby Day.Often
working in the television and movie industry, he performed the
saxophone solo on the theme for The Odd Couple
and he is possibly most remembered as the saxophonist playing the
lead on "The Pink Panther Theme" by Henry Mancini.He played with several bands such
as the name-only group B. Bumble & The Stingers, various swing and jazz
ensembles, and also became a member of The Merv Griffin Show studio
band in 1970, which he stayed with for fifteen years. The other artists he has performed
with must number into the hundreds, if not thousands and a few of them
include Mama Cass, Ray Charles, Rosemary Clooney, The Coasters, Nat King
Cole, Albert Collins, Julie Covington, Fats Domino, Dr. John, Billy
Eckstine, Etta James, Jan & Dean, Quincy Jones, Nicolette Larson, Peggy
Lee, Lyle Lovett, The Manhattan Transfer, Bette Midler, Liza Minnelli, Joni
Mitchell, Maria Muldaur, Rick Nelson, Aaron Neville, Randy Newman, Harry
Nilsson, Lou Rawls, Minnie Riperton, Johnny Rivers, Tommy Roe, Linda Ronstadt,
Jimmy Smith, Barbra Streisand, Teena Marie, Mel Torme, The Turtles, Sarah
Vaughan, Tom Waits, Deniece Williams and Nancy Wilson.His recordings could probably fill
a room and a very small selection of them includes his own Blues,Bop
Me Daddy, Christmas in Hollywood, Evening Delight, Hot, Blue &
Saxy.Keep That Groove Going! and Positively as well as Pet
Sounds by The Beach Boys, Paradise and Lunch by Ry Cooder, Ain't
That Good News by Sam Cooke, Rita Coolidge by Rita Coolidge, Que
Sera, Sera by Doris Day, Christmas Album by Neil Diamond, Best
of the Song Books: The Collection by Ella Fitzgerald, Let's Get It
On by Marvin Gaye, Masterpiece by The Isley Brothers, Duets
by Elton John, Talkin' Verve by Quincy Jones, L.A. Midnight
by B.B. King, Porgy & Bess by Cleo Laine & Ray Charles, Music
by Carole King, Miss Gladys Knight by Gladys Knight, The Best
Days of My Life by Johnny Mathis, Kate & Anna McGarrigle by
Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.
by The Monkees, Stars & Stripes Forever by The Nitty Gritty Dirt
Band, What's New by Linda Ronstadt & The Nelson Riddle
Orchestra, Lady Sings the Blues by Diana Ross, Silk Degrees
by Boz Scaggs, Complete Capitol Sessions by Frank Sinatra, Back
to Mono (1958-1969) by Phil Spector, Pretzel Logic by Steely
Dan, Night on the Town by Rod Stewart, Acid Queen by Tina
Turner and Hot! Live and Otherwise by Dionne Warwick. Today he is still seen making
appearances at various jazz festivals with his own group and continuing to
appear on recordings.
Johnny Mathis recordings The Best Days of My Life (Jack
Gold/Arnold Goland/Carsten Christiansen
