Gordon
Johnson, bassist (jazz upright, electric 5-string & fretless
bass) is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music. In late 1989 he returned
to the Twin Cities after having lived in upstate New York while attending
college, and in Connecticut in more recent years. From 1982 to 1989 Gordon
Johnson toured and recorded with flugelhornist Chuck Mangione. Prior to his
work with Mangione, Gordy performed with various musical artists including;
Maynard Ferguson, Roy Buchanan, Joe Williams and the Paul Winter Consort.
Fourteen years of extensive touring took him to many corners of the globe.
From a versatility standpoint, Gordon Johnson is fortunate to have had 16
years of classical music training and to have played with musical artists
from diverse backgrounds; from mainstream jazz and jazz-fusion to country,
blues, folk, rock & roll, and eclectic/ethnic styles.
His discography credits include major label releases; Outlasting the Blues with Arlo Guthrie, five recordings with Chuck Mangione, Montreux Summit with the CBS All-Stars, Sesame Disco for Sesame Street, There Is A Breeze with Michael Johnson, two recordings with the Paul Winter Consort and three recordings with Maynard Ferguson. Network television appearances take in TheTonight Show, Soul Train, Solid Gold, The Late Show, plus the Merv Griffin, Mike Douglas and Dinah Shore shows, to name just a few. He has also played on numerous nationally broadcast jingles for such advertisers as; Burger King, Toyota, Ford, Stouffer's, Coca-Cola, Wrangler Jeans, Vidal Sassoon and Dairy Queen.
His father, Cliff, played bass with the Minnesota Orchestra for 47 years. Thelma, his mother, is a well known pianist, accompanist and piano teacher in the Twin Cities. Younger brother Jimmy (Flim) is a highly acclaimed electric bassist living in L.A., currently working with James Taylor's band. Since Gordy's return to the Twin Cities he is much sought after as a live performer and clinician, CD & jingle producer and recording session player.
