Randy Barksdale Johnston (born December 5, 1956) is an American jazz guitarist.
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Randy Johnston | |
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Birth name | Randy Barksdale Johnston |
Born | (1956-12-05) December 5, 1956 (age 65) Detroit, Michigan |
Genres | Jazz |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instrument(s) | Guitar |
Years active | 1981–present |
Labels | Muse, J Curve, HighNote |
Website | randyjohnston |
The Beatles's performance on The Ed Sullivan Show inspired Johnston to start playing guitar in childhood.[1] He heard jazz for the first time on the album The Smithsonian Collection of Jazz and was influenced by guitarists Kenny Burrell and Grant Green.[1]
Johnston's family moved to Richmond, Virginia, when he was thirteen.[1][2] He was a member of rock bands that performed at parties and school dances.[1] In the late 1970s he attended the University of Miami, occasionally involved in jam sessions at a Unitarian Church with Ira Sullivan.[2] In the early 1980s he moved to New York City and worked with Warne Marsh, then as a sideman with Houston Person and Etta Jones.[1][2] Person produced his first album, Walk On, which was engineered by Rudy Van Gelder.[2] He has worked with Joey DeFrancesco, Lou Donaldson, Lee Konitz, and Lonnie Smith.[2]
With Houston Person
With others
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