The famous musician Eric Johnson is known as an outstanding rock guitarist and composer. However, he is fluent in vocals and plays the piano.
Eric David Johnson was born into a large family. Of all the eldest children, three sisters and a brother, the youngest started playing music at the age of three. The musician is ready to talk for hours about creativity, but he is of the opinion that his personal life should remain unknown to the general public.
Searching for the work of life
The biography of the future artist began in 1954. The boy was born in Austin on August 17. Both parents loved music. His father, an anesthesiologist by profession, adored jazz and classics, constantly listened to records. Children learned to play the piano. Agile and active Eric, to the great surprise of those around him, dreamed of practicing from an early age. As soon as he was five, he joined his brother and sisters.
The family often attended the premieres of musicals in full force. Johnson Jr.'s musical taste gradually took shape. He began writing his first songs at the age of 8. The beginning, according to the musician himself, was not brilliant. However, the author himself received real pleasure in the performance of his works. He didn’t forget the teacher, who perfectly developed the student’s hearing.
Eric wrote thanks to Orville Weiss in the comments to the work "Ah Via Musicom". And with every improvisation, again, according to the musician, he always remembers the teacher. However, Johnson never learned to sight-read.
From the age of 10, the boy stopped liking the classics. He became interested in improvisation. In 1964, Eric heard his brother and his band play guitar. He was shocked by the ringing and heavy sound of Ventura's and Beach Boys' compositions. The boy got his first instrument at the age of 11. However, it took a long time before he managed to achieve the desired sound. The piano was forgotten. It was replaced by a guitar. The young performer improved his skills at home without interruption.
He joined his first band "The Id" at 13. The beginning guitarist had to leave after a long absence due to a vacation in Alaska. Colleagues did not wait for his return and found a replacement. The boy did not become upset for a long time: he was invited by several other groups. Often, rehearsals ended well after midnight, and Eric fell asleep right on the equipment. Johnson called the electric guitar the best instrument in the world.
The beginning of the path to the heights
Jimi Hendrix became his idol. When he heard him play for the first time, Eric considered it too difficult for himself, but he could not help but admit that he was a real virtuoso. He did not even try to reproduce anything from the repertoire of his ideal. It took a long time before Johnson decided to play one of the compositions. To his great amazement, it turned out that it was impossible to get the same sound as the original. As a result, the musician not only took a little from Hendirks' style, but also achieved his own unique sound and developed his own style of playing.
In the second half of the sixties, Eric spent a lot of time experimenting with instrumental music. He was mentored by Vince Mariani, who remained Johnson's companion for most of the student's career. Thanks to Mariani, work began on the album. He co-wrote the track "Desert Rose" with Vince, which is included in the compilation "Ah Via Musicom".
In 1973 Johnson discovered jazz-rock and fusion. Throughout the next year, there was a training in the execution of a new direction. Eric's group "The Electromagnets" gradually became famous. The band broke up by 1976. Eric decided it was time for the vocals. He started work on solo material.
For six months, the musician improved his playing technique, and then, together with Billy Maddox and Kyle Brock, bass guitarist and drummer of the former group, he began a new project. The breakthrough was a six-year contract with Bill Ham. From now on, the musician could only participate in the most high-profile events. Work continued on the new album "Seven Worlds". The trio began in the seventies, a studio album was released only in 1998.
The eighties began working as a session musician with Carol King, Christopher Cross and Kat Stevens. The guitarist began collaborating with the Austin City Limits show. The composition "Cliffs of Dover" became the reference sound of the instrumentalist.
New successes
In 1985, Johnson's performance delighted Prince. He recommended to sign a contract with the musician company "Warner Bros.". The problems began with disagreements over the sound: the producers sought to resemble the already famous performers, Johnson insisted on his own version. As a result, in 1986 the most admired album "Tones" was presented. Johnson instantly became the center of attention for all guitarists in the world.
Eric was nominated for a Grammy, released his single "Zap" and quit working with Warner Bros.. The musician's solo album saw the light. The Cinema Records label gave him full creative freedom. The Ah Via Musicom project took 15 months to develop. It was presented to the audience in 1990.
The collection quickly turned gold. With his help, Eric fully realized his talent. At the same time, the magazine "Guitar Player" named the performer the best guitarist of the year and included him in the hundred best musicians of the 20th century.
In 1992 Eric received a Grammy in the Best Instrumental Performance category for his song Cliffs of Dover. Recorded for the compilation album "Alien Love Child (Live & Beyond)" in 2001, "Rain" in 2002 brought the creator a new Grammy nomination for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.
In April 2005, Johnson received the Best Acoustic Guitarist, Musician of the Year and Best Electric Guitarist awards at the Austin Music Awards.
In the summer of that year, the disc "Bloom" was released. Critics spoke highly of him. The live album "Live From Austin TX" was presented a little later. He again confirmed Johnson's outstanding performing talent.
