The name ‘Johnny A.’ might not be so mainstream, but there’s no doubt that it’s synonymous with guitar. His passion began at the age of thirteen, when he first saw the Beatles in Boston, followed two years later by an in-person witnessing of Jimi Hendrix. From there, he was hooked, getting a cheap beginner guitar to try and play along with his early heroes — which also included Yardbirds icons Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. Soon enough, Johnny A. got it. By the 1970’s, he was forming bands in the New England area, drawing attention from several established musicians, like Derek and the Dominos’ keyboardist Bobby Whitlock and Doug Clifford of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Johnny A. became Music Director of J. Geils Band singer Peter Wolf’s outfit, coordinating the onstage arrangements, playing on several tours and co-producing Wolf’s 1996 album, *Long Line.* What’s more, he was even asked to join The Yardbirds as their lead guitarist in 2015. All this is to say that Johnny A. has the chops, and that’s not to mention his prolific solo career. Spanning three full-length albums, Johnny A. has earned a Grammy Award nomination, the honor of Boston Music Awards, “Blues Artist of the Year 2010,” and a spot in the revered Boston Music Hall of Fame. Ever the restless spirit, Johnny A. continues to glide across genres effortlessly, exploring elements of jazz, soul. He still fervently carries on the tradition of the legends he respected as a teen. Johnny A. is a Fender Custom, Gibson Custom, and Epiphone Guitar "Signature" Artist. Johnny has toured extensively throughout the USA, Canada, Europe, and Asia. Major festival performances include: Fuji Rock (Japan), Leverkusen Jazztage (Germany), Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, SF Jazz, and others. To quote the London Free Press (Johnny A. is) “a musician who resists easy categorization and that’s always cool by us.” And as JAZZIZ Magazine so perfectly stated, “Johnny A. has eclectic musical vision and the skills to realize it…A.’s music is both accessible and sophisticated.” WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING: “Johnny A. is a light in a sea of guitar players. His unique and soulful full approach are peerless. Melody - tone taste and a trick bag of surprises and a killer choice of see!” 5 time Grammy Award winning Artist - STEVE LUKATHER- TOTO “Johnny A. has always had such a musical approach to the way he plays the guitar. He like a symphony orchestrator, covering counterpoints and filling out harmonic is always comfortable and friendly and a delight to feel. He is a thoroughly guitarist”. - 3 time Grammy Award winning Artist - STEVE VAI “Johnny A. is one of the finest guitarist’s I’ve ever had the pleasure to listen to, and I always learn something when we get together. He is a consummate musician on a world class level. I’ll put him toe to toe with anyone!” Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee - ELLIOT EASTON - THE CARS HAS PERFORMED, RECORDED OR TOURED WITH: B.B. KING, BUDDY GUY, JEFF BECK , STEVE VAI, JOE SATRIANI, ERIC JOHNSON, JIMMIE VAUGHAN, ROBERT CRAY, ETTA JAMES, DOCTOR JOHN, LEON RUSSELL, PETER WOLF, HUEY LEWIS, SONNY LANDRETH, ROBBEN FORD, JJ CALE, STEVEN TYLER, JOE BONAMASSA, GEORGE THOROGOOD, PETER FRAMPTON, SAVOY BROWN, CHRIS FARLOWE, LAWRENCE, JUBER, JACK BRUCE , WARREN HAYNES, NEAL SCHON, STEVE MILLER, LES PAUL, BRIAN WILSON, JOHNNY WINTER, JON ANDERSON, THE YARDBIRDS, BOBBY WHITLOCK, JIMMY WEBB, JIM PETERIK, JOE PERRY, ROGER DALTREY, JEFF “SKUNK” BAXTER, JIM BELUSHI, GE SMITH, PAUL SCHAFFER, JIMMY VIVINO, THE ROMANTICS, THE DEL FUEGOES. |
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