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Trumpet Celebrity Interviews

[ a celebration of the artistry of ALL styles of Trumpet ]





W A L T    J O H N S O N


Played lead trumpet on the album "CHASE WATCH CLOSELY NOW"
Toured and recorded as lead trumpet with ELVIS PRESLEY until his death
Toured with TOWER OF POWER , JOE WALSH, FRANK SINATRA
Received Platinum Album from LIONEL RICHIE for his work on

"ALL NIGHT LONG"
Recorded several albums with BARRY MANILOW

Played lead trumpet on :

all three of the "NAKED GUN" movies
ACE VENTURA
BEVERLY HILL COP III
STAR TREK
RIVER WILD
the ROCKY movies
STAR WARS
TERMS OF ENDEARMENT
ALADDIN
PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES and many more..


Also, he can be heard playing on many TV shows.
Other artists Walt has performed with are Barbara Streisand, The Pointer Sisters, The Commodores, Wayne Newton, Johnny Mathis, Melissa Manchester,Lionel Hampton,Mel Torme, Vic Damone, Dionne Warwick, Burt Bacharach, Henry Mancini,
WALT is one of the premier players in the Los Angeles studio scene.

=======================================

Would you like to add your web address /email at this point?

http://www.johnsoncases.com
fibercases@aol.com

Was your family background musical?

My father was a Doctor of Paleontology, but he had played french horn in school. He taught me to buzz on a cornet at 5.


On leaving your education, have you always been a full time musician?

After 2 years at Los Angeles City College (great music dept.), I joined Si Zentner's Band playing lead. What a great experience it was for 11 months until I got drafted into the Army. I spent 1 year at Ft. Ord and 1 year in Viet Nam. I received The Army Commendation Metal for exceptional service against communist aggression in the Republic of Vietnam during the period March 1969 to January 1970.

One time I was practicing my trumpet in Viet Nam and a little croud of locals gathered around me. I thought they were sort of marveling at the way I was playing, until one of them that spoke English said to me, "You turn so red!"


Who were your teachers?


Jane Sager in Hollywood
Charlie Turner in Las Vegas

Other playing experiences?

After Viet Nam, I moved to Las Vegas and worked there for 7 lucky years and ended up playing lead trumpet for Elvis Presley. What a gig that was! Until he died.
I opted to move back to LA and give the studio scene a shot and it's been happening off and on ever since. I was working for Frank Sinatra from 1984 until1994 when he retired for good. Also, since '88 I've been traveling with his son, Frank Jr. and his great entourage.
Some feathers in my cap are, played lead on all the Naked Gun Movies. I have received gold and platinum albums from Elvis, Barry Manilow and Lionel Richie.
I played with Chase, Tower of Power, Joe Walsh
Lionel Hampton, Louie Bellson, Henry Mancini
When it comes to name-dropping, I'm in there with the rest of them.

have you a solo recording available?

Yes, TRUMPET SCROLL is available
My new Smooth Jazz CD called "RISE" will be out this April or May

Favourite album?

Fredie Hubbard's "First Light"

Non-musical hobbies / points of interest you enjoy?


I own and operate a Fiberglass Case Factory in Riverside, CA
We now make fiberglass mutes.

Do you take days off from playing? (How does it affect you?)

I try to play everyday. It's a weight on my back, but it has to be done. And at a time when you don't wake the kids. I play the Arban Characteristics, Mitch Jellen's "44 Magnum Drills for Trumpet", and Walter Smith's "Top Tones"


Three Trumpet tips you wish to share with the readers.

For building chops, practice 15 minutes and rest for 30 minutes. Then repeat.
Keep your throat open like yawning, no syllables
Some sort of "pivot" system can be useful for producing upper register playing

End of interview sentiment.

It seems like everywhere I've been and everyone I know is somehow related to "Trumpet".
I want to encourage young players to set high goals.
It takes luck, talent and persistence to make it in the music business.

Walt Johnson

 


Thank you very much indeed for sharing your thoughts with the
' Trumpet Web Community '5th Feb 2003.


TPT. CELEBRITY INDEX

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