Bill Johnson vocals acoustic/electric/slide guitar,
Rick Erickson vocals bass,
John Hunter vocals drums,
Darcy Phililps vocals keyboards.
Contact at 250-652-5470 or 250-217-8347
Influences
Pretty much everything I've ever heard, but I owe much to Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, BB King, Freddy King, Albert King, T-Bone Walker, Otis Rush, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Stevie and Jimmy Vaughan, Robert Cray, Hank Williams, Elvis Presly, Mississippi John Hurt, Robert Johnson, Bo Carter, Keith Richards, Mick Taylor, Ry Cooder, David Lindley, Pete Townsend, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Amos Garret, James Burton, Albert Lee, Charlie Christian, Barney Kessal, Herb Ellis, Tom Lavin, Hollywood Fats, Duke Robilard, Ronnie Earl and last but not least the guy who used to play with Dwight Yokum.
.............................."I do not discriminate. I borrow from every one".
Sounds Like
“ This man is a Canadian treasure. As soon as the rest of Canada hears of him, we won’t be just talking west coast. ”
-Hornby Island Blues Society.............................
"I checked out Mr. Bill Johnson's music and the guy is
smoking. Some real good downhome jump and blues tunes with emotional playing
and singing.".................................
-Duke Robillard, multi award winning, legendary guitarist, and producer..............................
“Everyone came to dance and party to the Blues and Bill Johnson’s band delivered big time. This was the first time Bill has played in the area and if last night’s crowd reaction is any indication, it won’t be the last. The band has a tight sound, Bill’s guitar is powerful yet controlled and his voice was made for the blues, deep, resonating and passionate. The lyrics roll off his tongue with meaning and clarity, each song takes you on a journey, telling a story and above all coaxing the listener to get up and dance and be part of the experience.”
Rod Dranfield
President
White Rock Blues Society................................
“I knew I would like this CD after the first few seconds of the first song”.
-Tom Lavin, Powder Blues...............................
“Unknown to me until his name appeared on the ballot for guitar player of the year, Johnson came to the show and although he lost out to Sue Foley, he did impress during his guest appearance in the winners jam after the awards. He hails from Victoria, BC and he bought this CD with him, recorded live at the Central Bar & Grille there a couple of years ago. As with many live recordings, some of the songs are warhorses and are perhaps longer than they need to be for listening outside the context of the night. That being said, he's an exciting player, from the T-Bone Walker/B.B. King school. The slow blues "Hurtin' Man" is a fine Johnson original and Preston contributes the excellent "I Feel Like Loving". Billy Branch's "How Can I Stand It?" is certainly not over-recorded nor is Duke Robillard's "Too Hot to Handle". The climax though is a treat: Papa Lightfoot's "Come On Baby", one of the most raucous Delta blues recordings you will ever hear, with its heavily distorted harp and vocals sung through the same mike. The band roars through this one, Preston is hot and Johnson tops it with his slide solo. The crowd loved it, you will too. The CD shows quite clearly why he was nominated.”
- John Valenteyn, John’s Blues Picks, Maple Blues Magizine.............................
“Among the many undiscovered blues artists in the country, Bill Johnson stands at the head of the line”.
-Tim Williams, Juno Award winning blues artist ..................................
“To my ears he’s the very best electric blues guitarist in the country”.
-Ken Hamm, Juno Award winning blues artist...................................
"One of Victoria's most prominant Musicians" Victoria Jazz Society........................
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View my page on LiveBluesWorld
Bill Johnson playing with the one and only Hubert Sumlin.
Bill Johnson began playing the guitar when he was 9 years old. Records by Hank Williams, Elvis
Presley, The Rolling Stones, and Eric Clapton, were his early influences, but Bill remembers: “
Chuck Berry was the one that did it for me. Chuck made me want to play guitar”. Bill became a
working musician early and spent most of his teens making music.
During the 70’s and 80’s Bill played with various projects, achieving respectable successes while
exploring different musical genres. Then he began to study the likes of B.B. King, Elmore James,
and T-Bone Walker: “ These guys knocked me out. I was immediately hooked on their rhythm
and phrasing”. The mid-1980’s saw him leaving the stage to pursue steady work and to focus on
the music he loved, the Blues.
During the 90’s Bill Johnson returned to the stage playing in the Sidewalk Blues Band with Doug
Cox, before forming his very own The Bill Johnson Blues Band in 1993. Early engagements
those years included opening for Otis Rush, Delbert McClinton, and a CD and tour into
Scandinavia with the Lebeau Petersen Band.
In 1996 Bill moved to Calgary. During this time he played with Grammy-award winning Donald
Ray Johnson and was featured prominently on his recordings. Bill continued his education as a
member of the house band at the notorious King Edward Hotel, and with stints as sideman to the
likes of Hubert Sumlin, Son Seals, Cash McCall, and the one and only Dutch Mason.
In 1999 Bill moved back to Victoria to be close to his family, and to pursue his own recording
career. In 2006 Bill was nominated for a Maple Blues Award by the Toronto Blues Society for his
CD Live, confirming his stature as one of the countries top performers. In 2007 he released the
Work Songs CD surprising everyone with his talents playing solo acoustic blues guitar.
Bill Johnson has spent a lifetime immersing himself in the Blues. He’s a master of the form and
live is a blast of majestic Blues power.
Hey Bill!!Thanks you very much for being a friend!!;G R E A T _ S O U N D; Great respects for your work... i like your art of Blues--- have a nice week!!!
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Thanks a lot for your friendship! You gave a marvelous sound, so I guess I have to find some music with your band. Is it a Gretsch Anniversery green you have on the picture?
Hey B-Diddy! How's life? A friend and fellow musician from Toronto, Brian Blain, is coming to Victoria at the end of May, and is looking for a jam or place to sit in for some blues. You may remember him as he was the man hosting the "campfire jam" for the Toronto Maple Blues summit when you were there. Brian is a very nice man, so if you can be of any help, that'd be great. He will probably contact you on here. I don't know much about the jams in Victoria anymore. Hope all is great with you and Suzie-Q. Much love from Toronto!
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