Plas Johnson

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Plas Johnson
Birth namePlas John Johnson, Jr.
Also known asJohnny Beecher
Born (1931-07-21) July 21, 1931 (age 93)
Donaldsonville, Louisiana, U.S.
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Saxophone, piccolo, flute, clarinet

Plas John Johnson Jr. (

tenor saxophonist, probably most widely known as the tenor saxophone soloist on Henry Mancini’s "The Pink Panther Theme
". He also performs on alto and baritone sax as well as various flutes and clarinets.

Biography

Born in

B.B. King and Johnny Otis as well as scores of other R&B performers.[5][6][7] An early supporter was Maxwell Davis, who hired him to take over his own parts so that he could concentrate on producing sessions for the Modern record label.[6]

Recruited by Johnny Otis and executive

Beach Boys’ records, and was an integral part of a number of instrumental groups that existed in name only, such as B. Bumble and the Stingers and The Marketts.[6] Unlike many session musicians of the time he became known by name, but for a time also recorded under the pseudonym Johnny Beecher for the budget CRC Charter label to avoid contractual disputes.[6][8]

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, he was a regular member of Henry Mancini's studio orchestra and in 1963 he recorded "The Pink Panther Theme", written by Mancini with Johnson in mind.[2] Johnson said of the recording: "We only did two takes, I think... When we finished, everyone applauded -- even the string players. And that's saying something... They never applaud for anything."[3]

In 1969, T-Bone Walker introduced Harmonica Slim to the record producer Bob Thiele. Thiele utilised a company of jazz and R&B musicians including Johnson, to work with Harmonica Slim on his debut album.[9][10]

Johnson joined the studio band for the

Merv Griffin Show in 1970, and also played with a number of jazz and swing bands of the period. He joined Lincoln Mayorga in creating direct-to-disc recordings for Sheffield Labs. He later recorded for the Concord label, worked with the Capp-Pierce Juggernaut, and toured in 1990 with the Gene Harris Superband.[5] He has performed at numerous jazz festivals.[7]

Discography

As leader/co-leader

As Johnny Beecher

  • Sax 5th Ave. (CRC Charter, 1962)
  • On the Scene (CRC Charter, 1962)

As sideman

With Ray Anthony

  • Like Wild! (Capitol, 1960)

With Chet Baker

With Les Baxter

  • Jungle Jazz (Capitol, 1958)

With Benny Carter

With Ry Cooder

With Sam Cooke

With Rita Coolidge

With Clifford Coulter

With Bobby Darin

With Neil Diamond

With Dr. John

With Ella Fitzgerald

With Marvin Gaye

With Etta James

With Elton John

With

B.B. King

With Carole King

With Nicolette Larson

With Peggy Lee

With Henry Mancini

  • The Music from Peter Gunn (RCA, 1958)
  • More Music from Peter Gunn (RCA, 1959)
  • Uniquely Mancini (RCA, 1963)
  • The Pink Panther
     (RCA, 1964)
  • Mancini '67 (RCA, 1966)
  • The Party (RCA, 1968)

With Teena Marie

With The Marketts

  • "Balboa Blue" (Union Records 504, 1962; reissue: Liberty 55443)

With Les McCann

With Bette Midler

With Liza Minnelli

  • Tropical Nights
     (Columbia, 1977)

With Joni Mitchell

With Maria Muldaur

  • Waitress in a Donut Shop (Reprise, 1974)
  • Sweet Harmony (Reprise, 1976)

With John Neel

  • Blue Martini (Ava, 1963)

With Aaron Neville

  • Warm Your Heart (A&M, 1991)
  • The Grand Tour (A&M, 1993)
  • Aaron's Soulful Christmas (A&M, 1993)

With The Platters

With Minnie Riperton

With Johnny Rivers

  • New Lovers and Old Friends (Epic, 1975)

With Shorty Rogers

With Linda Ronstadt

With Pete Rugolo

With Boz Scaggs

With Lalo Schifrin

With Rhoda Scott

  • From C to Shining C (Doodlin' Records, 2009)

With Steely Dan

With Rod Stewart

With Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson

With Tom Waits

With Larry Williams

  • Heebie Jeebies (1958)

With Deniece Williams

With the Gerald Wilson Orchestra

References

  1. ISBN 978-0313344237
    .
  2. ^
    ISBN 0-85112-939-0
    .
  3. ^ a b Michael G. Mooney, "Plas Johnson gave character to 'Panther' theme", Chicago Tribune, September 5, 2007. Retrieved January 22, 2017
  4. ^ Jesse Hamlin, "'Panther' tune has 9 lives for visiting sax cat Plas Johnson", SFGate.com, January 2, 2007. Retrieved January 22, 2017
  5. ^ a b Biography by Scott Yanow, AllMusic. Retrieved January 21, 2017
  6. ^ a b c d Plas Johnson biography, SpaceAgePop.com. Retrieved January 21, 2017
  7. ^ a b Biography, PlasJohnson.com Archived August 14, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 21, 2017
  8. ^ Ron Wynn, "Johnny Beecher", AllMusic. Retrieved January 22, 2017
  9. ^ "HARMONICA SLIM "Complete Harmonica Slim" (Travis Blaylock) | Content Curated By Darin R. McClure & a few photos". Darinrmcclure.wordpress.com. June 20, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  10. ^ Cub Koda (December 21, 1934). "Harmonica Slim | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
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