Gary Johnson

Drummer

As a drummer, Gary Johnson has been working professionally for over forty years. He is the son of New England jazz great Dick Johnson. For four years he toured extensively with the revamped Artie Shaw Orchestra, under the direction of Dick Johnson. During that time, Gary accompanied such artists as Rosemary Clooney, Buddy DeFranco, and Helen Forrest. For many years Gary was the drummer with his father’s band, Swingshift. He was a fixture with both Lou Colombo’s group, and Ray Santisi’s quartet. Gary has also performed with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie, Dave
McKenna, Scott Hamilton, Ken Poplowski, Greg Abate, Ruby Braff, Keely Smith and Phil Wilson’s Big Band. Gary’s formal training consists of studies with Bill Flanagan, Boston Pops percussionist Fred Buda and jazz legend Alan Dawson. Gary attended the Berklee College of Music from 1972-74. He is currently freelancing in the New England area and teaching at the Mockingbird School of Music in Easton, MA.