Johnny A
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John Antonopoulos (born November 14, 1952, in
Malden, Massachusetts Malden is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. At the time of the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. Census, the population was 66,263 people. History Malden is a hilly woodland area no ...
,
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
), known professionally as Johnny A., is an American guitarist, and songwriter.


Early life

Johnny A. was born in
Malden, Massachusetts Malden is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. At the time of the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. Census, the population was 66,263 people. History Malden is a hilly woodland area no ...
, of
Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...
heritage. Growing up in the
Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...
area, he became interested in music, starting with drums at the age six. Upon being exposed to
The Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The core lineup of the band comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are widely regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatle ...
in 1964 at the age of 11, Johnny's parents bought him a $49 Lafayette Electronics guitar. He stated his last name, Antonopoulos, which is of
Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...
origin, was frequently mispronounced. "It's always been ''Johnny A.'' since age eight.”


Career


1970s

In the 1970s, Johnny A. formed a band called The Streets, performing mostly in the Boston area. They had several popular radio singles, including "What Gives", which reached the top spot on WBCN "The Rock of Boston". As well as headlining in Boston clubs, The Streets toured with and supported several major artists including
Aerosmith Aerosmith is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Boston in 1970. The group consists of lead vocalist Steven Tyler, bassist Tom Hamilton (musician), Tom Hamilton, drummer Joey Kramer, and guitarists Joe Perry (musician), Joe Perry and B ...
and Bob Seger. They also competed in the first WBCN " Rock 'n' Roll Rumble" in 1979.


1980s–1990s

In 1980, Johnny formed the band Hidden Secret. They had several local hit singles including "No More Lonely Nights," which occupied the top spot on WBCN for 26 weeks. His next band, Hearts On Fire, placed second after Gang Green in the 1986 WBCN Rock & Roll Rumble, and continued to produce local hit singles, including "Miss Me Bad," which was the number one local song on WBCN for thirty-three weeks. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, while working as a sideman, Johnny played with
Santana Santana may refer to: Transportation * Volkswagen Santana, an automobile * Santana Cycles, manufacturer of tandem bicycles * Santana Motors, a former Spanish automobile manufacturer * Sailboat designs by W. D. Schock Corp ** Santana 20 ** Santan ...
percussionist Mingo Lewis, blues and soul duo
Delaney & Bonnie Delaney & Bonnie was an American duo of singer-songwriters Delaney Bramlett and Bonnie Bramlett. In 1969 and 1970, they fronted a rock/soul ensemble, Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, whose members at different times included Duane Allman, Gregg ...
, Derek & the Dominos keyboardist
Bobby Whitlock Robert Stanley Whitlock (born March 18, 1948) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. He is best known as a member of the blues-rock band Derek and the Dominos, with Eric Clapton, in 1970–71. Whitlock's musical career began with Memph ...
, and briefly with
Creedence Clearwater Revival Creedence Clearwater Revival, commonly abbreviated as CCR or simply Creedence, was an American Rock music, rock band formed in El Cerrito, California. The band consisted of lead vocalist, lead guitarist, and primary songwriter John Fogerty, h ...
drummer Doug Clifford. He then began a seven-year role as guitarist and musical director for the J. Geils Band front man
Peter Wolf Peter Wolf (born March 7, 1946) is an American musician best known as the lead vocalist of The J. Geils Band from 1967 to 1983 and as a solo artist. Early life and education Wolf was born Peter Walter Blankfield on March 7, 1946, in the Bronx ...
. He played on Wolf's albums, co-produced his album '' Long Line'', and joined him on world tours. In 1999, Johnny A. launched his solo career and independently released his debut CD ''Sometime Tuesday Morning''.


2000s

In 2000, Johnny A. signed a licensing deal to re-release his first album with
Steve Vai Steven Siro Vai ( ; born June 6, 1960) is an American guitarist, songwriter, and producer. A three-time Grammy Award winner and fifteen-time nominee, Vai started his music career in 1978 at the age of eighteen as a Transcription (music), transc ...
's Favored Nations Entertainment. In 2001, ''Sometime Tuesday Morning'' was re-released on Vai's Favored Nations Entertainment label Sony/RED distribution. The album spawned the #1 single "Oh Yeah" across the USA on the AAA radio format. It marked the first time in over a decade that an instrumental had achieved the top spot on radio. ''Sometime Tuesday Morning'' sold over 150,000 copies. In 2003, ''Sometime Tuesday Morning'' was then picked up for distribution by Danny Goldberg at
Artemis Records Artemis Records was a New York–based independent record label, founded in June 1999 by Danny Goldberg with Daniel Glass as president, and closed in April 2006. The label was acquired by E1 Entertainment. As of 2006, Artemis Records was owned b ...
, and Gibson Custom Guitar company, in close collaboration with Johnny, released a "Johnny A." Signature Model guitar, designed to the artist's specifications. In 2003, Johnny A. signed a multi-record contract with Steve Vai's Sony/Red distributed Favored Nations Entertainment and saw the release of the "radio-only" promotional Johnny A. Christmas single "Sleigh Ride", released on the label. In 2004, ''Get Inside'' was released on the Favored Nations Label, yielding two radio singles, "I Had To Laugh", which made the
Grammy The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious a ...
nominations ballot, and a radio edit of the title track "Get Inside". In 2006, Warner Bros./Alfred Publishing released a Johnny A. instructional DVD entitled ''Taste, Tone, Space''. In 2007, Gibson Custom guitar company released a second Johnny A. signature guitar, the Johnny A. Standard.


2010s

In 2010, Johnny A. released ''One November Night'' (2010 Aglaophone Records), a live DVD/ CD set recorded at Sculler's Jazz Club in his hometown of Boston, Massachusetts. In 2010, Johnny also became the recipient of The Boston Music Award's ''Blues Artist of the Year 2010''. In June 2014, Johnny A. released, ''Driven'', marking his engineering debut, as well as mixing and producing. On this album he played every instrument. On December 14, 2014, Johnny was inducted into the Boston Music Hall of Fame at the Boston Music Awards. The same year, Gibson Custom released a "new" version of the Johnny A. Standard. In 2015, Johnny A. joined
The Yardbirds The Yardbirds are an English rock music, rock band formed in London in 1963. The band started the careers of three of rock's most famous guitarists: Eric Clapton (1963–1965), Jeff Beck (1965–1966) and Jimmy Page (1966–1968), all of whom ...
, touring and playing with the group as lead guitarist. On July 23, 2018, after playing with the band for three years, he announced on his website that he would not be appearing at any future Yardbirds performances. In 2017,
Epiphone Epiphone () is an American musical instrument brand that traces its roots to a musical instrument manufacturing business founded in 1873 by Anastasios Stathopoulos in İzmir, Ottoman Empire, and moved to New York City in 1908. After taking over ...
guitar company released the limited-edition Johnny A. Custom Outfit, which comprised a guitar, case, and autographed certificate of authenticity.


2020s

In 2020, during the
COVID-19 lockdown During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of non-pharmaceutical interventions, particularly lockdowns (encompassing stay-at-home orders, curfews, quarantines, and similar societal restrictions), were implemented in numero ...
, Johnny A. broadcast a 90-minute free morning livestream from his
Facebook Facebook is a social media and social networking service owned by the American technology conglomerate Meta Platforms, Meta. Created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with four other Harvard College students and roommates, Eduardo Saverin, Andre ...
page. This ran for five days a week, producing over 300 episodes. In 2021, also during the COVID-19 lockdown, Johnny A. recorded a 21-song, instrumental re-imagining of songs by The Beatles under the working title "From A. To Beatles," which is yet to be released. On September 15, 2022, the Fender Custom Shop launched the Johnny A. "Signature" Stratocaster made to the artist's specifications and released in two first-time colors for Fender; Lydian Gold Metallic with chrome hardware and Sunset Glow Metallic with gold hardware. On November 11, 2024, in a remarkable blend of musical talent and charitable spirit, renowned guitarist Johnny A. unveiled his latest project, "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away." In this homage to
John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer-songwriter, musician and activist. He gained global fame as the founder, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. Lennon's ...
and
Jeff Beck Geoffrey Arnold Beck (24 June 1944 – 10 January 2023) was an English musician. He rose to prominence as the guitarist of the rock band the Yardbirds, and afterwards founded and fronted the Jeff Beck Group and Beck, Bogert & Appice. In 1975, ...
this special audio/video endeavor not only showcases Johnny A.'s exceptional artistry but also contributes to a noble cause: all proceeds from the project will benefit the Greater Boston Food Bank.


Style

Johnny's style often recalls
Danny Gatton Daniel Wood Gatton Jr. (September 4, 1945 – October 4, 1994) was an American virtuoso guitarist who combined blues, rockabilly, jazz, and country to create a musical style he called "redneck jazz". Career Daniel Wood Gatton Jr. was born in ...
, as well as some aspects of
Jeff Beck Geoffrey Arnold Beck (24 June 1944 – 10 January 2023) was an English musician. He rose to prominence as the guitarist of the rock band the Yardbirds, and afterwards founded and fronted the Jeff Beck Group and Beck, Bogert & Appice. In 1975, ...
and Pat Martino. He encompasses elements of rock,
jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
, and
blues Blues is a music genre and musical form that originated among African Americans in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues has incorporated spiritual (music), spirituals, work songs, field hollers, Ring shout, shouts, cha ...
, and he often uses a whammy bar. He cites artists such as
The Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The core lineup of the band comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are widely regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatle ...
,
The Yardbirds The Yardbirds are an English rock music, rock band formed in London in 1963. The band started the careers of three of rock's most famous guitarists: Eric Clapton (1963–1965), Jeff Beck (1965–1966) and Jimmy Page (1966–1968), all of whom ...
, Everly Brothers,
Wes Montgomery John Leslie "Wes" Montgomery (March 6, 1923 – June 15, 1968) was an American jazz guitarist. Montgomery was known for his unusual technique of plucking the strings with the side of his thumb and for his extensive use of octaves, which gave him a ...
,
Chet Atkins Chester Burton Atkins (June 20, 1924 – June 30, 2001), also known as "Mister Guitar" and "the Country Gentleman", was an American musician who, along with Owen Bradley and Bob Ferguson (musician), Bob Ferguson, helped create the Nash ...
,
Jeff Beck Geoffrey Arnold Beck (24 June 1944 – 10 January 2023) was an English musician. He rose to prominence as the guitarist of the rock band the Yardbirds, and afterwards founded and fronted the Jeff Beck Group and Beck, Bogert & Appice. In 1975, ...
,
Jimi Hendrix James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential guitarists of all time. Inducted ...
and
Les Paul Lester William Polsfuss (June 9, 1915 – August 12, 2009), known as Les Paul, was an American jazz guitarist, jazz, country guitarist, country, and blues guitarist, songwriter, luthier, and inventor. He was one of the pioneers of the solid body ...
as many of his musical influences.


Discography


''Sometime Tuesday Morning''

Release 1999 (Aglaophone Records) - International Re-Release 2001 (Favored Nations/Aglaophone Records)
Tracks:
1. "Sometime Tuesday Morning"
2. "Oh Yeah"
3. "Wichita Lineman"
4. "Two Wheel Horse"
5. "In The Wind"
6. "Yes It Is"
7. "You Don't Love Me"
8. "Up In The Attic"
9. "Walk Don't Run"
10. "Tex Critter"
11. "Lullabye For Nicole"
12. "Walkin' West Ave."


"Sleigh Ride"

2002 Radio Promo Single (Favored Nations/Aglaophone Records)
Tracks:
1. "Sleigh Ride"
2. "Oh Yeah"


''Get Inside''

2004 (Favored Nations)
Tracks:
1. "Hip Bone"
2. "I Had To Laugh"
3. "Poor Side of Town"
4. "Sing Singin'"
5. "Get Inside"
6. "Bundle Of Joy"
7. "Krea Gata"
8. " The Wind Cries Mary"
9. "Ignorance Is Bliss"
10."Sway A Little"
11."Stimulation"
12."Another Life"


''Taste • Tone • Space''

2006 (Alfred Publishing)
Instructional Guitar DVD


''One November Night''

2010 – Live DVD/CD 2 – Disc Set (Aglaophone Records)
Tracks:
1. "I Had To Laugh"
2. "Sing Singin'"
3. "The Wind Cries Mary"
4. "Tex Critter"
5. "Lullabye For Nicole"
6. "Two Wheel Horse"
7. "Get Inside"
8. "The Night Before"
9. "Krea Gata"
10."Ignorance Is Bliss"
11."
Wichita Lineman "Wichita Lineman" is a 1968 song written by Jimmy Webb for American country music artist Glen Campbell, who recorded it backed by members of the Wrecking Crew. Widely covered by other artists, it has been called "the first existential country ...
"
12."
Memphis, Tennessee Memphis is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. Situated along the Mississippi River, it had a population of 633,104 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Tenne ...
"
13."Jimi Jam"
14." Walk Away Renée"


''Driven''

2014 – (Aglaophone Records)
Tracks:
1. "Ghost"
2. "A Mask You Wear"
3. "C'mon, C'mon"
4. "The Night I Said Goodbye"
5. "From A Dark Place"
6. "To Love Somebody"
7. "Out Of Nowhere"
8. "The Arizona Man"
9. "It Must Have Been You"
10."Backbone Slip"
11."Gone... (Like a Sunset)"


Other contributions

*''Bobby Whitlock Live at The Bottom Line – NYC −10/92'' (1992) *''For The Love Of Harry'', (tribute to
Harry Nilsson Harry Edward Nilsson III (June 15, 1941 – January 15, 1994), sometimes credited as Nilsson, was an American singer-songwriter who reached the peak of his success in the early 1970s. His work is characterized by pioneering vocal overdub experi ...
) Peter Wolf & The Houseparty 5 (1995), guitar " You're Breakin' My Heart" *''Long Line'',
Peter Wolf Peter Wolf (born March 7, 1946) is an American musician best known as the lead vocalist of The J. Geils Band from 1967 to 1983 and as a solo artist. Early life and education Wolf was born Peter Walter Blankfield on March 7, 1946, in the Bronx ...
(1996), guitar/co-producer *''Fool's Parade'', Peter Wolf (1998), guitar on "Ride Lonesome, Ride Hard" *''Beloved Few'', Beloved Few (1998) bajo sexto on the song "The Beloved Few" *''Sometime Tuesday Morning'' songbook Warner Bros./Alfred Publishing (2001) *''WYEP Live and Direct: Volume 4 – On Air Performances'' (2002) "Tex Critter" *''Get Inside'' songbook – Alfred Publishing (2004) *''One Last Wish'', Stu Kimball (2006) featured guitarist on the songs "Little One" and "Elation" *''Counting Down'', The Brooks Young Band (2010) featured guitarist on the title song "Counting Down" *''Just Across The River'', Jimmy Webb (2010) featured guitarist on the song "Galveston" *''Jim McCarty and Friends Live from Callahan's'', Jim McCarty (2011) Johnny A. co-wrote with and is featured with Jim McCarty on the songs "J&A Jump" and "South Boulevard Blues" *''Thank You Les'', CD and documentary tribute to
Les Paul Lester William Polsfuss (June 9, 1915 – August 12, 2009), known as Les Paul, was an American jazz guitarist, jazz, country guitarist, country, and blues guitarist, songwriter, luthier, and inventor. He was one of the pioneers of the solid body ...
(2012). Johnny A. is featured on the song "Sweet Georgia Brown" *''Beautiful'', Jerad Finck featuring Johnny A. (2012) featured guitarist on the song "Beautiful" *''Deja Blues'', Gary Hoey (2013) lead/rhythm and slide guitars on the song "She's Walking" *''Two Roads East'', Jon Butcher (2016) featured solo on the song "Transcendence" *''Eye Of The Writer'', Jim Peterik (2016) featured guitarist on the song "Vehicle" *''Temple of Blues - Influences and Friends'', CACTUS (2024) featured guitarist on the song "Alaska"


References


External links


Official Web Site


* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20061231151707/http://www.vintageguitar.com/artists/details.asp?ID=184 "Johnny A. On the fast track By Ann Wickstrom", Vintage Guitar Magazine
The Epiphone Interview: Johnny A.
{{Authority control 1952 births Living people American blues guitarists American rock guitarists American male guitarists American people of Greek descent People from Malden, Massachusetts Songwriters from Massachusetts American rock songwriters Guitarists from Massachusetts 20th-century American guitarists 20th-century American male musicians Favored Nations artists American male songwriters