1. Alphonso Johnson was born on February 2,1951 and is an American jazz bassist active since the early 1970s.
15 Facts About Alphonso Johnson
1. 2.
Alphonso Johnson sessioned with a few jazz musicians before landing a job with Weather Report, taking over for co-founding member Miroslav Vitous.
3.
Alphonso Johnson debuted with Weather Report on the album Mysterious Traveller.
4.
Alphonso Johnson appeared on two more Weather Report albums: Tale Spinnin' and Black Market before he left the band to work with drummer Billy Cobham.
5.
Alphonso Johnson was one of the first musicians to introduce the Chapman Stick to the public.
6.
Alphonso Johnson was one of two bass players on Phil Collins's first solo album, Face Value, in 1981.
7.
In early 1982, Alphonso Johnson joined Grateful Dead member Bob Weir's side project Bobby and the Midnites.
8.
Alphonso Johnson would reunite with Weir in 2000, playing bass in place of Phil Lesh on tour with The Other Ones.
9.
Alphonso Johnson has performed fusion versions of Grateful Dead songs alongside Billy Cobham in the band Jazz Is Dead.
10.
In 1996, Alphonso Johnson played bass on tracks "Dance on a Volcano" and "Fountain of Salmacis" on Steve Hackett's Genesis Revisited album.
11.
Later in 1996, Alphonso Johnson toured Europe and Japan with composer and saxophonist Wayne Shorter, pianist James Beard, drummer Rodney Holmes, and guitarist David Gilmore.
12.
Alphonso Johnson has an extensive experience as a bass teacher and has conducted bass seminars and clinics in Germany, England, France, Scotland, Ireland, Japan, Switzerland, Australia, Brazil and Argentina.
13.
Alphonso Johnson started his college education at Pierce College, and then transferred to California State University, Northridge, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education in 2014.
14.
Alphonso Johnson pursued his graduate degree at CSU Northridge, earning a Master of Arts in Secondary Curriculum and Instruction in 2021.
15.
Alphonso Johnson serves as an adjunct instructor at the University of Southern California and the California Institute of the Arts.