1. Gordie Johnson was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, of Ukrainian descent, and grew up in Windsor, Ontario, starting his professional music career while still in high school as he frequently crossed the river to play in Detroit, Michigan.
13 Facts About Gordie Johnson
1. 2.
Gordie Johnson played all genres of music in both Detroit and Windsor.
3.
Gordie Johnson's family moved to Medicine Hat, Alberta as he was about to go into his last year of high school.
4.
Gordie Johnson completed school and then immediately returned to Ontario to become a full-time musician.
5.
Gordie Johnson is a vocalist and guitarist for the reggae rock band Big Sugar, the latin jazz band Sit Down Servant in which he plays a triple-neck steel guitar along with Moog bass pedals, and the cowboy metal band Grady.
6.
Gordie Johnson is a bandleader, solo artist and plays in other bands.
7.
In 1999, Gordie Johnson performed solo as part of The White Ribbon Concert at the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto.
8.
Gordie Johnson has toured as a bass player with Rich Robinson and Wide Mouth Mason and currently plays bass and tres guitar with Rey Arteaga's Latin music group based in Austin, Texas when not on tour with Big Sugar.
9.
In 2020, with the world going into lockdown, the record release show and tour for Big Sugar's new album Eternity Now was cancelled and Gordie Johnson performed the release show "live" online that saw him playing and singing live, accompanied by the recorded bedtracks.
10.
Gordie Johnson has earned numerous gold and platinum records with his band Big Sugar and as producer or musician with such acts as The Trews and Default.
11.
In 2000, Gordie Johnson was named to the 'Toronto Star Best Dressed' list, a culmination of his decades-long Hugo Boss endorsement.
12.
In 2010, Gordie Johnson was inducted into the Canada South Blues Society Hall of Fame.
13.
In 2011, Gordie Johnson was nominated for a Grammy for his producer role on the Warren Haynes album "Man in Motion".