Biography

A versatile and valuable reed player, Dick Johnson has long been known for his beautiful tone and his fluent style. He started out on piano, switching to clarinet when he was 16 and adding alto three years later. Johnson attended the New England Conservatory for two years. Based throughout much of his career in Boston, Johnson has long freelanced and taught in the city. Among his more significant associations have been with Charlie Spivak (1952-54), Dave McKenna, Eddie Costa, the ensembles of the Berklee College Of Music and Woody Herman's Orchestra (1980). In the 1980's and 90's, Johnson (who on alto shows off the influence of Charlie Parker) has often been featured with Artie Shaw's part-time orchestra, taking the clarinet solos. Dick Johnson has led albums for EmArcy (1956), Riverside (1957), RFT (1971), Concord (three sets during 1979-81) and North Star (1994). ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide