Eric Johnson
Encyclopedia
Eric Johnson is an American
guitarist
. Though he is best known for his success in the instrumental rock
format, Johnson regularly incorporates jazz
, fusion
, gospel
and country and western music into his recordings. Johnson also composes and plays vocal pieces, and is an accomplished pianist.
Guitar Player
magazine has called Johnson "one of the most respected guitarists on the planet". Johnson's stylistic diversity and technical proficiency with the guitar have been praised by Bill Hicks
,. His critically acclaimed, platinum-selling 1990 recording Ah Via Musicom
produced the single "Cliffs of Dover
", for which Johnson won the 1991 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance
.
, Mike Bloomfield
, Chet Atkins
, Cream
, Jimi Hendrix
, Wes Montgomery
, Jerry Reed
, Bob Dylan
and Django Reinhardt
, among others. At the age of 15, he joined his first professional band—Mariani, a psychedelic rock
group. In 1968, Johnson and the group recorded a demo, which saw extremely limited release; years later the recording became a prized collector's item.
After graduating from high school, Johnson briefly attended the University of Texas at Austin
and traveled with his family to Africa
. He eventually returned to Austin, and in 1974 joined a local fusion group called Electromagnets. The group toured and recorded regionally, but did not attract attention from major record labels and as a result disbanded in 1977. However, the strength of Johnson's playing attracted a small cult following
to the group's early recordings, and decades later their two albums were given wide release on compact disc
.
Following the Electromagnets' demise, Johnson formed a touring trio, the Eric Johnson Group, with drummer Bill Maddox and bassist Kyle Brock. They played to audiences around Austin and in 1978 recorded a full length album entitled Seven Worlds
. Although the album showcased the band's sound, contract disputes held up the album's release for several years. Seven Worlds was eventually released in 1998 on Ark21 Records. Unable to secure a new management contract, Johnson began working as a session guitar
ist for some well-known acts, including Cat Stevens
,
Carole King
and Christopher Cross
, among others. While a session musician, Johnson continued to perform locally, developing a flashy but tasteful electric guitar sound. His career rebounded in 1984 when he was signed to Warner Bros. Records
. There is some disagreement about exactly how Johnson caught Warner Brothers' attention, with some reports suggesting that pop superstar Prince
recommended him after hearing him perform on the public television program Austin City Limits
. Others suggest that it was singer Christopher Cross and producer David Tickle
who recommended Johnson to the label. In any case, Johnson's major-label debut, Tones
, was unveiled in 1986 with Tickle as co-producer.
, but as a whole the album didn't sell well and Warner Brothers let Johnson's contract expire. He signed on with indie label Cinema Records, distributed by Capitol Records
.
By the time Johnson released his Capitol Records debut Ah Via Musicom
in 1990, he was regularly winning awards for his musicianship in the guitar press. During this period, Johnson also drew recognition for the rich, violin-like tone he coaxed from his vintage Fender Stratocaster
. The album's second track, "Cliffs of Dover
", exemplified his unique sound and won Johnson a 1991 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. Ah Via Musicom was a crossover
hit, and was certified platinum.
Fellow Texan, the late
comedian
Bill Hicks
, opened for Eric Johnson on at least one occasion in the Eighties. The highly intoxicated Hicks made light of Eric's lack of hit singles
, as well as his vegetarian
and teetotal
lifestyle, by suggesting that if Eric were to eat a Hamburger
and drink a beer
he would be able to write more popular songs. After this incident Bill Hicks was not asked to open for Johnson ever again.
Johnson is an admitted perfectionist
, and those traits seemed to work against Ah Via Musicoms follow-up release. Unhappy with his recordings, Johnson mastered, then later scrapped, several completed tracks for the new album and delayed its release for three years, on top of the three years he had spent touring in support of Ah Via Musicom. He also had setbacks involving musical growth and personal issues while recording his next album Venus Isle
.
Venus Isle was finally released on September 3, 1996. It was a unique album with world influences
that demonstrated Johnson's growth as a guitarist, songwriter
, producer
, musical arranger and vocalist. But the album received mixed reviews and did not match the success of its predecessor. As a result Johnson was dropped from Capitol Records. He rebounded with a successful tour from October to November 1996 with fellow guitarists Joe Satriani
and Steve Vai
. Named the 'G3' tour
, it resulted in a successful platinum-selling compact disc and DVD titled G3: Live in Concert
.
In 1998, Eric Johnson was among the judges in Musician
magazine's "Best Unsigned Bands" competition, along with Ani DiFranco
, Moby
, Art Alexakis
of Everclear
, Keb' Mo'
and Joe Perry
of Aerosmith
.
In 1994, Johnson formed a side project called Alien Love Child and played shows sporadically while recording Venus Isle. The positive fan feedback from the shows made Alien Love Child a permanent gig. A live performance recording, Live And Beyond
, was finally released in 2000 on Steve Vai's Favored Nations
label, showcasing their new songs. The Alien Love Child project helped Johnson move away from his perfectionistic tendencies and loosen up enough to embrace and release a live album.
Johnson eventually returned to the recording studio, releasing Souvenir in January 2002 on his own Vortexan Records. The album, released on the Internet, received nearly 65,000 plays in the first seven weeks after it was made available on mp3.com. Johnson promoted Souvenir with an electric tour in 2003 and an acoustic tour in 2004.
In 2004, Eric Clapton
invited Johnson to perform at his first successful Crossroads Guitar Festival
. According to Johnson, he was scheduled to perform onstage with Clapton, but it fell.
Johnson's next studio album Bloom
was released in June 2005, again on Vai's Favored Nations label. The album was divided into three sections with different musical styles, intended to showcase Johnson's versatility. His December 1988 Austin City Limits performance was released on both DVD
and compact disc
on New West Records
in November 2005. His instructional guitar DVD, The Art of Guitar (Hal Leonard Corporation), was also released at the end of 2005.
In January 2006, a man named Brian Sparks was arrested for posing as Johnson and in the process defrauding businesses out of about $18,000 worth of guitars and equipment. Also in 2006, some of Johnson's guitars that had been stolen 24 years before were recovered.
In September 2006, Johnson took part in a theatrical production titled "Primal Twang: The Legacy of the Guitar" – the first definitive theatrical journey through the guitar’s colorful and controversial 3,500-year history. In September 2007, Johnson participated in a second theatrical production by the same company titled "Love In: A Musical Celebration" in which he performed a Jimi Hendrix set, a tribute to the year 1967, often called "The Summer of Love". Also in late 2006 Johnson participated in a second G3 tour in South America, with Joe Satriani
and John Petrucci
.
Johnson had been working on an all-acoustic project and a live video from his 2006 Tour with Satriani. However these were shelved in 2007 in favor of cutting a new studio album.
His hit single "Cliffs of Dover" appears in the game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
. Johnson has also signed up with "Operation Immortality", a project to create a digital time capsule of their DNA
and humanity's achievements in the event of a global calamity.
electric guitars through a triple amp setup that consists of Fender amplifiers, Dumble Amplifiers
and Marshall amplification
. Johnson has also played other guitar brands such as Robin
, Rickenbacker
, and Jackson
Charvel
, which appears on the cover of the Ah Via Musicom
album. In 2001, Johnson added a Gibson
Custom Shop '59 Les Paul Reissue to his guitars of choice.
Johnson has had several models built to his specifications for sale in the mass market. In 2003, C. F. Martin & Company
released a limited-edition Eric Johnson Signature MC-40 guitar built to his specifications. Johnson donated 5 percent of the profits of the guitar's sales to his father's alma mater, Jefferson Medical College In 2005, Fender released an Eric Johnson Signature Fender Stratocaster also built to his specifications. Johnson has also released other signature gear such as GHS Eric Johnson Nickel Rockers Electric Guitar Strings, DiMarzio DP211 Eric Johnson Signature Custom Pickups, and a Fullton-Webb amplifier. Jim Dunlop also has released an Eric Johnson signature Jazz III plectrum. In early 2009, Fender released the Eric Johnson Signature Stratocaster Rosewood model, featuring the same specifications as the Eric Johnson Maple Neck guitar, with the addition of an unusual 3-ply, 8-hole white pick guard, hotter treble pickup and a bound rosewood laminate fingerboard with pearloid
dot position markers.
, Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face
, BK Butler Tube Driver, TC Electronic
Stereo Chorus, Vox Cry Baby wah-wah, Electro-Harmonix
Memory Man Delay, a MXR
Carbon Copy, a Line 6 Echo Pro Studio Modeler, and a Maestro Echoplex
tape delay. All of these are connected to multiple A/B boxes to create sounds and tones that are both clean and distorted. Although the majority of Johnson's setup is vintage, he has recently started using more modern equipment, including a stereo chorus made by Analog Man and a Fractal Audio Systems Axe-Fx Ultra.
of Rush
gave a thank you to Johnson in the liner notes of Counterparts
for being the inspiration for the guitar solo in the song "Cut To The Chase".
Guitarist Steve Morse
recorded a song titled "TruthOla", which is a tribute to Jeff Beck
, Alex Lifeson
and Eric Johnson. The song is on Morse's album "Major Impacts".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
. Though he is best known for his success in the instrumental rock
Instrumental rock
Instrumental rock is a type of rock music which emphasizes musical instruments, and which features very little or no singing.Examples of instrumental rock can be found in practically every subgenre of rock, often from musicians who specialize in the style, most notably Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Link...
format, Johnson regularly incorporates jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, fusion
Fusion (music)
A fusion genre is music that combines two or more styles. For example, rock and roll originally developed as a fusion of blues, gospel and country music. The main characteristics of fusion genres are variations in tempo, rhythm, i a sometimes the use of long musical "journeys" that can be divided...
, gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
and country and western music into his recordings. Johnson also composes and plays vocal pieces, and is an accomplished pianist.
Guitar Player
Guitar Player
Guitar Player is a popular magazine for guitarists founded in 1967. It contains articles, interviews, reviews and lessons of an eclectic collection of artists, genres and products. It has been in print since the late 1960s and during the 1980s, under editor Tom Wheeler, the publication was...
magazine has called Johnson "one of the most respected guitarists on the planet". Johnson's stylistic diversity and technical proficiency with the guitar have been praised by Bill Hicks
Bill Hicks
William Melvin "Bill" Hicks was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, satirist, and musician. His material largely consisted of general discussions about society, religion, politics, philosophy, and personal issues. Hicks' material was often controversial and steeped in dark comedy...
,. His critically acclaimed, platinum-selling 1990 recording Ah Via Musicom
Ah Via Musicom
Ah Via Musicom is Eric Johnson's platinum-selling third solo album, released in February 1990 .Several of the songs on the album are dedicated to fellow guitarists. Johnson revealed in an interview with Guitar Player magazine in March 1990 that the song "Steve's Boogie" is dedicated to Austin pedal...
produced the single "Cliffs of Dover
Cliffs of Dover (song)
"Cliffs of Dover" is an instrumental composition by guitarist Eric Johnson which appeared on his 1990 Ah Via Musicom album. The album version of the song is composed in the key of G major, the song was played with a Gibson ES-335 through a B.K. Butler Tube Driver and an Echoplex plugged into a...
", for which Johnson won the 1991 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance
Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance was an honor presented to recording artists for quality instrumental rock performances at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards...
.
Life and career
Born into a musically-inclined family, Johnson and his three sisters studied piano and his father was a whistling enthusiast. Johnson started learning the guitar at age 11 and rapidly began progressing through the music that would heavily influence his future style, including Eric ClaptonEric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
, Mike Bloomfield
Mike Bloomfield
Michael Bernard "Mike" Bloomfield was an American musician, guitarist, and composer, born in Chicago, Illinois, who became one of the first popular music superstars of the 1960s to earn his reputation almost entirely on his instrumental prowess, since he rarely sang before 1969–70...
, Chet Atkins
Chet Atkins
Chester Burton Atkins , known as Chet Atkins, was an American guitarist and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley, created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well.Atkins's picking style, inspired by Merle...
, Cream
Cream (band)
Cream were a 1960s British rock supergroup consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker...
, Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
, Wes Montgomery
Wes Montgomery
John Leslie "Wes" Montgomery was an American jazz guitarist. He is widely considered one of the major jazz guitarists, emerging after such seminal figures as Django Reinhardt and Charlie Christian and influencing countless others, including Pat Martino, George Benson, Russell Malone, Emily...
, Jerry Reed
Jerry Reed
Jerry Reed Hubbard , known professionally as Jerry Reed, was an American country music singer, innovative guitarist, songwriter, and actor who appeared in more than a dozen films...
, Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
and Django Reinhardt
Django Reinhardt
Django Reinhardt was a pioneering virtuoso jazz guitarist and composer who invented an entirely new style of jazz guitar technique that has since become a living musical tradition within French gypsy culture...
, among others. At the age of 15, he joined his first professional band—Mariani, a psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
group. In 1968, Johnson and the group recorded a demo, which saw extremely limited release; years later the recording became a prized collector's item.
After graduating from high school, Johnson briefly attended the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
and traveled with his family to Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. He eventually returned to Austin, and in 1974 joined a local fusion group called Electromagnets. The group toured and recorded regionally, but did not attract attention from major record labels and as a result disbanded in 1977. However, the strength of Johnson's playing attracted a small cult following
Cult following
A cult following is a group of fans who are highly dedicated to a specific area of pop culture. A film, book, band, or video game, among other things, will be said to have a cult following when it has a small but very passionate fan base...
to the group's early recordings, and decades later their two albums were given wide release on compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
.
Seven Worlds
Seven Worlds is Eric Johnson's 1978 solo record after disbanding with his first band, The Electromagnets. The album was recorded in 1976 and 1977. Due to various disputes, general release was held up until Johnson obtained the rights to the master recordings, twenty years later...
. Although the album showcased the band's sound, contract disputes held up the album's release for several years. Seven Worlds was eventually released in 1998 on Ark21 Records. Unable to secure a new management contract, Johnson began working as a session guitar
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
ist for some well-known acts, including Cat Stevens
Cat Stevens
Yusuf Islam , commonly known by his former stage name Cat Stevens, is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, educator, philanthropist, and prominent convert to Islam....
,
Carole King
Carole King
Carole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S...
and Christopher Cross
Christopher Cross
Christopher Cross is an American singer-songwriter from San Antonio, Texas. His debut album earned him five Grammys. He is perhaps best known for his Top Ten hit songs, "Sailing", "Ride Like the Wind", and "Arthur's Theme ", the last of which he performed for the film Arthur starring Dudley Moore...
, among others. While a session musician, Johnson continued to perform locally, developing a flashy but tasteful electric guitar sound. His career rebounded in 1984 when he was signed to Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
. There is some disagreement about exactly how Johnson caught Warner Brothers' attention, with some reports suggesting that pop superstar Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
recommended him after hearing him perform on the public television program Austin City Limits
Austin City Limits
Austin City Limits is an American public television music program recorded live in Austin, Texas by Public Broadcasting Service Public television member station KLRU, and broadcast on many PBS stations around the United States...
. Others suggest that it was singer Christopher Cross and producer David Tickle
David Tickle
David Tickle is a British record producer and engineer. As a producer, he is most noted for his work with Split Enz, and in Canada, for his mid-80s work with Red Rider, Platinum Blonde and Gowan...
who recommended Johnson to the label. In any case, Johnson's major-label debut, Tones
Tones (album)
Tones is the second studio album by guitarist Eric Johnson, released in 1986 through Reprise Records. The first two tracks, "Zap" and "Emerald Eyes", are re-recordings from Johnson's unreleased first album, Seven Worlds...
, was unveiled in 1986 with Tickle as co-producer.
Success
In May 1986, Guitar Player magazine ran a cover story about Johnson. The article helped promote the release of Tones and brought Johnson critical praise as well as elevating his profile in the guitar and music community. The album's track "Zap" was nominated for the 1987 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental PerformanceGrammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance was an honor presented to recording artists for quality instrumental rock performances at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards...
, but as a whole the album didn't sell well and Warner Brothers let Johnson's contract expire. He signed on with indie label Cinema Records, distributed by Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
.
By the time Johnson released his Capitol Records debut Ah Via Musicom
Ah Via Musicom
Ah Via Musicom is Eric Johnson's platinum-selling third solo album, released in February 1990 .Several of the songs on the album are dedicated to fellow guitarists. Johnson revealed in an interview with Guitar Player magazine in March 1990 that the song "Steve's Boogie" is dedicated to Austin pedal...
in 1990, he was regularly winning awards for his musicianship in the guitar press. During this period, Johnson also drew recognition for the rich, violin-like tone he coaxed from his vintage Fender Stratocaster
Fender Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
. The album's second track, "Cliffs of Dover
Cliffs of Dover (song)
"Cliffs of Dover" is an instrumental composition by guitarist Eric Johnson which appeared on his 1990 Ah Via Musicom album. The album version of the song is composed in the key of G major, the song was played with a Gibson ES-335 through a B.K. Butler Tube Driver and an Echoplex plugged into a...
", exemplified his unique sound and won Johnson a 1991 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. Ah Via Musicom was a crossover
Crossover (music)
Crossover is a term applied to musical works or performers appearing on two or more of the record charts which track differing musical tastes, or genres...
hit, and was certified platinum.
Fellow Texan, the late
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
comedian
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
Bill Hicks
Bill Hicks
William Melvin "Bill" Hicks was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, satirist, and musician. His material largely consisted of general discussions about society, religion, politics, philosophy, and personal issues. Hicks' material was often controversial and steeped in dark comedy...
, opened for Eric Johnson on at least one occasion in the Eighties. The highly intoxicated Hicks made light of Eric's lack of hit singles
Hit Song Science
Hit Song Science concerns the possibility of predicting whether a song will be a hit, prior to its distribution using automated means such as machine learning software.-Scientific Background:...
, as well as his vegetarian
Vegetarianism
Vegetarianism encompasses the practice of following plant-based diets , with or without the inclusion of dairy products or eggs, and with the exclusion of meat...
and teetotal
Teetotalism
Teetotalism refers to either the practice of or the promotion of complete abstinence from alcoholic beverages. A person who practices teetotalism is called a teetotaler or is simply said to be teetotal...
lifestyle, by suggesting that if Eric were to eat a Hamburger
Hamburger
A hamburger is a sandwich consisting of a cooked patty of ground meat usually placed inside a sliced bread roll...
and drink a beer
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
he would be able to write more popular songs. After this incident Bill Hicks was not asked to open for Johnson ever again.
Johnson is an admitted perfectionist
Perfectionism (psychology)
Perfectionism, in psychology, is a belief that a state of completeness and flawlessness can and should be attained. In its pathological form, perfectionism is a belief that work or output that is anything less than perfect is unacceptable...
, and those traits seemed to work against Ah Via Musicoms follow-up release. Unhappy with his recordings, Johnson mastered, then later scrapped, several completed tracks for the new album and delayed its release for three years, on top of the three years he had spent touring in support of Ah Via Musicom. He also had setbacks involving musical growth and personal issues while recording his next album Venus Isle
Venus Isle
Venus Isle is the fourth solo album by American musician Eric Johnson, released in 1996. The album includes the song "S.R.V." which is a tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan. It features his brother, Jimmie Vaughan, as a guest soloist...
.
Venus Isle was finally released on September 3, 1996. It was a unique album with world influences
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
that demonstrated Johnson's growth as a guitarist, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, musical arranger and vocalist. But the album received mixed reviews and did not match the success of its predecessor. As a result Johnson was dropped from Capitol Records. He rebounded with a successful tour from October to November 1996 with fellow guitarists Joe Satriani
Joe Satriani
Joseph "Joe" Satriani is an American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, with multiple Grammy Award nominations...
and Steve Vai
Steve Vai
Steven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
. Named the 'G3' tour
G3 (tour)
G3 is a concert tour organized by guitarist Joe Satriani featuring him alongside two other guitarists. Since its inception in 1996, G3 has toured most years and has featured many guitarists, including Steve Vai , Eric Johnson, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Yngwie Malmsteen, John Petrucci, Robert Fripp,...
, it resulted in a successful platinum-selling compact disc and DVD titled G3: Live in Concert
G3: Live in Concert
G3: Live in Concert is a live album and DVD by the G3 project, led by Joe Satriani. It was released in 1997 by Epic Records. This lineup of G3 includes Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson and Steve Vai...
.
In 1998, Eric Johnson was among the judges in Musician
Musician (magazine)
Musician was a monthly magazine that covered news and information about American popular music. Initially called "Music America", it was founded in 1976 by Sam Holdsworth and Gordon Baird. The two friends borrowed $20,000 from relatives and started the publication in a barn in Colorado...
magazine's "Best Unsigned Bands" competition, along with Ani DiFranco
Ani DiFranco
Ani DiFranco is an American Grammy Award-winning singer, guitarist, poet, and songwriter. She has released more than 20 albums, and is widely considered a feminist icon.-Biography:...
, Moby
Moby
Richard Melville Hall , better known by his stage name Moby, is an American musician, DJ, and photographer. He is known mainly for his sample-based electronic music and his outspoken liberal political views, including his support of veganism and animal rights.Moby gained attention in the early...
, Art Alexakis
Art Alexakis
Arthur Paul "Art" Alexakis is best known as the American singer, composer, and lead guitarist of the rock band Everclear. He has been a member of several notable bands, in addition to his own work as a songwriter for other artists...
of Everclear
Everclear (band)
Everclear is a rock band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1992 best known for their radio hits spanning more than a decade. For most of its existence, Everclear has consisted of Art Alexakis , Craig Montoya , and Greg Eklund . Eklund replaced original drummer Scott Cuthbert in 1994...
, Keb' Mo'
Keb' Mo'
Keb' Mo is an American blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter, currently living in Nashville, Tennessee, United States.-Early life:From early on he had an appreciation for the blues and gospel music...
and Joe Perry
Joe Perry (musician)
Anthony Joseph "Joe" Perry is the lead guitarist, backing and occasional lead vocalist, and contributing songwriter for the rock band Aerosmith. He is influenced by many rock artists especially The Rolling Stones and The Beatles...
of Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
.
In 1994, Johnson formed a side project called Alien Love Child and played shows sporadically while recording Venus Isle. The positive fan feedback from the shows made Alien Love Child a permanent gig. A live performance recording, Live And Beyond
Live and Beyond
Live And Beyond is the first, live album by Eric Johnson's side-project Alien Love Child. The album was recorded in 2000, Texas and features Chris Maresh on bass guitar and Bill Maddox on drums with guest vocals by Malford Milligan. It also features one studio recorded track, "World of Trouble"...
, was finally released in 2000 on Steve Vai's Favored Nations
Favored Nations
Favored Nations is a record label started by guitarist Steve Vai and former Guitar Center owner Ray Scherr in 1999. The first album ever released by Favored Nations was Frank Gambale's Coming to Your Senses in 2000...
label, showcasing their new songs. The Alien Love Child project helped Johnson move away from his perfectionistic tendencies and loosen up enough to embrace and release a live album.
Johnson eventually returned to the recording studio, releasing Souvenir in January 2002 on his own Vortexan Records. The album, released on the Internet, received nearly 65,000 plays in the first seven weeks after it was made available on mp3.com. Johnson promoted Souvenir with an electric tour in 2003 and an acoustic tour in 2004.
In 2004, Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
invited Johnson to perform at his first successful Crossroads Guitar Festival
Crossroads Guitar Festival
The Crossroads Guitar Festival is a music festival and benefit concert first held in 2004 and again in 2007 and 2010. The festivals benefit the Crossroads Centre founded by Eric Clapton, a drug treatment center located in Antigua. The concerts are also intended to be a showcase for a variety of...
. According to Johnson, he was scheduled to perform onstage with Clapton, but it fell.
Johnson's next studio album Bloom
Bloom (Eric Johnson album)
Bloom is Eric Johnson's fifth studio release, released in June 2005. It was the first studio release since his 1996 album Venus Isle almost nine years prior...
was released in June 2005, again on Vai's Favored Nations label. The album was divided into three sections with different musical styles, intended to showcase Johnson's versatility. His December 1988 Austin City Limits performance was released on both DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
and compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
on New West Records
New West Records
New West Records is a record label based in Los Angeles, California, Austin, Texas, and Athens, Georgia. It was established in 1998, and has been home to several indie rock and alternative country bands as well as representing the PBS show Austin City Limits...
in November 2005. His instructional guitar DVD, The Art of Guitar (Hal Leonard Corporation), was also released at the end of 2005.
In January 2006, a man named Brian Sparks was arrested for posing as Johnson and in the process defrauding businesses out of about $18,000 worth of guitars and equipment. Also in 2006, some of Johnson's guitars that had been stolen 24 years before were recovered.
In September 2006, Johnson took part in a theatrical production titled "Primal Twang: The Legacy of the Guitar" – the first definitive theatrical journey through the guitar’s colorful and controversial 3,500-year history. In September 2007, Johnson participated in a second theatrical production by the same company titled "Love In: A Musical Celebration" in which he performed a Jimi Hendrix set, a tribute to the year 1967, often called "The Summer of Love". Also in late 2006 Johnson participated in a second G3 tour in South America, with Joe Satriani
Joe Satriani
Joseph "Joe" Satriani is an American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, with multiple Grammy Award nominations...
and John Petrucci
John Petrucci
John Peter Petrucci is an American guitarist and songwriter best known as a founding member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. Along with his former bandmate Mike Portnoy, he has produced all Dream Theater albums since their 1999 release, Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory...
.
Johnson had been working on an all-acoustic project and a live video from his 2006 Tour with Satriani. However these were shelved in 2007 in favor of cutting a new studio album.
His hit single "Cliffs of Dover" appears in the game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is a music video game, the third main installment in the Guitar Hero series, and the fourth title overall...
. Johnson has also signed up with "Operation Immortality", a project to create a digital time capsule of their DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
and humanity's achievements in the event of a global calamity.
Guitars
Johnson is best known for playing stock Fender Stratocasters and Gibson ES-335Gibson ES-335
The Gibson ES-335 is the world's first commercial thinline arched-top semi-acoustic electric guitar. Released by the Gibson Guitar Corporation as part of its ES series in 1958, it is neither hollow nor solid; instead, a solid wood block runs through the center of its body...
electric guitars through a triple amp setup that consists of Fender amplifiers, Dumble Amplifiers
Dumble Amplifiers
Dumble musical instrument amplifiers are custom manufactured in very limited numbers by Alexander "Howard" Dumble of Los Angeles, California. Dumble began making amplifiers in the late 1960s in Santa Cruz. There are reportedly fewer than 300 in total...
and Marshall amplification
Marshall Amplification
Marshall Amplification is a British company, founded by drummer Jim Marshall, that designs and manufactures music amplifiers, brands personal headphones/earphones , and, after acquiring Natal Drums, drums and bongos. Marshall amplifiers, and specifically their guitar amplifiers, are among the most...
. Johnson has also played other guitar brands such as Robin
Robin Guitars
Robin Guitars is a boutique guitar manufacturer located in Houston, Texas.The company was formed in 1982 by Dave Wintz who owned the Rockin' Robin Guitar Shop at the time. Robin guitars were made in Japan by Tokai and Chushin until 1986, when their production moved to the United States...
, Rickenbacker
Rickenbacker
Rickenbacker International Corporation, also known as Rickenbacker, is an electric and bass guitar manufacturer based in Santa Ana, California...
, and Jackson
Jackson Guitars
__FORCETOC__Jackson is a renowned brand of electric guitar that bears the name of its founder, Grover Jackson.-Early years:Grover Jackson obtained ownership in Charvel's Guitar Repair of Glendora, California in the 1970s with a promise to bolster Charvel's business...
Charvel
Charvel
Charvel is a brand of guitar originally founded in the 1970s by Wayne Charvel in Azusa, California and then later, Glendora, California. Charvel guitars became popular in the 1980s due to their association with famous rock guitarists such as Edward Van Halen , Richie Sambora , Warren DeMartini ,...
, which appears on the cover of the Ah Via Musicom
Ah Via Musicom
Ah Via Musicom is Eric Johnson's platinum-selling third solo album, released in February 1990 .Several of the songs on the album are dedicated to fellow guitarists. Johnson revealed in an interview with Guitar Player magazine in March 1990 that the song "Steve's Boogie" is dedicated to Austin pedal...
album. In 2001, Johnson added a Gibson
Gibson Guitar Corporation
The Gibson Guitar Corporation, formerly of Kalamazoo, Michigan and currently of Nashville, Tennessee, manufactures guitars and other instruments which sell under a variety of brand names...
Custom Shop '59 Les Paul Reissue to his guitars of choice.
Johnson has had several models built to his specifications for sale in the mass market. In 2003, C. F. Martin & Company
C. F. Martin & Company
C.F. Martin & Company is a US guitar manufacturer established in 1833 by Christian Frederick Martin. Martin is highly regarded for its steel-string guitars, and is a leading mass manufacturer of flattop acoustics with models that retail for thousands of dollars and vintage instruments that often...
released a limited-edition Eric Johnson Signature MC-40 guitar built to his specifications. Johnson donated 5 percent of the profits of the guitar's sales to his father's alma mater, Jefferson Medical College In 2005, Fender released an Eric Johnson Signature Fender Stratocaster also built to his specifications. Johnson has also released other signature gear such as GHS Eric Johnson Nickel Rockers Electric Guitar Strings, DiMarzio DP211 Eric Johnson Signature Custom Pickups, and a Fullton-Webb amplifier. Jim Dunlop also has released an Eric Johnson signature Jazz III plectrum. In early 2009, Fender released the Eric Johnson Signature Stratocaster Rosewood model, featuring the same specifications as the Eric Johnson Maple Neck guitar, with the addition of an unusual 3-ply, 8-hole white pick guard, hotter treble pickup and a bound rosewood laminate fingerboard with pearloid
Pearloid
Pearloid is a plastic that is intended to resemble mother of pearl. It is commonly used in making musical instruments, especially for pickguards, electric guitars, and accordions.-Production:...
dot position markers.
Effects
He uses effects pedals such as the Ibanez Tube ScreamerIbanez Tube Screamer
The Ibanez Tube Screamer is a guitar overdrive pedal, made by Ibanez. The pedal has a characteristic mid-boosted tone popular with blues players...
, Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face
Fuzz Face
The Fuzz Face is an effects pedal used mainly by electric guitarists, and by some bass players. It is a stompbox designed to produce a distorted sound from an electric guitar. This "fuzz" sound is sometimes compared to the sound of a damaged speaker...
, BK Butler Tube Driver, TC Electronic
TC Electronic
TC Electronic is a Danish audio equipment manufacturer.Its current product ranges include guitar effects, bass amplification, computer audio interfaces, audio plug-in software, live sound equalisers, studio and post production equipment, studio effect processors and broadcast loudness processors...
Stereo Chorus, Vox Cry Baby wah-wah, Electro-Harmonix
Electro-Harmonix
Electro-Harmonix is a New York-based company that makes high-end electronic audio processors. The company was founded by Mike Matthews in 1968. They are most famous for a series of popular guitar effects pedals introduced in the 1970s and 1990s....
Memory Man Delay, a MXR
MXR
MXR, also known as MXR Innovations, was a manufacturer of guitar effects units, co-founded in 1973 by Keith Barr and Terry Sherwood . MXR was based in the United States in Rochester, New York. MXR Innovations, Inc. was incorporated in 1974...
Carbon Copy, a Line 6 Echo Pro Studio Modeler, and a Maestro Echoplex
Echoplex
The Echoplex is a tape delay effect, first made in 1959. Designed by Mike Battle, the Echoplex set a standard for the effect in the 1960s and was used by some of the most notable guitar players of the era; original Echoplexes are highly sought after....
tape delay. All of these are connected to multiple A/B boxes to create sounds and tones that are both clean and distorted. Although the majority of Johnson's setup is vintage, he has recently started using more modern equipment, including a stereo chorus made by Analog Man and a Fractal Audio Systems Axe-Fx Ultra.
Popular culture
Guitarist Alex LifesonAlex Lifeson
Aleksandar Živojinović, OC, better known by his stage name Alex Lifeson, is a second generation Serbian-Canadian musician, best known as the guitarist of the Canadian rock band Rush. In the summer of 1968, Lifeson founded the band that would become Rush with friend, drummer John Rutsey...
of Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
gave a thank you to Johnson in the liner notes of Counterparts
Counterparts (album)
Counterparts is the fifteenth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released in 1993. It became Rush's highest charting album in the US, peaking at #2 on the Billboard 200...
for being the inspiration for the guitar solo in the song "Cut To The Chase".
Guitarist Steve Morse
Steve Morse
Steven J. "Steve" Morse is an American guitarist and composer, best known for his work in the hard rock band Deep Purple since 1994. He began his career to form the unique styled instrumental rock band Dixie Dregs in the 1970. Morse's musical inspiration comes from country, funk, jazz fusion, and...
recorded a song titled "TruthOla", which is a tribute to Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
, Alex Lifeson
Alex Lifeson
Aleksandar Živojinović, OC, better known by his stage name Alex Lifeson, is a second generation Serbian-Canadian musician, best known as the guitarist of the Canadian rock band Rush. In the summer of 1968, Lifeson founded the band that would become Rush with friend, drummer John Rutsey...
and Eric Johnson. The song is on Morse's album "Major Impacts".
Solo albums
- Seven WorldsSeven WorldsSeven Worlds is Eric Johnson's 1978 solo record after disbanding with his first band, The Electromagnets. The album was recorded in 1976 and 1977. Due to various disputes, general release was held up until Johnson obtained the rights to the master recordings, twenty years later...
(1978) (re-issue, 1998) - TonesTones (album)Tones is the second studio album by guitarist Eric Johnson, released in 1986 through Reprise Records. The first two tracks, "Zap" and "Emerald Eyes", are re-recordings from Johnson's unreleased first album, Seven Worlds...
(1986) - Ah Via MusicomAh Via MusicomAh Via Musicom is Eric Johnson's platinum-selling third solo album, released in February 1990 .Several of the songs on the album are dedicated to fellow guitarists. Johnson revealed in an interview with Guitar Player magazine in March 1990 that the song "Steve's Boogie" is dedicated to Austin pedal...
(1990) - Venus IsleVenus IsleVenus Isle is the fourth solo album by American musician Eric Johnson, released in 1996. The album includes the song "S.R.V." which is a tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan. It features his brother, Jimmie Vaughan, as a guest soloist...
(1996) - Souvenir (2002)
- BloomBloom (Eric Johnson album)Bloom is Eric Johnson's fifth studio release, released in June 2005. It was the first studio release since his 1996 album Venus Isle almost nine years prior...
(2005) - Live from Austin, TX (2005)
- Live From Austin TX '84 (2010)
- Up CloseUp Close (album)-Personnel:Personnel are credited alphabetically.* Roscoe Beck - Bass Guitar* Kelly Donnelly - Engineer* Kevin Hall - Drums* Andy Johns - Mixing* Eric Johnson - Guitar, Vocals, Producer* Sonny Landreth - Guitar...
(2010)
Early singles played on
- Mariani (1970) – Tracks "Re-Birth Day" and "Memories Lost and Found" – Sonobeat Records
- Jay Aaron Podolnick (1975) – Track "Come In Out Of The Rain"
- Christopher Cross (1976) – Tracks "It's All With You" and "Talkin' About Her" – Starburst ARC
- Bill Maddox – Project Terror (1977) – Track "Thermal Underwear" – E. G. Records
- Cat Stevens (1978) – Track "Bad Breaks" – A&M Records
- Bill Colbert (1982) – Track "That Rider Down" – Texas Re-Cord Co.
Group albums
- Perpetuum Mobile (1970) by Mariani
- Electromagnets (1975) by Electromagnets
- Live and BeyondLive and BeyondLive And Beyond is the first, live album by Eric Johnson's side-project Alien Love Child. The album was recorded in 2000, Texas and features Chris Maresh on bass guitar and Bill Maddox on drums with guest vocals by Malford Milligan. It also features one studio recorded track, "World of Trouble"...
(2000) by Alien Love Child - Electromagnets 2 (2006, originally recorded in 1976) by Electromagnets – Vortexan Records
Instructional DVDs
- Eric Johnson: Total Electric Guitar (1990) by Hot Licks
- Eric Johnson: The Fine Art of Guitar (1996) by Hot Licks
- Eric Johnson: The Art of Guitar (2005) by Hal Leonard Corporation
Video Games
- Guitar Hero III: Legends of RockGuitar Hero III: Legends of RockGuitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is a music video game, the third main installment in the Guitar Hero series, and the fourth title overall...
(2007), "Cliffs of Dover" - Guitar Hero World TourGuitar Hero World TourGuitar Hero World Tour is a music video game developed by Neversoft and published by RedOctane and Activision. It is the fourth main entry in the Guitar Hero series...
(2009), "Camel's Night Out"
Awards and chartings
- Albums:
- 1991 – Ah Via MusicomAh Via MusicomAh Via Musicom is Eric Johnson's platinum-selling third solo album, released in February 1990 .Several of the songs on the album are dedicated to fellow guitarists. Johnson revealed in an interview with Guitar Player magazine in March 1990 that the song "Steve's Boogie" is dedicated to Austin pedal...
(album) – Grammy – Best Rock Instrumental Nomination - 1991 – Ah Via MusicomAh Via MusicomAh Via Musicom is Eric Johnson's platinum-selling third solo album, released in February 1990 .Several of the songs on the album are dedicated to fellow guitarists. Johnson revealed in an interview with Guitar Player magazine in March 1990 that the song "Steve's Boogie" is dedicated to Austin pedal...
(album) – Billboard magazine – Billboard 200Billboard 200The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
– (#67) - 2006 – BloomBloom (Eric Johnson album)Bloom is Eric Johnson's fifth studio release, released in June 2005. It was the first studio release since his 1996 album Venus Isle almost nine years prior...
(album) – Grammy – Best Pop Instrumental Nomination
- 1991 – Ah Via Musicom
- Songs:
- 1987 – "Zap" – (from TonesTones (album)Tones is the second studio album by guitarist Eric Johnson, released in 1986 through Reprise Records. The first two tracks, "Zap" and "Emerald Eyes", are re-recordings from Johnson's unreleased first album, Seven Worlds...
) – Grammy – Best Rock Instrumental Nomination - 1990 – "Cliffs of DoverCliffs of Dover (song)"Cliffs of Dover" is an instrumental composition by guitarist Eric Johnson which appeared on his 1990 Ah Via Musicom album. The album version of the song is composed in the key of G major, the song was played with a Gibson ES-335 through a B.K. Butler Tube Driver and an Echoplex plugged into a...
" – (from Ah Via MusicomAh Via MusicomAh Via Musicom is Eric Johnson's platinum-selling third solo album, released in February 1990 .Several of the songs on the album are dedicated to fellow guitarists. Johnson revealed in an interview with Guitar Player magazine in March 1990 that the song "Steve's Boogie" is dedicated to Austin pedal...
) – Mainstream Rock TracksMainstream Rock TracksHot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
– (#5) - 1990 – "High Landrons" – (from Ah Via MusicomAh Via MusicomAh Via Musicom is Eric Johnson's platinum-selling third solo album, released in February 1990 .Several of the songs on the album are dedicated to fellow guitarists. Johnson revealed in an interview with Guitar Player magazine in March 1990 that the song "Steve's Boogie" is dedicated to Austin pedal...
) – Mainstream Rock TracksMainstream Rock TracksHot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
– (#31) - 1991 – "Righteous" – (from Ah Via MusicomAh Via MusicomAh Via Musicom is Eric Johnson's platinum-selling third solo album, released in February 1990 .Several of the songs on the album are dedicated to fellow guitarists. Johnson revealed in an interview with Guitar Player magazine in March 1990 that the song "Steve's Boogie" is dedicated to Austin pedal...
) – Mainstream Rock TracksMainstream Rock TracksHot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
– (#8) - 1991 – "Trademark" – (from Ah Via MusicomAh Via MusicomAh Via Musicom is Eric Johnson's platinum-selling third solo album, released in February 1990 .Several of the songs on the album are dedicated to fellow guitarists. Johnson revealed in an interview with Guitar Player magazine in March 1990 that the song "Steve's Boogie" is dedicated to Austin pedal...
) – Mainstream Rock TracksMainstream Rock TracksHot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
– (#7) - 1992 – "Cliffs of DoverCliffs of Dover (song)"Cliffs of Dover" is an instrumental composition by guitarist Eric Johnson which appeared on his 1990 Ah Via Musicom album. The album version of the song is composed in the key of G major, the song was played with a Gibson ES-335 through a B.K. Butler Tube Driver and an Echoplex plugged into a...
" – (from Ah Via MusicomAh Via MusicomAh Via Musicom is Eric Johnson's platinum-selling third solo album, released in February 1990 .Several of the songs on the album are dedicated to fellow guitarists. Johnson revealed in an interview with Guitar Player magazine in March 1990 that the song "Steve's Boogie" is dedicated to Austin pedal...
) – Grammy – winner – Best Rock Instrumental PerformanceGrammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental PerformanceThe Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance was an honor presented to recording artists for quality instrumental rock performances at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards... - 1997 – "Pavilion" – (from Venus IsleVenus IsleVenus Isle is the fourth solo album by American musician Eric Johnson, released in 1996. The album includes the song "S.R.V." which is a tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan. It features his brother, Jimmie Vaughan, as a guest soloist...
) – Grammy - Best Rock Instrumental Nomination - 1998 – "S.R.V." – (from Venus IsleVenus IsleVenus Isle is the fourth solo album by American musician Eric Johnson, released in 1996. The album includes the song "S.R.V." which is a tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan. It features his brother, Jimmie Vaughan, as a guest soloist...
) – Grammy – Best Rock Instrumental Nomination - 2002 – "Rain" (from Live and BeyondLive and BeyondLive And Beyond is the first, live album by Eric Johnson's side-project Alien Love Child. The album was recorded in 2000, Texas and features Chris Maresh on bass guitar and Bill Maddox on drums with guest vocals by Malford Milligan. It also features one studio recorded track, "World of Trouble"...
) – Grammy – Best Pop Instrumental Nomination
- 1987 – "Zap" – (from Tones