Plas Johnson


Plas John Johnson Jr. is an American soul-jazz and hard bop tenor saxophonist, probably most widely known as the tenor saxophone soloist on Henry Mancini’s "The Pink Panther Theme". He also performs on alto and baritone sax as well as various flutes and clarinets.
WWW Official Site

Biography

Born in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, United States, Johnson sang with his family's group until his saxophonist father bought him a soprano saxophone. Largely self-taught, he soon began playing alto and later tenor saxophone. He and his pianist brother Ray first recorded as the Johnson Brothers in New Orleans in the late 1940s. He first toured with R&B singer Charles Brown in 1951. After army service, he and his brother moved to Los Angeles in 1954, and he soon began session recordings as a full-time musician, backing artists such as B.B. King and Johnny Otis as well as scores of other R&B performers. An early supporter was Maxwell Davis, who hired him to take over his own parts so that he could concentrate on producing sessions for the Modern record label.
Recruited by Johnny Otis and executive Dave Cavanaugh for Capitol Records in the mid-1950s, Johnson also played on innumerable records by Peggy Lee, Nat "King" Cole, Glen Gray, Frank Sinatra and others. He remained a leading session player for almost twenty years, averaging two sessions a day and playing everything from movie soundtracks and Les Baxter's exotica albums, to rock and roll singles by such artists as Ricky Nelson and Bobby Vee, and R&B records by such performers as Larry Williams, Bobby Day, and Richard Berry. He played on many of the Beach Boys’ records, and was an integral part of a number of instrumental groups that existed in name only, such as B. Bumble and the Stingers and The Marketts. He is featured in the 2008 documentary The Wrecking Crew (2008 film) regarding his experience in LA studios at the time. Unlike many session musicians of the time he became known by name, but for a time also recorded under the pseudonym Johnny Beecher for the budget CRC Charter label to avoid contractual disputes.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, he was a regular member of Henry Mancini's studio orchestra and in 1963 he recorded "The Pink Panther Theme", written by Mancini with Johnson in mind. Johnson said of the recording: "We only did two takes, I think... When we finished, everyone applauded -- even the string players. And that's saying something... They never applaud for anything."
In 1969, T-Bone Walker introduced Harmonica Slim to the record producer Bob Thiele. Thiele utilised a company of jazz and R&B musicians including Johnson, to work with Harmonica Slim on his debut album.
Johnson joined the studio band for the Merv Griffin Show in 1970, and also played with a number of jazz and swing bands of the period. He joined Lincoln Mayorga in creating direct-to-disc recordings for Sheffield Labs. He later recorded for the Concord label, worked with the Capp-Pierce Juggernaut, and toured in 1990 with the Gene Harris Superband. He has performed at numerous jazz festivals.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

Plas Johnson Downstairs,, The Loop,,. Promotional Record Number: 4251.Rockin' with Plas: The Capitol Singles This Must Be the Plas Mood for the Blues The Blues Positively L.A. '55 with the Grease Patrol On the Trail! with Totti Bergh Hot, Blue and Saxy Evening Delight Christmas in Hollywood with Ernie Andrews Keep That Groove Going! with Red Holloway All Blues with Ernie Watts

As Johnny Beecher

Sax 5th Ave.
  • ''On the Scene''

As sideman

With Ray AnthonyLike Wild!
With Chet BakerBlood, Chet and Tears
With Les BaxterJungle Jazz
With Benny CarterAspects
With Ry CooderParadise and Lunch
With Sam CookeTwistin' the Night Away Mr. Soul Ain't That Good News
With Rita CoolidgeRita Coolidge
With Clifford CoulterDo It Now!
With Bobby DarinVenice Blue
With Neil DiamondThe Christmas Album
With Dr. JohnGris-Gris
With Ella FitzgeraldElla Fitzgerald Sings the Harold Arlen Songbook Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Jerome Kern Song Book Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Johnny Mercer Song Book
With Marvin GayeLet's Get It On
With Etta JamesDeep in the Night
With Elton JohnDuets
With B.B. KingBlues in My Heart L.A. Midnight Live at the Apollo
With Carole KingMusic Speeding Time
With Nicolette LarsonNicolette
With Peggy LeeBlues Cross Country
With Henry ManciniMusic from Peter Gunn">Music (Carole King album)">Music from Peter Gunn More Music from Peter Gunn Uniquely Mancini The Pink Panther Mancini '67 The Party
With Teena MarieEmerald City
With The Marketts
  • "Balboa Blue"
With Les McCannLes McCann Plays the Hits Bucket o' Grease
With Bette MidlerBroken Blossom
With Liza MinnelliTropical Nights
With Joni MitchellTravelogue
With Maria MuldaurWaitress in a Donut Shop Sweet Harmony
With John NeelBlue Martini
With Aaron NevilleWarm Your Heart The Grand Tour Aaron's Soulful Christmas
With The PlattersThe Great Pretender
With Minnie RipertonStay in Love
With Johnny RiversNew Lovers and Old Friends
With Shorty RogersGospel Mission
With Linda RonstadtWhat's New Lush Life For Sentimental Reasons Winter Light We Ran
With Pete Rugolo10 Saxophones and 2 Basses
With Boz ScaggsSilk Degrees
With Lalo SchifrinMore Mission: Impossible Mannix
With Rhoda ScottFrom C to Shining C
With Steely DanThe Royal Scam
With Rod StewartA Night on the Town Stardust: The Great American Songbook, Volume III
With Eddie "Cleanhead" VinsonThe Original Cleanhead
With Tom WaitsHeartattack and Vine
With Larry Williams
  • Heebie Jeebies
With Deniece WilliamsThis Is Niecy
With the Gerald Wilson Orchestra