The Cartoon Jazz Orchestra

Musicians

 

Randy Johnson - banjo, guitar, glockenspiel, vocals, arranger


Randy Johnson started playing guitar about the time of the British invasion. Actually, it was a ukulele but after learning the entire Beatles songbook his parents thought he was deserving of a real guitar. His teen years were spent honing his craft in garage bands, and one day he and a group of high school friends decided to form a jug band loosely in the image of the Kweskin jug band. Randy was elected to play banjo, as they had plenty enough guitar players. They played dates from San Francisco's North Beach to Mountain View.


Later on while Randy was playing with another jug band in Byron, California he ran into a Dixieland band that was playing street music in San Francisco. After a few jam sessions, they decided to invite him to New Orleans to play street music there. Of course, they had to make plane fare playing on the streets of S.F. and in no time at all were on their way. After a lot of traveling between San Francisco and New Orleans (sometimes finding himself in the company of the likes of Dr. John and the Rolling Stones), Randy founded the Powell Street Jazz Band, one of the most beloved street bands during the heyday of street music in the '70s. They were written up in Rolling Stone magazine and were featured on NBC's "Today" show (with former California governor Ronald Reagan) as well as many local TV appearances.


As the street music craze died down, Randy started breaking in to the more "legit" music scene playing clubs and casuals eventually hooking up with bay area jazz trumpeter Mike Vax to form the Great American Jazz Band, playing numerous jazz festivals from Friday Harbor, WA to San Diego, CA and everywhere in between. Perhaps the highlight of those years was when Randy was named the "Worldwide All Star " banjo player in the 1986 Dixieland Jubilee in Sacramento.


After years on the road, Randy quit the Dixieland circuit to concentrate on closer to home gigs. He became a stalwart in the Walt Tolleson band as the designated Rock 'n Roll guy. He picked up the craft of arranging to keep the horn players from falling asleep during his vocal numbers. He developed a Buddy Holly tribute act making several appearances and also orchestrating the music. These days, he still plays in dance/ party bands providing the rock 'n roll and swing numbers.