JOHNNY "GUITAR" EDWARDS
Born and raised in the Philadelphia area Johnny received his first guitar along with a solid musical education in the local church. From there he was hooked . He began taking guitar lessons .When he got to high school found local music teacher Harry Giamo who taught Stanley Clark . Johnny took theory , harmony 1 & 2 .Then Johnny joined a local band Hot Ice & The Harmonix with Perry Wolfe
(The Spirit Band )and learned the art of songwriting and recording .
(The Spirit Band )and learned the art of songwriting and recording .
Johnny then joined one of the U.S.A's first Elvis bands (1977) Rich Gold and The Nuggets. He then found teacher Joe Federico and studied the Dennis Sandole jazz guitar for a year and a half . This proved to be a period in his life where he found the roots of music to be a focus .
When the late 70's early 80's came Johnny had formed a local band and began opening shows for ; The Ko Ko Taylor Band , Pinetop Perkins , Hubert Sumlin ,
Albert Collins & The Icebreakers and local legend Flamin' Harry Band . During this time he also jammed with members of The Big Jack Johnson Band and Luther Guitar Junior and the Magic Rockers . Members Chet Woodward (drummer) ,
Randy Lipponcott (bass) , Maury Hooter Saslaff (bass) were some of the musicians who had been giging with area players from Delaware,New Jersey and Pennasylvania . Johnny helped re-establish the blues in the area as a music scene that was growing by running the city's first 24 hour non-profit phone line for blues promotions "The Blues Hotline".
Albert Collins & The Icebreakers and local legend Flamin' Harry Band . During this time he also jammed with members of The Big Jack Johnson Band and Luther Guitar Junior and the Magic Rockers . Members Chet Woodward (drummer) ,
Randy Lipponcott (bass) , Maury Hooter Saslaff (bass) were some of the musicians who had been giging with area players from Delaware,New Jersey and Pennasylvania . Johnny helped re-establish the blues in the area as a music scene that was growing by running the city's first 24 hour non-profit phone line for blues promotions "The Blues Hotline".
Johnny's joined a top recording / touring national / international act The Sonny Rhodes Band . He was in the band Lenny & The Soulsenders with drummer from
Sonny Rhodes , Lenny Gordon . They recorded & wrote for artists like the Betty Jean & Free Radicals . Over the years Johnny has jammed with artists ; The Hooligans(Luke Jardel) , Albert Collins , Johnny Copeland , Clarance Gatemouth Brown , Alicia Levy , JB Reed ,Deb Davies , Joe Zook and Blues Deluxe , Willie Dixon , Bob Brozman , Little Milton , Katie Webster , Buster Benton ,Sue Foley ,
Paul Schaffer , Saffire ,Eddie Marentz , Duke Robillard ,Taj Mahal ,The Ko Ko Taylor Band , Little Mike & The Tornados , Mike Dugan & The Blues Mission , Scott Anslie ,The Holmesburg Country Jam , Mark Hummel , Howard Levy (Bela Fleck,Kenny Loggins) , Fran Smith (The Hooters), David Bromberg , Frankie Lee ,
Cephas & Wiggins ,The Destroyers (George Thorogood's band) , Denise LaSalle , The Pat Travers Band (Rick Navarro , Eric Frates) , Bob Pawson and the Christian Friends and many , many more.
Sonny Rhodes , Lenny Gordon . They recorded & wrote for artists like the Betty Jean & Free Radicals . Over the years Johnny has jammed with artists ; The Hooligans(Luke Jardel) , Albert Collins , Johnny Copeland , Clarance Gatemouth Brown , Alicia Levy , JB Reed ,Deb Davies , Joe Zook and Blues Deluxe , Willie Dixon , Bob Brozman , Little Milton , Katie Webster , Buster Benton ,Sue Foley ,
Paul Schaffer , Saffire ,Eddie Marentz , Duke Robillard ,Taj Mahal ,The Ko Ko Taylor Band , Little Mike & The Tornados , Mike Dugan & The Blues Mission , Scott Anslie ,The Holmesburg Country Jam , Mark Hummel , Howard Levy (Bela Fleck,Kenny Loggins) , Fran Smith (The Hooters), David Bromberg , Frankie Lee ,
Cephas & Wiggins ,The Destroyers (George Thorogood's band) , Denise LaSalle , The Pat Travers Band (Rick Navarro , Eric Frates) , Bob Pawson and the Christian Friends and many , many more.
Over the years Johnny has opened for ; Johnny Winter , The Fabulous Thunderbirds , B B King , Utah Phillips , EmmyLou Harris , 5 Blind Boys of Alabama , Rev. Al Greene , Buddy Guy , The Violent Femmes , Daniel Lanois (U2,
Willie Nelson) , John Hammond Jr., John lee Hooker , Bob Margolin , Little Charlie and The Nightcats ,Elvin Bishop and more. By adding Johnny to your roster of music you have tapped into the expertise of a steadily focused guitarist who has played with legends in his field . He brings with him the understanding and execution of great American Roots,Contemporary Christian,& Gospel music !
Willie Nelson) , John Hammond Jr., John lee Hooker , Bob Margolin , Little Charlie and The Nightcats ,Elvin Bishop and more. By adding Johnny to your roster of music you have tapped into the expertise of a steadily focused guitarist who has played with legends in his field . He brings with him the understanding and execution of great American Roots,Contemporary Christian,& Gospel music !
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