Multi-instrumentalist Stan Johnson earned his BS Degree in music at the University of Nebraska and a Master’s Degree in music at VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. He taught high school music for the past 33 years and just retired 4 years ago. For 19 years, he taught at Will C. Wood High School in Vacaville, but he also taught in Montana, Japan, Wisconsin and England. Currently, Stan is teaching privately at Vacaville Music, in his home studio and at Watermelon Music in Davis. He also teaches three classes per week at the Davis Waldorf School. He has over 30 students ranging in ages from 7 years to adult. He teaches all woodwind and brass instruments.
As a professional musician, Stan has performed all over the mid-west & western United States, Germany, Japan, and England. In 2000, he was inducted into the Nebraska Music Hall of Fame. In 2001, his group was asked back to perform as the guest artist for the Hall of Fame presentation. He was a jazz guest artist at Oakhurst High School and the University High School in Fresno in 2002 & 2004. He has performed with The Four Tops, Norton Buffalo, saxophonist Pete Chistilleb from the Tonight Show, Mary Fettig and Sonia Jason, trombonist Dave Eshelman, trumpeters Mike Vax and Marvin McFadden, percussionist Pete Escovedo, Sierra Brass & Electric from Nevada City, Slick & the Sliders from Winters, and Gray Daze from Fairfield.
He is currently performing with the new jazz group Stingy Brim from Vacaville, the Latin band Sapo Guapo, and Rocky & the Revellettes from Woodland. He also performs with his own groups J. Harrison B. and the John Stanson Band.
Rolling Stone Magazine gave a glowing review of Stan’s performance with Magellan on a Jethro Tull tribute CD “To Cry You A Song”, produced by Magna Carta Records. He can also be heard on Blues Sky’s 707 CD, with his two sons on their CD “Johnson, Johnson, & Johnson” and the album by J. Harrison B. titled “You Can’t Get There From Here”. He is currently working on a new CD with his sons that should be released sometime this fall.