Davey Johnstone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Davey Johnstone
|
|
|---|---|
_(53009317090)_(cropped).jpg)
Johnstone in concert with Elton John, 2023
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | David William Logan Johnstone |
| Born | 6 May 1951 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 1968–present |
| Labels |
|
| Associated acts |
|
David William Logan Johnstone (born May 6, 1951) is a talented Scottish rock guitarist and singer. He is most famous for working with the legendary musician Elton John for a very long time. Davey Johnstone has been a key member of the Elton John Band for many years.
Contents
Davey Johnstone's Musical Journey
Early Life and First Steps in Music
Davey Johnstone was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. When he was seven years old, he started learning the violin at school. By the time he was ten, he was already playing it "sideways like a guitar"! For Christmas, one of his sisters gave him a guitar. By age 12, he was already putting together bands at his high school, Forrester High School. He knew from a young age that he wanted to be a professional musician.
Starting His Career
Davey's first professional music job was with Noel Murphy in 1968. He got his first album credit on an album called Another Round. By 1969, Davey was working regularly as a session musician. This meant he played music for different artists in recording studios. He started trying out many types of music and playing various instruments.
In 1970, he joined the British folk group Magna Carta. He recorded several albums with them, including Seasons (1970) and Songs from Wasties Orchard (1971).
Joining the Elton John Band
While with Magna Carta, Davey played many instruments. These included guitar, mandolin, sitar, and dulcimer. His skills caught the eye of music producer Gus Dudgeon. Gus asked Davey to play on Bernie Taupin's solo album in 1971. This led to Davey meeting Elton John. Soon after, Davey played on Elton John's 1971 album Madman Across the Water.
After that, Elton John invited Davey to join his band as a full member. Before Davey joined, the Elton John Band had only Elton John, bassist Dee Murray, and drummer Nigel Olsson.
Davey's first album as a full-time member of Elton's band was Honky Chateau in 1972. On this album, he played electric and acoustic guitars, slide guitar, banjo, and mandolin. He also sang backing vocals with Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson.
Solo Work and Other Collaborations
In 1973, Davey Johnstone released his own solo album called Smiling Face. He also formed a band called China, which released an album in 1977.
Even while working with other famous artists like Stevie Nicks, Meat Loaf, and Alice Cooper in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Davey always stayed close to Elton John's projects. He reunited with Nigel Olsson and Dee Murray for Elton's "Jump Up" tour in 1982. Since then, he has almost always been part of Elton John's albums and tours.
In 1990, Davey started a band called Warpipes. This band included other Elton John band members like Nigel Olsson and Bob Birch. They released an album called Holes in the Heavens in 1991.
In 1996, Davey released a guitar instruction video. In 1997, while on tour with Elton John, Davey and fellow bandmate John Jorgenson created an album of acoustic music called Crop Circles.
Milestones with Elton John
On June 10, 2009, Davey Johnstone played his 2,000th show with the Elton John Band! This special concert took place in Glasgow, Scotland. He is currently Elton John's musical director, which means he helps lead the band. He plays guitar alongside Nigel Olsson and John Mahon.
In 2014, he played on two songs for Stevie Nicks' album 24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault. He had previously played on her famous 1981 album Bella Donna.
On October 1, 2019, Davey reached another amazing milestone: his 3,000th show with Elton John! This concert was part of the "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour in Saskatoon, Canada.
Most recently, on June 25, 2023, Davey performed with Elton John at the Glastonbury Festival. This was a huge event, and it was announced as Elton John's last live performance in the UK.
Personal Life
Davey Johnstone lives in Los Angeles with his wife. They have seven children together.
Solo Albums
- Smiling Face (1973)
- Deeper Than My Roots (2022)
Collaborations
Davey Johnstone has worked with many incredible artists throughout his career.
With Elton John
- Madman Across the Water (1971)
- Honky Château (1972)
- Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player (1973)
- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)
- Caribou (1974)
- Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975)
- Rock of the Westies (1975)
- Blue Moves (1976)
- Too Low for Zero (1983)
- Breaking Hearts (1984)
- Ice on Fire (1985)
- Leather Jackets (1986)
- Reg Strikes Back (1988)
- Sleeping with the Past (1989)
- The One (1992)
- Made in England (1995)
- The Big Picture (1997)
- Songs from the West Coast (2001)
- Peachtree Road (2004)
- The Captain & the Kid (2006)
- Wonderful Crazy Night (2016)
Other Artists
Davey has also played on albums for many other famous musicians, including:
- Alice Cooper (on From the Inside and Flush the Fashion)
- Joan Armatrading (on Whatever's for Us)
- Eric Carmen
- Belinda Carlisle
- B.B. King
- Shaun Cassidy
- Ryan Malcolm
- Jimmy Webb
- Rick Astley
- Kiki Dee
- Brian Cadd
- Olivia Newton-John
- Bernie Taupin
- Rod Stewart
- Yvonne Elliman
- Vonda Shepard
- Leo Sayer
- Stevie Nicks (on Bella Donna and 24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault)
See also
- Gibson Flying V
