Plas Johnson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Plas Johnson
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| Birth name | Plas John Johnson, Jr. |
| Also known as | Johnny Beecher |
| Born | July 21, 1931 Donaldsonville, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Saxophone, piccolo, flute, clarinet |
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Plas John Johnson Jr. (born July 21, 1931) is a famous American musician. He is best known for playing the tenor saxophone and for his amazing solo on Henry Mancini’s "The Pink Panther Theme". He also plays other instruments like the alto and baritone saxophones, as well as flutes and clarinets.
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Plas Johnson's Musical Journey
Plas Johnson was born in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, in the United States. He first sang with his family's music group. Later, his dad, who was also a saxophonist, bought him a soprano saxophone. Plas mostly taught himself how to play. Soon, he started playing the alto saxophone and then the tenor saxophone.
In the late 1940s, Plas and his brother Ray, who played piano, made their first recordings in New Orleans. Plas then toured with the R&B singer Charles Brown in 1951. After serving in the army, he and his brother moved to Los Angeles in 1954. There, Plas quickly became a full-time musician, playing on many recording sessions. He played with famous artists like B.B. King and Johnny Otis.
A Top Session Musician
In the mid-1950s, Plas joined Capitol Records. He played on countless records for stars like Peggy Lee, Nat "King" Cole, and Frank Sinatra. For nearly 20 years, he was one of the busiest session musicians. This meant he played on many different types of recordings, from movie soundtracks to rock and roll songs. He played on records by Ricky Nelson and Bobby Vee, and R&B artists like Larry Williams.
Plas also played on many Beach Boys’ records. He was part of several music groups that were just names for records, like B. Bumble and the Stingers and The Marketts. Unlike many musicians who played in the background, Plas became well-known by name. For a while, he also used the name Johnny Beecher for some recordings.
The Pink Panther Theme
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Plas was a regular musician in Henry Mancini's studio band. In 1963, he recorded the famous "The Pink Panther Theme". Mancini wrote this song with Plas's saxophone sound in mind.
Plas remembered that they only recorded the song a couple of times. He said, "When we finished, everyone applauded -- even the string players. And that's saying something... They never applaud for anything." This shows how special his performance was!
Later Years and Festivals
In 1970, Plas joined the band for Merv Griffin Show, a popular TV show. He also played with many jazz and swing bands. He recorded for labels like Concord and toured with the Gene Harris Superband in 1990. Plas has performed at many jazz festivals, sharing his amazing music with audiences around the world.
Plas Johnson's Music Albums
Plas Johnson has released many albums as a leader and has played on countless others as a sideman.
As a Leader or Co-Leader
- Plas Johnson (Tampa, 1956)
- Rockin' with Plas: The Capitol Singles (Capitol, 1982)
- This Must Be the Plas (Capitol, 1959)
- Mood for the Blues (Capitol, 1961)
- The Blues (Concord Jazz, 1975)
- Positively (Concord Jazz, 1976)
- L.A. '55 (Carell Music, 1983)
- On the Trail! (Gemini, 1993)
- Hot, Blue and Saxy (Carell Music, 1992)
- Evening Delight (Carell Music, 1999)
- Christmas in Hollywood (Carell Music, 2000)
- Keep That Groove Going! (Milestone, 2001)
- All Blues (Mojo [Japan], 2008)
As Johnny Beecher
- Sax 5th Ave. (CRC Charter, 1962)
- On the Scene (CRC Charter, 1962)
Playing with Other Artists (Sideman)
Plas Johnson has played with many famous musicians. Here are just a few:
