Arnold Johnson

Not to be confused with the actor of the same name who essayed the memorable title role in the 1969 film Putney Swope, this Arnold Johnson began his musical activities a bit more than a half-a-century earlier. At only 14-years-old, he was employed as a pianist in a Chinese restaurant, putting him much closer than usual to many musicians' favorite type of food on the road. Johnson studied at the Chicago Music College and the American Conservatory of Music, and landed his first job in a band courtesy of saxophonist Rudy Wiedoft. Following a brief hiatus attempting to cash in on ...