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I have been playing flute and saxophone since 1968 when upon falling in love with the group Traffic I just had to buy a flute. I taught myself how to play and read music and six years later went through the music program at the College of Marin. Attending the Ali Akbar Khan school of Indian music for a year was a life changing experience for me. Since then I have had a variety of musical experiences; singing Beethoven's 9th, playing with a punk rock band, big band, Latin bands, leading my own group, and playing with Johnny Tolbert and de Thangs for the last 10 years.
I continue to support myself today by playing music, repairing flutes, saxophones and clarinets in my own shop, teaching and painting, and through the grace of God will continue to do so for many years to come.
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Having been a musician for seven years, my curiosity got the better of me. 30 years ago I received my first set of flute pads from George Koregelos at the House of Woodwinds, and some advice on how to do a repad. Sitting at my kitchen table it took three days to complete the work. It played! Not as great as could be but not bad for the first time out. I decided to get into repair seriously a year later for 2 reasons:
- I wanted to really know how to fix a sax or flute properly
- I wanted to be in the music business, and play the music I wanted to without compromising my sense of musical integrity...
I served a year and half apprenticeship at Marin Woodwinds
with Mike Irwin, worked for myself for 10 years, spent 15
years at Best Instrument Repair in Oakland with Dick Akright,
and am now self-employed again.
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I have been playing with Johnny Tolbert and De Thangs for
12 years. As
you can see from his bio he is the last of the real black
bluesmaen and
he is the real thing. This band is tight and ready.
Legendary Blues Guitarist
Johnny Tolbert
P.O. Box 3846, Berkeley Ca 94703
510-843-8132
Those who know Rhthym and Blues music history agree that
Johnny Tolbert is one of the most influential and innovative
musicians on the scene today. Tolbert has toured as guitarist
and musical director with musical giants Sam Cooke, Etta
James, Little Willie John, and Aretha Franklin. In 1991
he completed and extended road tour as lead guitarist for
the great Bobby"Blue" Bland.
Born in Kilgore, Texas, Johnny grew up in a gospel family,
his
grandmother and father
being ministers. Though Gospel and Country &Western
were the major
musical influences
of his chidhood, Johnny was exposed to Blues and Jazz in
a big way after
his family
moved to Oakland California in the late fifties. His early
performances
included church
events, talent shows and high school dances.
Johnny served a long apprenticeship with Blues legend T.
Bone Walker and
also played
with Country legend Tex Ritter. Tolbert's impressive talents
caught the
attention of the
late, renowned rock impressario Bill Graham, Johnny soon
became one of
the first East
Bay musicians chosen by Graham to work at Fillmore West.
Johnny also put together his band "De Thangs".
The group proved to be
both a solid
headliner and a versatile backup band. De Thangs toured
with Jackie
Wilson, Marvin
Gaye, Otis Redding, James Brown, Chuck Berry and Jefferson
Starship, all
with San
Francisco Promotor Bill Graham.
He wrote and produced the debut recording of soul star
Joe Simon and
work with Big
Mama Thorton as guitarist and arranger on "Chaffeur
Blues" and "Ball
and Chain".
His career and creativity are now in full stride, and his
achievments as
a guitarist, poet,
composer and song stylist have been a source of inspiration
for
countless musicians and
entertainers. Johnny Tolbert is truly one of Oakland's
and The United
States' unique
musical treasures.
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