“It’s expected for me to be on the top of my game each and every time I strap on my guitar…It means making the sound the best it can be, it means doing everything you can do to make your audience remember you.  You do that by servicing the needs of the client, or entertaining your audience.  When you do this, you win!”

There must be something in the waters of Lake Michigan that permeates the bodies and souls of people in the Chicago area who pick up musical instruments.  It turns them into the talented musicians we see onstage at many of the concerts and festivals we attend.  For nearly eight years, Smoothviews has brought you On the Side, our feature that highlights the hardworking musicians who make up the band.  Each month we peek into their professional lives and allow you to get to know them a little and share their stories with you.  Now, for the 11th time, Smoothviews takes you to Chicago to introduce you to guitarist Gerey Johnson.

If you were on this year’s Smooth Jazz Cruise, if you attended this year’s Berks Jazz Festival, if you’ve attended a Sax Pack or a Brian Culbertson concert, you’ve seen guitarist Gerey Johnson in action.  He is just about everywhere these days.  Gerey is a proud native son of the Windy City and has been influenced by its rich musical heritage.  He does not come from a musical family, though his father dabbled in the saxophone a bit.  Young Gerry did not start out on the guitar; he was first drawn to the piano.  “As a child, I would bang around on any piano I could get next to.  I tried drums for about 15 minutes, and finally started the guitar in high school.”   He still “plays at” the keyboards, primarily when he is writing music, and also dabbles at the bass guitar.  But the guitar is his instrument of choice, and how he earns a living.  “Live performances are strictly guitar unless you’re looking for some comedy.” 

Gerey has been influenced by many musicians and names three guitarists in particular as his inspiration and motivation to keep him perfecting his craft in the early days: Buddy Fambro, Otha Smith, and Kevon Smith.  As he continued to explore his abilities, he listened to and was influenced by many of the  great players over the years including Herb Ellis & Barney Kessel, Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Pat Methany, Carlos Santana, and Jimi Hendrix; guitar legends all.  Even now, Gerey continues to interact and trade knowledge with his fellow guitar playing contemporaries.  “I learn something new every day.  I had an opportunity to work and become friends with Larry Coryell.   Phil Upchurch, Tony Maiden, Al McKay, Dwight Sills, Chuck Loeb, Marc Antoine…I can listen to these guys every day, and I do.”

Over the years, Gerey Johnson has had many careers, but he never strayed too far from his guitar.  He’s been a banker, an investment advisor, a night club owner and talent buyer for Chicago’s Jazz Bulls nightclub, a recording studio owner, and a record company executive for the A440 Music Group label, but there was always the guitar.  It’s been a constant in his life.    “When I got tired of all of the other stuff, guitar was the only skill set I had left.” He jokes.  If you believe in fate, you would say that this is the career path that Gerey was destined to follow; everything else was a stepping stone along the path intended for him.  “I’ve been able to use all of the experiences from all of my other ventures to use in my career as a guitarist.  I’m blessed that I’ve been able to do this…without people throwing fruit at me.”
Gerey is the founder of a local Chicago based band called Cool World, which he started years ago.  The band was named the area’s premier contemporary jazz and R&B band by Chicago Magazine. Even if you’ve never heard Cool World play, this honor should not surprise anyone considering the line-up: Steve Cole was a founding member, Clyde Davis (drummer, and featured in On the Side - 10/08,) Lamar Jones (bassist with Brian Culbertson,) and Mike Logan (keyboardist with Will Downing, and featured in On The Side – 6/06.)  Because of the obligations and careers of the various band members, Cool World does not get the opportunity to perform much together.  “That’s a wicked [friggin’] line-up.  How awesome that everyone from the original band is successful in the biz!”    He’s also leads another band called Sumo, described as an “acid jazz collective.”  Because he’s had so many incarnations, and has a great deal of understanding of what goes on from a back of the house perspective, as well as a performing perspective, I was curious what influence this had on his performing career.   “The primary constant through all of these things is recognizing everything is client/consumer driven.  It’s acknowledging that people have spent money to be entertained, and it’s my job to do so.  It means it’s expected for me to be on the top of my game each and every time I strap on my guitar.  It means performing songs that the audience wants to hear.  It means making the sound the best it can be.  It means doing everything you can do to make your audience remember you.  You do that by servicing the needs of the client or entertaining your audience.  When you do this…you win!”

Gerey is a funny guy with a self deprecating sense of humor.  (I laughed my way through most of his responses to my questions.)  He has an affinity for shoes and vintage Porches, but he’s happiest when playing his guitar.  “I get paid to play guitar for a living.  Much more fun than that and I would explode.”   He’s funny but he is serious about his work and his craft.  The fact that others take him seriously is a testament to the over 20 years he’s been a music professional.  As stated earlier, I’ve seen him play on the Smooth Jazz Cruise, The Sax Pack, and Brian Culbertson, but he’s played with many others in and out of the smooth jazz genre.  Boney James, George Duke, Warren Hill, Steve Cole, Down to the Bone, Michael Manson, Rick Braun, Paul Taylor, 480 East, Richard Elliott, Jeff Kashiwa, Jimmy Sommers, Nelson Rangell, Kirk Whalum, Rahsaan Patterson, and Brian Simpson.  Gerey has also played at the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards, and the American Smooth Jazz Awards.  And, he’s also played with Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, and Yolanda Adams and in a number of R&B, Hip-Hop, and rock bands.  When asked who he would like to someday perform with, the list runs the gamut: Taylor Swift, Santana, Gino Vanelli, the band Yes, and Seal, among others.

Gerey is the CEO of 215 West Media Group, which handles marketing, production, and artist branding and management services.  He is President of Gerey Johnson Entertainment and Mynanee Music Publishing.  He has written and/or produced music for Nelson Rangell, Jimmy Sommers, and Michael Manson.  He has produced music for Major League Baseball, Clear Channel Radio, Sony, Columbia, and BMG Music.  In addition, he is working on his own project, as well as producing a project for singer and saxophonist MarQueal Jordan, (who also plays with Brian Culbertson.)  And, as a result of their working together as a band on this year’s Smooth Jazz Cruise, Gerey will be working with fellow band mates Nathanial Kearney, Jr., Third Richardson, and Matt Rhode on an upcoming project.  “We had such a great time on the cruise, we feel we want to share it with fans.”  I can personally attest to how good they were together.  I was surprised to learn that it was their first time playing together as a band.  And finally, Gerey is involved with opening a new music venue in Chicago that “caters to grown people music.”  He didn’t share too many details since it’s a work in progress. 

Lately we’ve begun to ask our On The Side musicians what advice they would offer to up and coming musicians trying to make a career in this business.  Gerey offers a unique perspective from working both onstage and in many capacities behind the scenes, and offers this advice, (in typical Gerey Johnson fashion.)  “Run away.  Run away as fast as you can, particularly if you’re a guitar player because I’m not done yet!  But, realistically, learn as much as you can about the business.  Master your craft.  Figure out what you will and will not do.  Check your motivation on a regular basis.  Lastly, remember if people don’t like you, you might want to think about doing something else.  That’s all I got.”

Look for Gerey with Brian Culbertson and with the Sax Pack.  And when you don’t see him playing, chances are he’s writing or producing for someone, or working on opening his club.