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Today's Featured Biography

Jim Johnson

After PHS, I attended NIU on a talented student scholarship, majoring in saxophone performance, and expanding on my work in jazz band as a lead player/soloist/composer. After NIU I helped form an original jazz-rock-fusion band (Raw Dog), and began to perform as a keyboard musician as well as a woodwind musician. By 1976, and having limited success, I accepted a position with a show band (Mariah) that traveled the eastern half of the US. Early 1977 I was hired by 'Rick Saucedo and the Fabulous Ambassadors'(Chicago Elvis tribute artist "ETA" and oldies band) as a replacement sax player, but quickly began assuming keyboard chores as well. The real Elvis passed away August 1977, and by January 78 we were on Broadway (Palace Theater-Times Square)performing "Elvis the Legend Lives". The show moved to Las Vegas that July at the Stardust. In 1987 we began the "Elvis Birthday Tribute Show" at one venue, the Holiday Star Theater in Merrillville, Indiana. This January will mark the 21st year of the show which has expanded to most of the month of January in several cities. I've traveled much of the US playing Elvis shows, as well as abroad. I just returned from Santiago, Chile in August where we performed to a sellout crowd of 12,000. Currently I work with Shawn Klush, winner of the 1st Ultimate Elvis contest (Elvis Presley Enterprises), and winner of BBC's (England) worldwide contest. I have performed with almost all of Elvis' own musicians (some for 30 years), and also freelance much as a sideman ( have played for Chuck Berry, Del Shannon, Leslie Gore, Lou Christie, the Coasters, Ray Price and Otis Day {Animal House}). I've been involved with the wedding band circuit,as a sideman and as a leader. I was also one of the original members of a 60's brit-rock garage band (the New Invaders). In 1996, I became lead sax player of the Alan Gresik Swing Shift Orchestra, an authentic 30's style swing band. The band performs an old-time radio show thursdays at the Green Mill jazz club in uptown, and has been steady for 9 years. In 1999 the Orchestra (with me) appeared in the MGM movie "Return to Me", and has also been featured on local Chicago programs and newscasts.
I married Jean Knecthel (PHS class of 1971) in August 1984, and we moved to our house in Prospect Meadows in 1986 where we still live. Jean was a clarinet player in Prospect's bands, and we both are long time members of the Mount Prospect Community Band that performs free concerts in the summer on Mondays at the bandshell in Lion's Park. We have 1 son, Kyle, who graduated from PHS this last June. Kyle was a member of Prospect Marching Knights Drumline (tenor captain), and set drummer for the jazz band. Kyle now is attending Illinois State U on scholarship as a percussion major. He has developed considerable skills on the Marimba thru high school (we have one at home). You would think all we do here is music!!! However, I've always been interested in electronics. I have held an amateur radio license many years, and returned to Harper College in 1986, where I completed an associates degree in electronics technology. I also have worked for RadioShack for almost 24 years, much of it part time as I go out of town frequently to play gigs, but I did spend a year as a store manager in 1984-5.
Well that's pretty much the nuts and bolts of my story. I feel that I've been rather fortunate to do what I do and hope to keep doing it for years to come.

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