About Alphonso Johnson

Bassist & Vocals

Alphonso Johnson is an iconic musician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania whose contributions with the electric bass set the landscape of music to come. As Weather Report’s bassist, Johnson’s warm tone and fluent chops contributed to the band’s initial breakout from avant-garde into funk fusion. His playing was featured on the songs “Mysterious Traveler”, “Scarlet Woman”, and “Cucumber Slumber” which he co-wrote. Alphonso played with the group Santana and also toured with saxophonist Wayne Shorter, pianist James Beard, drummer Rodney Holmes, and guitarist David Gilmore playing S.R.O. shows that stretched across Europe and Japan. Johnson has taught all over the world and in 2004 was appointed Adjunct Professor of Music at the University of Southern California and Part-Time Lecturer at The California Institute of The Arts.

I first began composing after watching the girls in my neighborhood playing jumprope. From the rhythms created by the rope hitting the ground, and the sound of the feet pounding the pavement to avoid getting tangled up in the rope as it swung below and above their heads. I felt an absolute sense of melody connection with the visual imagery. This childhood experience would lay the foundation for what would become a very complex journey in my musical future.

In addition to my urban music experiences, I also have a substantial background of performance and music-related employment. As a student at The Edwin H. Vare Junior High School in South Philadelphia, I found myself under the guidance of Dr. George Allen who made sure that everyone would get the necessary academic basic understanding of harmony and theory. But even more important, he would instill in every member of the school orchestra the importance of understanding why we were playing music and how each composition was created by the composer for a specific reason to move the listeners.


Embamba Music Productions -  Alphonso Johnson Bassist and vocals biography
Alphonso Johnson discography and collaborations - metaphor cd cover
Alphonso Johnson 2014 Senior Recital

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After graduating from junior high school I attended The Edward W. Bok Technical High School which did not have a music program. Since all of my older brothers were alumni of the school, I decided to follow in their footsteps and study woodworking and cabinetmaking as a trade. My parents wanted me to have a skill that would allow me to get a job and have a way to support myself financially, but I still felt the pull of music. I would attend school during the daytime and after finishing my homework, I would get permission from my parents to play at some neighborhood house parties. Sometime I would play bass along with recordings while my friends danced, and on the rare occasion a drummer and guitarist would show up and we would make up songs on the spot. I didn’t realize this at the time but this experience would be one reason why I’m still alive today. Playing music kept me involved in creating something positive that made so many people happy, and the alternative facing me and many of my friends which were the street gangs that were eager to recruit new members.

After graduating from high school, I landed a job with singer Ronnie Dyson and at that time I was earning almost as much every week as my parents. Having financial freedom and independence at such a young age allowed me to take certain chances not normally afforded to a young African-American. I was able to take private music lesson with Mr. John Lamb who was the bassist with The Duke Ellington Orchestra. It was during my time studying with Mr. Lamb that I began to understand the importance of having a good teacher, and how to spark the curiosity of a student so they are encouraged to learn how to explore and discover the importance of music as an art form.

During my time in Philadelphia I had the privilege of playing music with such local legends as Eddie Green (keyboards), Sherman Ferguson (drums), Morris Bailey (saxophone) and vocalist Billy Paul (recorded “Me and Mrs. Jones”). These musicians encouraged me to always take the music as far as humanly possible no matter what the odds were. After traveling and performing music from 1968 - 2005, and having raised three children while living in Los Angeles, I decided that it was time for me to return to my academic studies and get my degree in music education. I was able to stay in town and integrate myself into the studio recording scene so I could afford my college education. In 2014 I graduated from The California State University, Northridge with my Bachelors of Arts Degree in Music Education.

All of these experiences have given me the life skills of survival, determination, time management, and how to appreciate living in the moment. It is my goal to incorporate these skills into my music and pass this onto my students


Alphonso Johnson Gallery


Alphonso Johnson Discography

Alphonso Johnson Moonshadows CD Cover

Moonshadows - (1976)

CBS/Epic Records

Alphonso Johnson Yesterday’s Dreams CD cover

Yesterday’s Dreams - (1976)

CBS/Epic Records

Alphonso Johnson Spellbound CD cover

Spellbound - (1977)

CBS/Epic Records

Alphonso Johnson Metaphor CD cover

Metaphors - (2018)

CD Baby, iTunes, Amazon

Abraxas Pool

“Abraxas Pool” (1997)
Miramar Records

Allan Holdsworth

“Velvet Darkness” (1976)
CTI Records

Airto Moreira

“Touching You, Touching Me” (1979)
Warner Brothers

Azure McCall

“The Gift” (2003)
Muse FX Records

Bob James

“Heads” (1977)
Tappan Zee Records

Bob Weir

“Bobby and the Midnights” (1981)
Arista/Columbia Records

Bob Weir

“Where the Beat Meets the Street” (1984)
Columbia Records

Cannonball Adderley

“Lovers” (1975)
Fantasy Records

Carl Anderson

“Fantasy Hotel” (1992)
GRP Records

Carlos Santana

“Freedom” (1987)
Columbia Records

Catalyst

“Catalyst” (1981)
Muse Records

Chet Baker

“You Can’t Go Home Again” (1977)
Horizon Records

Chuck Mangione

“Land of Make Believe” (1973)
Mercury Records

Cobham/Duke Band

“Live on Tour in Europe” (1999)
Atlantic Records

Cobham/Duke Band

“Alivemotherforya” (1978)
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Crusaders

“Rhapsody & Blues” (1980)
MCA Records

Crusaders

“Streetlife” (1979)br> MCA Records

Crusaders - -

“Live in Japan” (1993)
GRP Records

Dee Dee Bridgewater

“Just Family” (1977)
Electra Records

Didier Lockwood

“The Kid” (2000)
Amazon, iTunes, Apple Music

Eddie Henderson

“Sunburst” (1975)
Blue Note Records

Eric Gale

“Multiplication” (1977)
AAmazon, iTunes, Apple Music

Fantasia

“Back To Me” (2010)
J Records

Flora Purim

“Open Your Eyes You Can Fly” (1976)
Milestone Records

Flora Purim

“Encounter” (1977)
Amazon, iTunes, Apple Music

George Cables

“Shared Secrets” - (2001)
Muse FX Records

George Duke

“The Aura Will Prevail” (1975)
Amazon, iTunes, Apple Music

Geraldo Azevedo

“Hoje e Amanha” (2000)
Amazon, iTunes, Apple Music

Gregg Rolie

“Roots” (2001)
33rd Street Music

Jeff Linsky

“Simpatico” (1991)
GSP Records

Jeffrey Osborne

“Stay With Me Tonight” (1983)
A&M Records

John McLaughlin

“Electric Guitarist” (1978)
Columbia Records

Kevyn Lettau

“Universal Language” (1995)
JVC Records

Lee Ritenour

“Captain Fingers” (1977)
CBS/Epic Records

Leon “Ndugu” Chancler

“Old Friends/New Friends” (1989)
MCA Records

Michael Walden

“Sending Love” (1995)
Walden Records

Michael O’Neil

“Never Too Late” (2000)
Amazon, iTunes, Apple Music

Montreux Summit

“Montreux Summit Volume 1” (1977)
CBS Records

Neal Schon

“Electric World” (1997)
Higher Octave Music

Neal Schon

“Beyond The Thunder” (1995)
Higher Octave Music

Phil Collins

“Face Value” (1981)
Virgin Atlantic Records

Pino Daniele

“Bella M’Briana” (1982)
Amazon, iTunes, Apple Music

Quincy Jones

“I Heard That” (1976)
A&M Records

Richard Silveira

“Storyteller” (1995)
Kokopelli Records

Robertinho Silva

“Bodas de Plata” (1989)
Discos CBS

Robbie Krieger

“Cinematix” (2000)
Stress Records

Rod Argent

“Moving Home” (1978)
MCA Records

Ronnie Foster

“Love Satellite” (1978)
Columbia Records/p>

Santana

“Beyond Appearances” (1985)
Columbia Records

Santana

“Spirits Dancing in the Flesh” (1990)
Columbia Records

Sarah Vaughan

“Brazilian Love Affair” (1987)
Columbia Records

Sergio Mendes

“Bom Tempo” (2010)
Concord Records

Sergio Mendes

“Timeless” (2006)
Concord Records

Stanley Clarke

“Hideaway” (1986)
Epic Records

Steve Hackett

“Genesis Revisited” (1996)
Camino Records

The Whispers

“Open Up Your Love” (1977)
Soul Train Records

Tom Coster

“Gotcha” (1992)
JVC Records

Weather Report

“Tale Spinning” (1975)
Columbia Records

Weather Report

“Black Market” (1976)
Columbia Records

Weather Report

“Mysterious Traveller” (1974)
Columbia Records

Wayne Shorter

“Phantom Navigator” (1987)
CBS Records

Woody Herman and The Young Thundering Herd

“The Raven Speaks” - (1972)
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