MAURICE
JOHNSON BIOGRAPHY
Born 1959 in Milwaukee Wisconsin, Maurice Johnson
was introduced to the guitar at age fifteen when his older brother,
David bought his first guitar and paid for lessons. For the most part
a self-taught musician listening to the likes of George Benson and Wes
Montgomery, Maurice’s keen ear, sense of timing and natural aptitude
for jazz hardly went unnoticed by more traditionally trained musicians
and intermittent guitar teachers who would often ask the youthful guitarist
to teach them a new lick or technique.
In
the mid 80’s he formed his own band calling them selves After Five Jazz and in 1992 signed to independent New York label, Warlock
Records with the release of their Expressions
CD.
In this recording debut Maurice demonstrates a remarkable sense of melody
with his tasteful and emotional ballad, Soft
Notes along with two more original cuts, Some Kind of Lady
and When
You’re Gone.
Their striking performances and masterful musicianship never went unnoticed.
Maurice and the After Five band were later featured on BET Network’s, Jazz Central and shared the stage with a growing list of greats including
George Benson, Stanley Banks, George Howard, Norman Brown, Nancy Wilson,
Al Green, Alex Bungon, Stanley Turrentine, Little Melton, Mary Wright,
Ronny Laws, Lala Hathaway, Jennifer Holiday, Freddy Jackson, Terry Lynn
Carrington, Tom Rotella, Larry Coryell, Barney Kessel and a host of
others.
As
the early 90’s unfolded, Maurice found himself at the helm of a unique
industry as co-founder of D’Leco Acoustic Instruments, a small guitar
company in Oklahoma City with luthier, partner James W. Dale. The two built and
marketed handcrafted arch top Jazz guitars. A unique twist of fate and
by virtue of a mutual acquaintance the two were introduced triggering
a historic chain of events. After a chance encounter with the daughter
of legendary Jazz great, Charlie Christian they designed and licensed
two exclusive lines of Charlie Christian guitars to American
manufacturer, Gibson Guitars and Samick Musical Instruments in Korea.
It
wasn’t until 1996 when Maurice published his first book, The New! Working Musician’s One Organizer with Mel Bay Publications. This was a pivotal point, and for a time would
redefine Maurice’s direction and focus.
In
1999 his second book, Build and
Manage Your Music Career was published with Mix
Books and was later re-released with Artistpro
Press in 2000.
Maurice’s
experience, insight and goals as a bandleader inspired him to further
still undertake a personal and painstaking endeavor to develop Gigorama, the popular Windows
software program designed to aid musicians and performing artists manage
their own entertainment careers.
In 2003 Maurice would write a third book titled after his software,
Gigorama, the Complete Management Software for Musicians, also under the Artistpro
imprint.
The Musician’s Tour Planner
also released in 2003 marks the fourth title among an increasing lineup
of Maurice Johnson books designed to empower musicians.
Refusing
to call himself a writer, teacher or anything beyond the scope of an
average individual, Maurice Johnson in a natural sense seems to stay
several steps ahead in an industry that often tends to lag at best when
it comes to innovative and ambitious motivation focused toward the betterment
of musicians and music career hopefuls everywhere.
His
experiences as a phenomenal jazz guitarist, author, entrepreneur and
motivationalist have taken him in many varied and exciting directions
and remain unparallel by his peers.
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