 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
Phil Johnson
Phil's interest in traditional music was spawned in the ethereal blue glow of the family television set where, as a child, he spent many hours watching the likes of Gene Autry, Roy Rodgers, Tex, Rex and Cisco tame the "Wild West" and charm the heart of many a maiden with nothing more than a six shooter and a song. "That's for me," he thought.
Phil never took up the six shooter but he did manage to teach himself to play guitar. By the Summer of 1967 he had mastered all three chords and was suspecting that there were many more when he embarked on his "40 days in the wilderness" quest for self discovery. He ended up in Nashville, Tennessee in the Fall of '68 and became a regular member of The Grand Ole Opry audience every chance he got.
Sensing an urgent need to further his education he migrated back to Los Angeles to study drama at the alma mater of James Dean, Santa Monica City College. It was here that he met Gaye, a budding actress of considerable talent. Phil's initial encounter with his future wife was as a "follow spot" lighting technician. His instructions were to "Keep the spotlight on the woman in the safari outfit ." That woman was Gaye and Phil has been trying to follow those instructions ever since.
