Belle Vernon High School Alumni
Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania (PA)
Thom Johnson
Belle Vernon High School
Class of 1975
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THOM'S PROFILE
| First Name | Thom |
| Last Name | Johnson |
| Graduation Year | Class of 1975 |
| Gender | Male |
| Hometown | Fayette City, Pennsylvania |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| About Me | Keyboardist / vocalist / song writer. Over 40 years in the Music Industry Began life as a piano player at age 6 started taking lessons from Joe Bell, by age 11 I was playing the Warsaw Concerto from memory. I then began taking lessons on organ and piano from Ed Sedlar. I use to think that 2 hours a day practicing while my friends were all outside was a waste of time and energy. Only to prove me wrong, as the band offers started rolling in, but not as a keyboardist, but as a bass guitarist. I learned to play bass on my own as it was cheaper and easier to transport than an old upright or a Conn organ. My career as a musician had just started. My parents noticing the waste of talent of me playing a bass, rushed out and bought me a Farfisa double manual organ and a set of Moog bass pedals. Immediately I was offered a job with an oldies band, Bill Cornell and the Prophets. This actually put money in my pocket 3 nights a week and my parents were more than willing to take me and pick me up at the jobs. Now that was true dedication on my parents part, my dad worked shifts in the steel mill so mom sometimes had to pick me up at between 2 and 3am. I have been on the road numerous times with numerous bands. Have played with a lot of heavy hitters before they were known when I lived in California, back in the late 70s early 80s. Once home and broke as most of us were back then, I formed a band called Sudden Darkness and was picked up by an agent from England named, Berny Beezy, she was a total trip. She managed me and a local band, Arnie and the Country Classics, which was a Elvis tribute band. She hooked myself and a very good friend of mine Sam Pierce up with Arnie and it was a very short lived experience. My best memories with them was playing the State Music Hall and meeting Marty Robins. Berny also hooked up Sudden Darkness with a British rocker, Pete Stephens, who at the time had a record in the top 20 in England. She brought him to America and wanted our band to back him up. Pete came out and jammed with us at the old "Stone Castle" on Rt. 51. We have a recording of that night somewhere on 4 track, I think Rich Krivda still has it. We turned down back...(read more) |
Class of 1975 Alumni and Other Nearby Classes
→ Reunite with 28 class of 1975 alumni that have joined.
Sam Wells Jr
Class of 1972
Kiyosei Chihara
Class of 1991
Renee Johnston
Class of 1989
James Lawson
Class of 1988
Renee Cummings
Class of 1973
Laurie Marchewka
Class of 1978
Anita Papa-lopez
Class of 1984
Jim Pearce
Class of 1975
Gene Perrotto
Class of 1981
Justin Baker
Class of 1998
Shelley Samoda
Class of 1993
Renee Mazza
Class of 1991
Kristina Lazzari
Class of 2001
Thomas Augustine
Class of 1966
James Shephard
Class of 1947
Duane Cahill
Class of 1980
Emily Crookham
Class of 2004
Angela Kobal
Class of 2000
Recent Class of 1975 Reunions
Plan a Class of 1975 Reunion for Free
RETRO RETREAT for BVA Class Reunions
Invited Classes: All Classes
Description: This 3 Bedroom, 2 1/2 Bath Nostalgic Guesthouse is perfect for out of town friends or relatives in town for a Class Reun...(read more)