Burleigh "Buck" Johnson is an American musician performing as keyboardist, backing vocalist and acoustic guitarist with the rock band Aerosmith,[1] Hollywood Vampires (Johnny Depp, Alice Cooper, Joe Perry), Steven Tyler, The Joe Perry Project, Brother Cane and Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band. He was co-vocalist, co-guitarist and keyboardist for the country music group Whiskey Falls (Midas Records). Johnson released his self produced album "Tongue And Groove" September 20, 2024 on Rosepony Records - https://onerpm.link/907678431986 He has had songs placed in television, film and recorded by other artists including "Just Feel Better" by Carlos Santana, featuring Steven Tyler on lead vocals. [2]
Buck Johnson | |
|---|---|
 Johnson in 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Burleigh Johnson |
| Born | Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1990–present |
| Member of | |
| Formerly of | Whiskey Falls |
Biography
editJohnson was raised outside of Birmingham, Alabama, in a town called Shady Grove. He began performing at an early age, singing gospel music with his family throughout the South. While attending Birmingham-Southern College, Buck met his wife, Kym, and they relocated to Los Angeles, California.[3]
In Los Angeles, Johnson toured and recorded with such acts as The Doobie Brothers, Chris Stills, Tal Bachman, John Waite, Matthew Sweet, Shawn Mullins, The Thorns, and Timothy B. Schmit (The Eagles). He has worked as a songwriting collaborator, session vocalist and musician with songwriter/producers Jamie Houston (Carlos Santana, Jon McLaughlan) and Charlie Midnight (The Doobie Brothers).[4]
As a songwriter, Johnson co-wrote the song "Just Feel Better" with Jamie Houston and Damon Johnson for Carlos Santana on his 2005 album All That I Am, featuring Steven Tyler on lead vocals.[3]
In 2006, Buck joined the country rock band Whiskey Falls as a principal songwriter, co-vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, and moved to Nashville, Tennessee. Whiskey Falls released their self-titled album on Midas Records in 2007, earning two Country Top 40 hit singles, "Last Train Running" and "Falling Into You."[3]
In 2014, Johnson was asked to join Aerosmith on their European and North American tours on keyboard, acoustic guitarist and backing vocals. Of Johnson's inclusion into the band, Steven Tyler commented, "Buck Johnson came in out of the blue and purely by chance to our Aerosmith family, and we feel we really won the lottery. Big. Turns out he's much, much more than just a guy to sing harmony with. He plays slammin' guitar and is out of this world on anything keys. He's a true all-around talent, a huge asset to me and Aerosmith and also a great human being and friend."[5][6]
In 2016, Johnson was asked to play keyboards and sing backing vocals on the Whitford-St. Holmes album, Reunion (2016). The group toured that year, opening for British hard rock band Whitesnake.
Johnson recorded keyboards on Joe Perry's album Sweetzerland Manifesto (2018), and continues to actively tour with Perry, Hollywood Vampires, and Aerosmith as keyboardist, acoustic guitarist and backing vocalist.[7][8] Johnson has toured with Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band substituting Edgar Winter during 2024.[9]
Solo Albums & Singles
edit| Year | Album / Track | Artist | Label | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Enjoying The Ride | Buck Johnson | Spectra Music Group | Artist, Composer, Piano, Acoustic Guitar, Organ, Co-Producer and Engineer |
Guest appearances
edit| Year | Album / Track | Artist | Label | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Road | Alice Cooper | earMusic | Keyboards |
| 2019 | Rise | Hollywood Vampires | earMusic | Keyboards, Piano, Vocals, Harpsichord, Acoustic Guitar |
| 2018 | Sweetzerland Manifesto | Joe Perry | Keyboards | |
| 2016 | Reunion | Whitford-St.Holmes | Mailboat Records | Keyboards, Backing Vocals |
| 2015 | Rocks Donington 2015 (LIVE DVD/CD) | Aerosmith | Keyboards, Backing Vocals | |
| 2009 | "You Came Along" (featured in Lifetime Network movie "Flying By") | Billy Ray Cyrus | Composer, Producer | |
| 2007 | Whiskey Falls | Whiskey Falls | Midas Records | Composer, Keyboards, Vocals, Producer |
| 2007, 2005 | "Just Feel Better" | Carlos Santana | Arista | Composer |
| 2007 | Indiana | Jon McLaughlan | Island | B-3 Organ, Backing Vocals |
| 2007 | High School Musical 2 | - | Disney | Keyboards |
| 2007 | Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus | - | Disney | Keyboards, Programming |
| 2007 | Everlife: "Daring To Be Different" | - | Disney | Keys, String Arrangements |
| 2006 | High School Musical | - | Disney | Keyboards, Programming, String Arrangements |
| 2006, 2005 | "Pop Star" | Aaron Carter | Jive Records, Madacy Records | Keyboards, Backing Vocals |
| 2003 | "One Better" | Aaron Carter | Jive Records | Keyboards, Backing Vocals |
| 2003 | The Flash Express | The Flash Express | Hit It Now Records | Organ |
| 2003 | The Cheetah Girls | - | Disney | Keyboards |
| 2002 | "All I Want For Christmas" (Classic Rock Christmas) | John Waite | Sanctuary Records | Keyboards |
| 2002 | "Over Easy" | O-Town | J Records | Keyboards |
| 2000 | Time Capsule-Best of Matthew Sweet | Matthew Sweet | Volcano 3 | Organ |
| 2000 | Dirty Velvet Lie | Laura Satterfield | Keyboards | |
| 2000 | Stories From The Bluebus | Jill Cohn | Keyboards | |
| 1999 | Tal Bachman | Tal Bachman | Columbia Records | Keyboards, Backing Vocals |
| 1996 | Rockin' Down The Highway: The Wildlife Concert | The Doobie Brothers | Sony | Backing vocals |
References
edit- ^ "Touring with Aerosmith, new solo CD have Alabama's Buck Johnson living rock-star dream - Alabama NewsCenter". Alabama NewsCenter. July 8, 2016. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
- ^ "Aerosmith's secret weapon: Alabama native on tour with rock legends". AL.com. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
- ^ a b c "Touring with Aerosmith, new solo CD have Alabama's Buck Johnson living rock-star dream - Alabama NewsCenter". Alabama NewsCenter. July 8, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
- ^ "We3Kings Music - Song Writing, Music Production, Artist & Brand Development". we3kings.com. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
- ^ "Aerosmith's secret weapon: Alabama native on tour with rock legends". AL.com. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
- ^ "Aerosmith Still Living on the Edge at the Forum: Concert Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
- ^ "Hollywood Vampires unveil band line-up for UK tour". Planet Rock. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
- ^ "Johnny Depp, Alice Cooper & Joe Perry Take Fans Behind the Scenes of Hollywood Vampires Tour: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
- ^ "Ringo Starr supera todas las adversidades y cumple su cita en México". LA Times (in Spanish). Associated Press. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- ^ "Buck Johnson | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved July 12, 2018.