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.
Valerie Nicknadarvich
Class of 1971
Richard Gillock
Class of 1974
Leeann Nicolaus
Class of 1981
Diane Smith
Class of 1975
Kristina Lazzari
Class of 2001
Joey Mossor
Class of 2004
Robert Miele
Class of 2006
Darla Hamer
Class of 1986
Joe Lombardo
Class of 2000
Michael Morgan
Class of 1978
Renee Mazza
Class of 1991
Roberta Mc Crory
Class of 1955
Joseph Smith
Class of 1965
Debra Roberts
Class of 1969
Kahina Rekouche
Class of 1988
Gerald Neth
Class of 1994
Jeff Hutsenpiller
Class of 1990
Patricia Rhodes
Class of 1964
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)