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It is with great sorrow that I inform you all that Tommy Johnson passed away last night from complications related to kidney cancer, a battle that he has been waging for the last couple of months. He was my greatest mentor and know that he was the same for countless others, as evidenced by the touching tribute to him at this year's ITEC. My sincerest condolences go out to his incredible family. He will be sorely missed.

A Major Player in every sense of the phrase.

His family and friends will be in my prayers.

This is truly sad news.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Tommy and his family. He was truly a great man and a great musician. He will be missed!!

Wow, having a hard time processing this right now. How lucky we should all feel that someone like him chose to play the tuba.

Very sad...

...D

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Wow, what a sad bit of news. I was just thinking the other day that I needed to pick up the phone and give Mr. Johnson a call to say hello. I really wish I had done that now.

Rest in peace, Tommy Johnson. We'll miss you.

Rod

Wow,
and he played on the newest Weird Al Album that just came out. May he find peace.
Bill

Scott Sutherland wrote:It is with great sorrow that I inform you all that Tommy Johnson passed away last night

Thank you, Scott, for letting us know. There will be lots of saddened tuba players out there (and, of course, not just tuba players), and I'm one of them.

Rick "prayerful" Denney

Wow, that is tough news to take. It's amazing to think about the impact Tommy has made so many musicians in his career as a performer and teacher. He made me understand what it was like to be professional in every sense and truly gave me a new direction in my musical life. He will be missed.

Neil K

I'm stunned! Tommy was one of the most wonderful human beings I've known...and he just happened to play the tuba better than everyone else. I will miss him, but will always cherish my time studying with him and the enormous impact he made on me as a player and a person.

Rest in peace, Tommy and know that your legacy is timeless.

Heaven's orchestra has just received the Gabriel of the tuba.

I pulled out the cassette (that's an archaic audio storage medium many of you may not be familiar with) of music clips that TJ used at his masterclass at ASU almost twenty years ago. He blew us away then, and this tape is still kicking my ***. What a player, and just a mega-cool guy.

If there's a link to an obit that could be posted, that would be appreciated. I sincerely hope that TJ's family knows how much he meant, and how far his influence reaches. What a musician.

I'm gonna go dig out my well-worn copy of "Close Encounters" and the sound is gonna be cranked up tonight. Rest in peace, Mr. Johnson.

God bless this true master...

I am deeply saddened by the loss of this great man and artist. Tommy Johnson's sound is the best tuba sound EVER, in my opinion. He also had a real musical personality which brought so much to all the music he played. Even though I never studied with him, I feel as though his "essence" has been shared with all of us through his IMMENSE recording career.

We will all miss you.

C. Hall

If Tommy Johnson doesn't have a star on the "Hollywood Walk of Fame" he certainly deserves one. Wish that the TubeNet community could help make that happen.......

Dave

Tom Holtz wrote:I pulled out the cassette (that's an archaic audio storage medium many of you may not be familiar with) of music clips that TJ used at his masterclass at ASU almost twenty years ago. He blew us away then, and this tape is still kicking my ***. What a player, and just a mega-cool guy.

If there's a link to an obit that could be posted, that would be appreciated. I sincerely hope that TJ's family knows how much he meant, and how far his influence reaches. What a musician.

I'm gonna go dig out my well-worn copy of "Close Encounters" and the sound is gonna be cranked up tonight. Rest in peace, Mr. Johnson.

When I read the news in this thread (above) my memory immediately went back to that very same masterclass; as I read further along I see that Tom had the same recollection. I second his words. That class left an incredibly strong lasting impression in my memory.

I was lucky enough to play on a recital that he gave at ASU then; what an incredible person, who -- in addition to being a true master player -- was also so very willing to give his time and helpful insights to a very young player.

Mr Holtz also said it very well:

Tom Holtz wrote:I sincerely hope that TJ's family knows how much he meant, and how far his influence reaches.

He will be missed, I only wish that I had gotten to know him. I am still glad that I got to meet him once.

Rick Denney wrote:

Scott Sutherland wrote:It is with great sorrow that I inform you all that Tommy Johnson passed away last night

Thank you, Scott, for letting us know. There will be lots of saddened tuba players out there (and, of course, not just tuba players), and I'm one of them.

Rick "prayerful" Denney

I echo that sentiment.

Tom Holtz wrote: I'm gonna go dig out my well-worn copy of "Close Encounters" and the sound is gonna be cranked up tonight. Rest in peace, Mr. Johnson.

That sounds like a really great tribute.

Okay, gotta share this. JB will remember it. Comes from the aforementioned cassette that Tommy Johnson shared with us. It contains clips of stuff he'd recorded. I'll try to recall Mr. Johnson's back story on this clip...

"I got to the studio a bit early, as usual, brought my horn in and looked for my seat at the back of the setup. I had trouble finding it, and it took a few minutes to find the tuba part on a stand right in front of the conductor, with a great big mic over my chair. I took a look at the music, and saw some pretty high notes. I was a little concerned, because I'd only brought my big horn, but it went well, we got it in one take, and everyone went home happy."

Link: The first and final take.

We're not worthy. RIP, TJ.

JB wrote: -- in addition to being a true master player -- was also so very willing to give his time and helpful insights to a very young player.

Speaking of giving his time...back in '83 Jim Gavigan had him come in to Miraphone USA (when it was in California) to pick out a tuba for me. It turns out the original one that had been purchased for me (at the ITEC in DC) was sent back to CA and sold. When a new shipment came in that summer, Mr. Johnson tried them out on my behalf. And am I forever grateful. It is easily the best 188 I have ever played. Extremely easy to play. I still use it as my main horn to this day.

Thanks, Tommy. You and your family are in our thoughts.

Raul I. Rodriguez
Professor, Texas State