King Johnson Biography

King Johnson brings you funky roots music from Atlanta, GA. The band's organic mix of New Orleans funk, blues, jazz, latin and rock styles make for a unique sound often hard to categorize. Crowds of all ages love the butt-shakin' grooves, catchy songs and extended improvisations of King Johnson. Voted Atlanta's best band in the "blues" category for half of a decade, King Johnson is praised by the Creative Loafing Magazine for "incorporating hook-heavy writing and facile playing with New Orleans brass funk and jazz." It's swampy, greasy, jazzy, spontaneous, loose and tight all at the same time.

Since releasing their first CD "Cats & Dogs" in 1995, the band has toured throughout the Southeast, playing clubs, colleges, theaters and festivals. They've shared stages with the funkyMeters, Tinsley Ellis, Toni Price, Derek Trucks, Walter "Wolfman" Washington, Government Mule, Col. Bruce Hampton (Ret.), Blueground Undergrass, Jimmy Vaughan, Bernie Worrell, Delbert McClinton, Chubby Carrier, Johnny Winter, Francine Reed, Medeski Martin & Wood, Dr. John, Tommy Malone, Merl Saunders, Carl Weathersby, Mofro, Mothers Finest, Doogie Phi, Morris Day & The Time, and most recently, Delta Moon. All four CDs, "Cat's & Dogs," the self-titled "King Johnson," "Luck So Strange" and the newest, "Hot Fish Laundry Mat," have received airplay. [ more ]

Oliver Wood (guitar/vocals) brother of Chris Wood (Medeski, Martin & Wood), has previously toured with Telarc Records recording artist Tinsley Ellis and was featured prominently on Tinsley's acclaimed "Storm Warning" CD.

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Chris Long (bass/vocals) has written for such major artists as Delbert McClinton, Tinsley Ellis and Francine Reed. His song "Devil for a Dime" was placed in a Fox television series. View CL's Artworks

Adam Mewherter (trombone/tuba/cornet) is a slide trombonist with a tuba toting, alter ego (mrlee.com) and joined King Johnson in January of 1997. [Website NEW!]

Chris Uhler

(congas/percussion) studied with renowned percussionist Count M'Butu and has toured extensively with Danny "Mudcat" Dudeck.

North Carolina mountain boy Marcus James (sax/clarinet/flute/
fife/vocals) has played with everyone from Steve Allen to Ringling Brothers.

Greg Baba (drums/percussion) studied drums in New Orleans with Crescent City drum master Johnny Vidakovich. He has since played with several regional acts including the Urban Shakedancers.

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