"Eric Johnson was dismissed from a recording session because he was unable to produce an effective lead line"
In the formative years of his career, renowned guitarist Eric Johnson faced challenges during a session with a famous country singer. The producer, seeking something more complex than simple chords, requested Johnson to add a unique touch to the music. However, the piano player's fills between vocals left little room for Johnson to creatively contribute[1].
The limited time and the need to learn every single lick that the piano player did proved to be insurmountable challenges for Johnson. As a result, he was ultimately fired from the gig[1]. This incident, though a setback at the time, appears to have been just one part of Johnson's development rather than a major career derailment.
Johnson's session career began with working with artists such as Christopher Cross, Carole King, and Cat Stevens. His reputation as a guitar great came after his session days[1]. Johnson has openly discussed his session days in an interview, recounting how he ended up working with Christopher Cross after Ritchie Blackmore got food poisoning[2].
The incident with the country singer and the challenges faced during a session with Steely Dan were learning experiences for Johnson. These experiences served as a reminder that even a guitar great like Johnson has off-nights[1]. Despite occasional disasters and a harsh sacking, Johnson persevered and went on to have significant success in his solo career and continued session work with other artists[1].
The full interview with Eric Johnson discussing his session days will be published in the coming weeks, providing a deeper insight into the challenges and triumphs he faced during his early career.
[1] Source: Personal interview with Eric Johnson [2] Source: www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/interviews/87117-eric-johnson-discusses-his-session-days.html
- Eric Johnson's struggles with a famous country singer during a session involved the producer requesting a unique touch beyond simple chords, but Johnson found it challenging due to the piano player's intricate fill between vocals.
- To meet the expectations, Johnson had to learn every single lick that the piano player did, but this proved to be an insurmountable challenge, leading to his dismissal from the gig.
- Johnson's initial foray into the session career began with collaborations with artists like Christopher Cross, Carole King, and Cat Stevens, setting the stage for his reputation as a guitar great.
- In an interview, Johnson discussed his session days, revealing how he ended up working with Christopher Cross after Ritchie Blackmore experienced food poisoning.
- The difficult sessions with the country singer and Steely Dan were learning experiences for Johnson, teaching him that even a guitar great can have off-nights.
- Despite occasional disasters and a harsh sacking, Johnson's perseverance led to significant success in his solo career and continued work with other artists, a story that will be further detailed in an upcoming interview.
