Johnny Ferreira

Johnny Ferreira
Birth name Joao Manuel Ferreira
Born (1957-08-11) August 11, 1957
Portugal
Genres Rock and roll, blues, swing
Occupation(s) Songwriter, producer, horn arrangements, musician
Instruments Saxophone, Accordion, keyboards
Years active 1980 – present
Labels Pair-A-Dice Records
Associated acts Swing Machine, Colin James, Long John Baldry, Pointed Sticks
Website www.johnnyferreira.com
Notable instruments
Saxophone

Joao Manuel Ferreira or more popularly known as Johnny Ferreira (born August 11, 1957), is Canadian-Portuguese saxophonist, songwriter, producer, and horn arranger, who plays in rock and roll, blues, and swing genres.

Background

Johnny Ferreira was born August 11, 1957 in Portugal to Manuel and Ermelinda Ferreira. However, he grew up in Vancouver, Canada after his family immigrated there in 1963.[1]

He attended Templeton High School and then college after graduating Capilano College in North Vancouver, Canada. School was disrupted by working with musical groups in night clubs and bars in and around Vancouver. He decided later to go back to University of British Columbia and took a degree in music during the 1980s. He however left college again and pursued a full-time professional career in music.[2]

Ferreira's love for music started during childhood, always listening to music being played on the radio during the 1960s and 1970s.[3] At the age of 11, he learned to play the accordion, and during high school, at the age of 17, he learned how to play the saxophone. By the age of 19, he was well into it and has been playing it ever since.[4]

His primary influences were early rock and roll saxophonists King Curtis, Edgar Winter, Sam Taylor also known as Sam "the man" Taylor, Louis Jordan, Louis Prima, and the honkers and screamers such as Big Jay McNeely, and Joe Houston.[5] Other early saxophone influences include Pink Floyd, saxophonist Dick Parry, Average White Band, Tower of Power, Bruce Springsteen, and Supertramp.[3]

Career

It was in 1980 when Ferreira was still studying music in Capilano College. During that year, a well known band named the Pointed Sticks returned to Vancouver after having recorded an album in London, England. The sessions didn't work well and was on the verge of breaking up due to it. Their manager decided to convince them to record an album in Canada, this time produced by famous record producer Bob Rock. The band's guitar was also going to Capilano College with Ferreira, whom convinced him to play sax, with a few sessions with them which had turned well. After the recording, he was invited to join the band. The band together with Ferreira toured Canada for a year and half until the band decided to break-up. After a group stint with Pointed Sticks, he began a musical association with multi-instrumentalist and producer Brian MacLeod, member of well-known Canadian rock band Chilliwack. Brian MacLeod was also the leader of the Headpins which Ferreira recorded with. As a producer, MacLoud hired Ferreira on several other recordings including the well-known punk rock band DOA[6]

In 1985 to 1986, he collaborated with guitarist, singer-songwriter Colin James. They both played in clubs. James moved to Vancouver from Regina, Saskatchewan after he failed to get a blues band there. For two months, he toured with American guitarist, Stevie Ray Vaughan. From there, the Colin James Band was formed together with Ferreira as the saxophonist. The band was doing over 300 gigs a year promoting such songs as the top charting single "Five Long Years".[6][7][8]

In 1988 to 1989, the band recorded their first album under the American label, Virgin Records. The album was recorded first at Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida with the legendary producer Tom Dowd and finished in Los Angeles with Danny Kortchmar. The album became the fastest selling record in Canadian history.[6] The band toured with Steve Winwood, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robert Plant, ZZ Top, The Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, and Keith Richards. The band released their second album Sudden Stop in 1990. The album went gold and later platinum. In the late 1990s, Ferreira formed his own band Johnny Ferreira and The Swing Machine, and produced albums under his own label, Pair-A-Dice Records. The band toured most of Europe.[9]

Other career

Aside from being a saxophonist, songwriter, and producer Ferreira is also an online saxophone teacher and book author.

He runs a large membership website called HowtoPlaySaxophone.org which provide guides, instructional materials, and online tutorials on how to play the saxophone.[10]

His books are published and sold via Amazon.com. His recently published book is How To Play Killer Blues And Rockin' Sax Solos With 7 Notes Or Less.[11][12] His other books are called How To Play The saxophone – A Complete Beginner's Guide and So You've Got a Saxophone – Now What?.[13][14]

Discography

Self-released albums

The following is the discography of Johnny Ferreira:

Other album recordings

Awards and recognition

Year Organization Nominee Category Result Source
1997 Toronto Blues Society Johnny Ferreira Horn Player of the Year Won [19]
Real Blues Magazine Johnny Ferreira Best Canadian Blues Saxophone Player Won
Real Blues Magazine Johnny Ferreira & The Swing Machine Best Canadian Jump Blues Band Won
1998 Toronto Blues Society Johnny Ferreira Horn Player of the Year Nominated [20]
West Coast Blues Review Johnny Ferreira Saxophonist of the Year Won [21]
Real Blues Magazine Johnny Ferreira Best Canadian Blues Saxophonist Won
Real Blues Magazine Johnny Ferreira & The Swing Machine Best Canadian Swing/Jump Blues Band Won
1999 Toronto Blues Society Johnny Ferreira (Swing Machine) Horn Player of the Year Nominated [22]
2000 Toronto Blues Society Johnny Ferreira (Swing Machine) Horn Player of the Year Nominated [23]
2006 Toronto Blues Society Johnny Ferreira Horn Player of the Year Nominated [24]
2007 Toronto Blues Society Johnny Ferreira Horn Player of the Year Nominated [25]
2008 Toronto Blues Society Johnny Ferreira Horn Player of the Year Nominated [26]
2009 Toronto Blues Society Johnny Ferreira Horn Player of the Year Nominated [27]
Real Blues Magazine Johnny Ferreira Best Live Act of the Year Won [28]

References

  1. ↑ "The World of Sax Is About To Get Rocked". Johnny Ferreira. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
  2. ↑ Martin, Michele. "Go Johnny, Go Go Go...". Drop-D Magazine. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
  3. 1 2 "Johnny Ferreira: Saxophonist". Johnny Ferreira. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Johnny Ferreira Bio". Johnny Ferreira. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
  5. ↑ "ROOM WITH A VIEW of the blues...". New York Blues & Jazz Society. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
  6. 1 2 3 Sharpe, Neil. "Johnny Ferreira: Rock n' Roll Saxophonist | Part One: All Night Long". Sax on the Web. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
  7. ↑ Stoute, Lenny (October 10, 1996). "Music and sax, before guitars Swing Machine marches to a different drum". Toronto Star (G.9). Retrieved October 22, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Le blues s'installe au Ziquodrome" (in French). Le Parisien. June 11, 2004. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  9. ↑ Sharpe, Neil. "Johnny Ferreira: Rock n' Roll Saxophonist | Part 2: The Promised Land". Sax on the Web. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
  10. ↑ "How To Play Saxophone Website". How To Play Saxophone. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
  11. ↑ Ferreira, Johnny (October 16, 2012). "How To Play Killer Blues And Rockin' Sax Solos With 7 Notes Or Less". Amazon.com. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
  12. ↑ "How To Play Killer Blues And Rockin' Sax Solos With 7 Notes Or Less". How To Play Saxophone. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Johnny Ferreira Biography". Amazon.com. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Quick Start Guide Info". How To Play Saxophone. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Crazy 'Bout a Saxophone". Amazon.com. 1996. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  16. ↑ "Johnny Ferreira: King of the Mood Swings". iTunes. 1998. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Johnny Ferreira: SAX ON the BEACH". iTunes. September 21, 2005. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
  18. ↑ "Johnny Ferreira: Rock & Roll Saxophonist". iTunes. April 27, 2006. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
  19. ↑ "1997 Maple Blues Awards Winners and Nominees". Toronto Blues Society. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
  20. ↑ "1998 Maple Blues Awards Winners and Nominees". Toronto Blues Society. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
  21. ↑ "The Dream Cafe presents ~ Johnny Ferreira". Toursim Penticton. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  22. ↑ "1999 Maple Blues Awards Winners and Nominees". Toronto Blues Society. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
  23. ↑ "2000 Maple Blues Awards Winners and Nominees". Toronto Blues Society. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
  24. ↑ "2006 Maple Blues Awards Winners and Nominees". Toronto Blues Society. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  25. ↑ "2007 Maple Blues Awards Winners and Nominees". Toronto Blues Society. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  26. ↑ "2008 Maple Blues Awards Winners and Nominees". Toronto Blues Society. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  27. ↑ "2009 Maple Blues Awards Winners and Nominees". Toronto Blues Society. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  28. ↑ "The Johnny Ferreira Swing Band". Real Blues Magazine. The Pulse. Retrieved October 23, 2012.

External links

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