Bio

Johnnie Graves is a freelance drummer based in Fort Worth, TX. He is versed in the styles of classical, jazz, pop, rock, funk, country, latin rhythms and Show Tunes. Johnnie has over 32 years gigging and studio experience. Depending upon the gig, you might catch him playing his full nine piece vintage Ludwig drum set to a small three piece jazz kit or a set of conga’s and hand percussion. Johnnie has done many tours and is no stranger to recording studios. Johnnie has worked at many of the recording studios in and around L.A. including Martin Sound, SunWest Recording Studio, Cherokee Studios, IAM Recording Studio, SoundCastle Studios, Weddington Studios and Wunderground Studios. Johnnie has also worked at North Star Studios in Boulder, CO & Studio “A” in Haltom City, TX. Some of the musicians that have influenced Johnnie are Steve Gadd, Jeff Porcaro, Billy Cobham, Johnny Mehler, Buddy Rich, Phil Ehart, Roger Taylor, Ringo Starr & Phil Collins. Also his teachers Mel Marager & Bill Thomas. Johnnie also likes to teach and does so as time allows.

Johnnie started drumming at the age of three making drums out of oat meal boxes and his mother’s pots and pans, and playing along with his older sisters Beatles and Elvis Presley albums. Johnnie started taking formal drum lessons at the age of five and continued lessons until he was seventeen. Johnnie played in his schools bands and orchestra from sixth grade through his senior year in high school. He also was part of the percussion ensemble at the local city collage when he was just thirteen. Johnnie started playing in his first rock band when he was thirteen. The band was called “Pamoja” and they played music by Chase, Chicago, Tower of Power and Santana. “I loved playing with Pamoja. There were seven of us in the band with a full horn section. I was this Jr. High kid and I was playing dances for the high schools and collages in the area. It was pretty cool.” According to Johnnie’s mother, one of Pamoja's other band members father was the band director of Cal State Long Beach and he told her “I have never heard anyone with that much talent at such a young age.” In high school Johnnie was submerged in music. He was in the marching band, concert band, orchestra and jazz band along with his own rock band. Johnnie fell in love with big band jazz at that time. Playing Buddy Rich charts and Louie Bellson charts helped develop much of Johnnie's drumming technique and dynamics.

It was during Johnnie’s High School years he joined Aslan. They were one of the first Christian rock bands in the early ‘70’s to play progressive rock. The other bands at the time were more folk rock or country rock styles. It was while playing with Aslan that Johnnie got his first taste of session work. Aslan recorded their first single in 1975 for a compilation album for Maranatha Music but the track was omitted from the final release. Their next single was recorded in 1977 for Maranatha Music and was released on “Maranatha Six A Family Portrait". The song was "Who Loves The Lonely". Johnnie did many tours with Aslan. They played at the 1976 Madri Gras in New Orleans,La. Johnnie left Aslan in 1978 to pursue other opportunities.

After leaving Aslan, Johnnie started playing with many bands and artists of varying musical styles. Johnnie also started doing more session work at many of the studios around the L.A. area.

In 1993 Johnnie moved to Texas and did not play much for a while. In 1995 Johnnie's youngest daughter started singing around the DFW area. Johnnie would sit in with the house bands where she would perform. In 1997 Johnnie acting as producer took Julie into the studio and cut a four song demo. This demo gave Julie the opportunity to play at "Billy Bob's Texas in Ft. Worth. Johnnie put a band together to back Julie up and they performed at Billy Bob's in August 1998. In April 2000, Johnnie embarked on a full length CD project for Julie. Johnnie produced and played on the project and the CD, "Hope And A Promise" was released in June of 2000. To date it has sold over 400 units and has received airplay around Texas and throughout Europe.

Julie Johns	Steven Pride	Aslan
Louis Homen	Hidden Agenda	The Country Love Band
Stacha McNeal	Hatt Trick	John Townsend
John Fowler	The "I Am" Project	Cindy Baxter
Gwyn Bridges	Jolie Holliday	Kenny Serratt
Stephanie Starr	Daryl Mansfield	Harpoon
John Elefante	Sojourn	The Texas Legends Band
Matt Jenkins	Geoff Allan	Tim McCracken Jr.
Savage Mutt	Railhead	The Recyclers