Rebecca Johnson Band - http://www.rebeccajohnson.info/

Family History

My Dad is a bass player and my Mum is a singer.
In a nutshell I suppose that explains why I do what I do.

At the age of 3 or 4, I first picked up a Ukelele - a crazy little 4 stringed instrument on which my Grandfather taught me to play a silly old song called "When Uncle Joe plays a rag upon the old banjo" or something like that. I have photos of myself at that age playing this thing and it's eerie seeing my hands positioned in the 'bass playing' way that I have played for the last 20 years.

From the age of 5 thru 11 I played piano and have sung for as long as I can remember, but I was always more attracted to my Dad's bass than practicing scales on the piano before and after school. I used to sneak my Dad's bass out and teach myself by listening to tapes of his band at the time, and thru my early teenage life I became aware of all the early funk bass players like Larry Graham, Byron Miller and Stanley Clarke. I used to learn all the bass lines by these guys and then I discovered the great John Francis Pastorius III, Jaco. My parents raised me on all the horn bands like Chicago, Tower of Power, Blood, Sweat & Tears, and Earth wind & Fire, so I was always playing along to songs by these bands as well.

When I was around 13 I used to go with either Mum or Dad to their gigs on weekends and I even have an old tape of the first time I ever got on stage and played live (with a REAL band!), my Dad's band, without his bass playing in the back ground. I was suddenly 'on my own' and I'm sure listening to the tape now would make me cringe but for a 13 year old it was a big buzz for me to get that experience of playing with real players and in front of an audience. I then ditched the piano lessons because I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up, a singing bass player, just like my Mum and Dad.

By the time I was 16 I was doing funk gigs and mixing with all the 'heavies' in the scene. By word of mouth and hanging out with all the right people, my career took off from there and I've never looked back since. I was lucky I never had to start in 'garage bands' or do it the hard way. I certainly put in the hard work and practice though, and knew I was on the right track with the kind of music I was listening to.

I always remember my parents filling our house with killer music and giving me their full support in my decision to make bass playing my career. But thru the early years I do recall my folks coming into my room by about 8.30pm and telling me to 'turn it down', I just couldn't get the bass out of my hands because I wanted learn how to play every song I loved. We used to have 'concerts' at home and my parents would make me play for their friends. They were and still are very proud and it's been a big buzz on different occasions having them get up and play and sing with bands that they've come to see me play with.

My Dad`s bass is a collectors item, a Fender Precision Pre-L Series and the serial number is 116. It is in it's original state accept for being stripped back to the bare wood grain from sunburst. He still plays that bass that was the same one I learned on all my childhood. His band, 'Buckshot' is powering still and they recorded a CD a few years back called "Shot to the Heart'.

Here's my Dad playing my bass.

My Mum's band, "In Transit' is still doing loads of gigs and she even has players in her band that I've been in various bands with over the years. They are real cool. I'll never forget years ago, Mum telling me that her band had just rehearsed a new song by Bon Jovi and she sung it to me over the phone: "Oh we're half way there, oh livin' on a prayer", and I said "What on earth is that song?". VERY hip parents I have.

They were both real big on the Queensland circuit back in the 60's, working 6 nights a week, doing tv shows and recordings. When I came along my Mum had been offered the lead role in "Jesus Christ Superstar" and Dad had been offered some international touring gigs but they stayed and moved to Sydney, passing up opportunities that could have pushed their careers even further than where they are now. They quickly became known on the Sydney scene and started doing sessions and jingles and having their own bands. Mum recorded an album back in the 70's with players that are now in John Farnham's band and she's sung backing vocals with many famous Aussie stars. Dad has always been an in-demand bass player and it's such a thrill whenever they come to my gigs.Mum always says how similar my Dad's and my hands look when she watches the way we both play the bass.

Thank you Mandy and Keith Johnson - RJ.