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Thom Johnson started playing piano at age 6 studing under the mentoring of Joe Bell, and was a well versed classical pianist by age 10. At age 11 moved on to the organ and a new piano instructor by the name of Ed Sedlar. By this time Thom was playing the Warsaw Concerto from memory. At age 12, Thom put on many personal performances in the Mon Valley including his local church, The Missionary Alliance Church in Brownstown, PA. He also performed with Mr Sedlar at the The United Methodist Church in Monessen, PA Easter's Service of over 250 people. Performing on either piano or organ didn't make any difference as he was well versed on both. Thom also performed for talent shows at Frazier High School at age 12 playing his favorite classical piece, The Warsaw Concerto, which granted him 2nd place in the competition and a spot in next years prelude to the talent competition.

Thom was in many bands during this time with fellow school mates, Rich Krivda, Ray Bradish, John Pavalontis, Larry Pavtis, Tracy Laird, Jim Fellabaum, Scott Soutter, all from Belle Vernon. Thom was also playing professionally with Bill Cornell and the Prophets at local tavern throughout the area.

Thom on bass and guitarist Ray Bradish were also playing in a band named Breakfast, featuring guitarist Harry Stratagus, vocalist Vince Amandolla, and drummer Kevin Kotch, all of Monessen. When Thom joined this band he was the bassist and moved to keyboards when Ray Bradish left the band. Vince then moved to bass and the band had a solid nucleus. They were performing songs by Atomic Rooster, Ozzy, Alice Cooper, Spirit, Trapeze, as well as some original material. They rocked many a high school gymnasium in the early 70s.

Thom was also playing keyboards in a band called House 81 at that time and performed a concert at the Charleroi Area High School for a battle of the bands. They took the show when they performed Frankenstein by Edgar Winter. The band went on to Florida and he never heard from them again.

Thom was also playing with Bill Fencik from Belle Vernon, a hard rocking guitar player that held his own with the likes of Jeff Back, Ritchie Blackmore, Alvin Lee and others. After a while the band went its separate ways due to the lack of a vocalist.

Thom received a phone call from Gary Mandarino of the band Parade. Gary, otherswise known as "Gutch" was a hard core bassist and vocalist that wanted to put together a top notch Funk Band. He hired Vince Amendolla as the lead vocalist due to Vince's wide vocal range.This was a large band 15 piece band, complete with xylophone and full horn section. We were performing songs from the Average White Band, Ohio players, as well as some Chicago. The band was doing well when Thom received a call to go to Indiana by the company he was working for in late 1975. Thom contacted Keith DiPiazza a fellow keyboardist to take his place and the band went on to become City Rhythm, then the Enforcers, and lastly Network.

Thom's music career was on hold as he went to school and in March of 1976 moved to Lemore, California to start a new life on the West Coast. There he learned of Knotts Berry Farm, an amusement park in Buena Park, CA, that is the hangout for bands looking for musicians. Thom equipped with only a Hayman bass guitar started jamming with some of the locals. The locals included vocalist Vince Neil, drummer Tommy Lee, and guitarist Mick Mars.Thom regrettably wasn't hired by these fellows but was picked up by keyboardist Morgan Fisher of Mott the Hoople fame and joined by Nigel Benjamin and Ariel Bender. Ian Hunter had already left the band as did  Mick Ronson. We toured for about a year, and then Thom took a hiatus as the band went to England to do some recording. During that time Thom hung out on the Strip at places such as: Troubadour(not on Sunset but just around the corner), The Roxy, Gazzarris, The Whiskey. Thom jammed with the likes of ....Warrant , Ratt, Bullet Boys, Poison.....(CC Deville let me wear his hat all night at the Rainbow). Thom lived in Santa Monica after moving from Lemore to Fresno, and was in CA for 4 1/2 years.

Thom returned home pretty much pennyless from his short lived claim to fame, and starting looking for new musicians to work with. He headed up a band called Sudden Darkness, which featured Jim Turtzer on bass and backing vocals, Bob Casey on drums, Rich Krivda on guitar, and Thom on keyboards. The band was a big success and had a good following. Thom was still writing songs and the band was more than willing to promote them. Our agent, a British lady named Bernie Beezy, had a British rocker come over to check us out and possibly back him in the US. He was a  guitarist, named Pete Stephens, and he had a record in the top 20 in England. Sudden Darkness was performing that night at the Stone Castle in Belle Vernon when Pete came in wearing green leotards with a saftey pin shoved through his ear. They jammed to Johnny Be Good and a few others, afterwards they had tea and krumpets. There is a 4 track recording of that night somewhere in the archives that Rich Krivda made. Would be a hoot to put on a track or two on Shydogs myspace.

Thom has played with many bands and musicians over the years, and has performed countless studio sessions and appears and various artist CDs and YES cassettes. He has many fond memories of playing oldies with bands such as: Satins, Laurels, and Yesterday's Passage (guitar player and bassist wrote the song "Sandy". Country with BackSeat Country, Payote, Borderline, Dale Diaz Band, Arnie and the Country Classics, WildWood, and the Country Movers, Todd and Larry Lee Jones just to name a few. Rock bands were Magnum, Renegades, Superstars of Rock, Hi Voltage, Mercenary Circus, Cruisin', Impact, No Clue, and now CrossTown. Blues bands: Y-U Blu, The Mud Flaps, No Clue (1st time around), Billy G and the Soul Patrol, again there are others..

Studio is where Thom found peace, and loved working on new material. Dolly Crawford, country recording star, had Thom play keyboards on her CD which she dedicated to her grand children. Dolly use to record at Cash's Studio outside Nashville back in the 70s. Thom also recorded with Spyder on his CD Dark and the Light and with Al Staley and Friends on his CD I'm a Survivor.Thom also recorded a CD with his band No Clue at Rock House Studio in Belle Vernon. Thom also use to do jingles at Vizza Studio in Belle Vernon, before it became Audiomation.

Now Thom has a home based studio which he uses Cubase and plugins to get his unique sound. I know he is currently re-doing some of his older originals from in the 70s, so they may be a bit dated, but give them a listen anyway. 

Thank you all for reading and God bless you.