Plas Johnson, Tenor sax, 1931, Donaldsonville,
Plas's father taught him the soprano sax during the early '50s, and by the end of the decade he was playing professionally, mainly in the studios on the West Coast. He performing and recording with prominent musicians such as Irving Ashby, Benny Carter, and many of the famous rhythm-and blues groups of the day. He is best known as the soloist with Henry Mancini's orchestra on the soundtrack of the Pink Panther films. During the 1960s Plas was also very active working in television and films, and recorded as a sideman in many big-bands, and most notably as a soloist with Glen Gray. In the early '60s he cut a series of recordings with his own quintet, under the pseudonym Johnny Beecher. In 1970 Plas decided to remain in California, and joined the band on Merv Griffin's television program. Plas Johnson is very active as a sideman and as a soloist on the bandstand and in the recording studios due to his ability to easily read and play any type of music that is called for.
Sonny Clark, Piano, 1931, Herminie, PA
Sonny started playing the piano at an early age, and apparently this is when he discovered jazz (around 1945) through the radio broadcasts of the Count Basie and Duke Ellington orchestras, and the recordings of Art Tatum and Fats Waller. In the early '50s Sonny moved to California and worked with Vido Musso and Oscar Pettiford. During the mid '50s he worked and toured Europe with Buddy DeFranco. At the same time he performed and recorded with the groups of Sonny Criss and Frank Rosolino. He also worked with many of the prominent jazz musicians at Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse. During the early '60s he made many recordings as a leader of his own group. Although Clark's piano playing is often likened to that of Bud Powell, he played in a more crisp, relaxed, and flowing style. Sonny Clark died in 1963.
