DJ Johnson (musician)

Last updated
DJ Johnson
Khruangbin APEVicPark270518-9 (42614350371).jpg
DJ Johnson performing with Khruangbin in All Points East festival, 2018
Background information
Birth nameDonald Johnson, Jr.
Also known as
  • Donald Johnson
  • Beanz
Born (1976-03-13) March 13, 1976 (age 48)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Instruments
  • Drums
  • keyboards
  • bass guitar
  • vocals
Years active2004–present
Labels
Member of

Donald "DJ" Johnson, Jr. is an American musician, songwriter, and music producer best known as the drummer for Khruangbin, a Grammy-nominated trio from Houston, Texas, and one half of the hip hop production duo Beanz N Kornbread. [1]

Contents

Background

Johnson grew up playing drums, moving to keyboard organ in his late teens. [2] [3] He has remarked on the cultural diversity of growing up in Houston, with people from all over the world living in the region and playing their music, as influencing his sound. [4]

Johnson is an alumnus of Texas All State Symphonic Wind Ensemble and studied orchestral percussion with instructor Jim Whitfill. [5]

Johnson met guitarist and future Khruangbin bandmate Mark Speer in 2004 at the Red Cat Jazz Cafe in Houston. The two later worked together as hired players in Pastor Rudy Rasmus' St. John's United Methodist Church gospel band in the city, where Johnson played organ and Speer played guitar. [6]

Johnson has recorded five studio albums with Khruangbin: The Universe Smiles Upon You (2015), Con Todo el Mundo (2018), Mordechai (2020), Ali (with Vieux Farka Touré; 2022), and A La Sala (2024).

He lives in the Houston area where he was raised. [7] [8]

Production

Johnson and Kenneth Roy are the music production duo Beanz N Kornbread. The duo has produced recordings of artists such as Mac Miller, Shaquille O’Neal, Slim Thug, Kirko Bangz, Z-Ro, Chamillionaire, George Clinton, Lil' Keke, Devin the Dude and Paul Wall. [5] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]

Equipment and tools

Johnson plays a jazz kit, which is smaller than the kit of many rock drummers. [14] In a 2020 interview with Modern Drummer , his kit was listed as a 3×13 Diamond Drum Co. maple snare drum; a 14×14 Gretsch floor tom, and a 14×20 Gretsch bass drum. [5] The interview stated he uses Promark DJ Johnson signature sticks and typically plays (left-handed) a Yamaha Reface keyboard in live performance with Khruangbin. Johnson's cymbals were listed as 14″ CB Percussion MX series hi-hats and an 18″ Meinl Byzance Dark crash. Johnson does not typically record to a click track. [15] [16]

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References

  1. ↑ "Out of the shadows". Bangkok Post Public Company Limited– via www.bangkokpost.com.
  2. ↑ Beta, Andy (July 2, 2020). "How an Instrumental Trio Became One of Houston's Most Popular Rock Bands". Texas Monthly.
  3. ↑ "Leon Bridges & Khruangbin's DJ Johnson Talk Magic Of New EP 'Texas Moon,' Bringing The Church & Houston Hip-Hop Into Their Music | GRAMMY.com". www.grammy.com.
  4. ↑ "The Modern Drummer Podcast - Interview with DJ Johnson". Pandora.
  5. 1 2 3 "Khruangbin's DJ Johnson - Modern Drummer Magazine". July 25, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-07-25.
  6. ↑ Gregor, Róbert (June 29, 2020). "MORDERCHAI AND THE MYSTERIOUS WORLD OF KHRUANGBIN".
  7. ↑ "From Church Organ to World Stage: Houston's Hot Khruangbin Trio Hits the Road - Houston CityBook". www.houstoncitybook.com.
  8. ↑ Mellon, Eileen (May 2, 2022). "Funk Sway". richmondmagazine.com.
  9. ↑ Torres, Marco. "Beanz N Kornbread Cook Up Good Weather Muzik". Houston Press.
  10. ↑ "Slim Thug - Playas Get Chose (Official Video) ft. Beanz N Kornbread". 25 June 2019 – via www.youtube.com.
  11. ↑ Mixtapez, My (July 26, 2016). "Mixtape of Best Day Ever by Mac Miller" – via mymixtapez.com.
  12. ↑ Torres, Marco. "The Rocks Off 200: Beanz N Kornbread, Gmail-Loving Production Duo". Houston Press.
  13. ↑ White, Chelsea Lenora (December 13, 2023). "The City's Best Kept Secret Shouldn't Be a Secret Anymore". forwardtimes.com.
  14. ↑ "Khruangbin 'Space Walk' Tour 2022 – FOH | Front of House Magazine".
  15. ↑ "Khruangbin: Con Todo El Mundo | SpellbindingMusic". May 14, 2018.
  16. ↑ "In Conversation with Khruangbin". The Line of Best Fit.
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