Bill Johnson - piano
Bill doesn't remember it, but he and Len met back in the middle '60s, when Len was a music theory undergrad at U of MN and Bill was TA for Dominick Argento, who would become internationally renowned as a composer of lyric opera. A few years ago, Gordy (drums) and Garry (banjo), who play with Bill in the Pig's Eye Traditional Jass Band, talked him into subbing with Lazy Does It, and he soon became a regular. Bill started playing ragtime piano at a young age, so the traditional jazz idiom is second nature for him. He is an outstanding soloist and excels at backing up the band or other soloists. His energetic and enthusiastic playing make him a great crowd pleaser.
The multi-talented Bill is a retired electronic-circuit designer who had an earlier career as a magazine editor.