Bruce Johnston

 

Bruce Johnston is an award-winning composer and an avid performer on electric and acoustic bass as well as electric and classical guitar. He grew up in Searcy, Arkansas and was playing blues on Beale Street by the age of 21. He spent his early to mid 20’s playing live shows in and around Knoxville, Tennessee. At the age of 28, Johnston graduated Summa Cum Laude from Berklee College of Music where he studied composition and electric bass. He continued his academic pursuits earning his Masters degree from The University of Tennessee while studying composition and acoustic bass. He has lead countless performances as a bandleader and has been on faculty at Pellissippi State Community College and Lincoln Memorial University. He is a founding member of the Miami-based avant-garde improvisational ensemble, Fridamusiq, who recently performed with avant-garde/blues legend Elliott Sharp. Johnston is also the departing
president of the University of Miami Society of Composers, Inc. and graduated
this past May with a Doctorate of Musical Arts in music composition with a
cognate in music technology. Most recently, he has returned back to Arkansas
with plans to dive into the arts and music scene and make a difference for the
place where he grew up.