Walt Johnson and his fiberglass cases
Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2021 8:01 am
This (video linked below) is Walt Johnson - playing lead "scream" trumpet in Lionel Hampton's band (during the height of the "scream trumpet" craze - which prompted Maynard Ferguson and Bill Chase to morph into what they became).
Walt worked with many top-name musicians (Sinatra, Manilow, Streisand, etc.) and went on to become Elvis' lead trumpet player, and - growing weary of airlines damaging his trumpets - he designed some (heh-heh) "military-grade" cases for his instruments, made of thick fiberglass.
Later, the fiberglass cases (for all sorts of instruments) became a pretty big family business for Mr. Walt Johnson and his wife, Mrs. Lourdes Johnson.
I recall talking to his wife on the telephone - when ordering one for myself. Today - for my tubas, I still own an extra-large case and a medium-large case, and use them when my instruments must be co-mingled with others' instruments. A few years ago, I loaned one to a friend, who flew to China (to play some recitals and lecture - on their way towards being "tenured").
As to Mr. Lionel Hampton, many know that he was also a member of the Benny Goodman Trio/Quartet. Standing in the chow line at National Music Camp (now: "Interlochen Arts Camp") at Interlochen (as a college boy in 1975) I recall walking past Mr. Goodman, Mr. Hampton, and Mr. Urbie Green (trombonist) who were tearing into their chow - prior to their rehearsal and evening concert at Kresge Auditorium. That food (and my daughter reported to me that - later - it was greatly improved) was absolutely the worst I believe I've ever eaten - on a regular basis, and wondered how they could possibly be tearing into it so heartily...
...I then realized that - having been on the road most of their lives - their taste buds and digestive tracts had probably both been very well-hardened.
Walt worked with many top-name musicians (Sinatra, Manilow, Streisand, etc.) and went on to become Elvis' lead trumpet player, and - growing weary of airlines damaging his trumpets - he designed some (heh-heh) "military-grade" cases for his instruments, made of thick fiberglass.
Later, the fiberglass cases (for all sorts of instruments) became a pretty big family business for Mr. Walt Johnson and his wife, Mrs. Lourdes Johnson.
I recall talking to his wife on the telephone - when ordering one for myself. Today - for my tubas, I still own an extra-large case and a medium-large case, and use them when my instruments must be co-mingled with others' instruments. A few years ago, I loaned one to a friend, who flew to China (to play some recitals and lecture - on their way towards being "tenured").
As to Mr. Lionel Hampton, many know that he was also a member of the Benny Goodman Trio/Quartet. Standing in the chow line at National Music Camp (now: "Interlochen Arts Camp") at Interlochen (as a college boy in 1975) I recall walking past Mr. Goodman, Mr. Hampton, and Mr. Urbie Green (trombonist) who were tearing into their chow - prior to their rehearsal and evening concert at Kresge Auditorium. That food (and my daughter reported to me that - later - it was greatly improved) was absolutely the worst I believe I've ever eaten - on a regular basis, and wondered how they could possibly be tearing into it so heartily...
...I then realized that - having been on the road most of their lives - their taste buds and digestive tracts had probably both been very well-hardened.