Gerard Mark Johnson (born 1963) is a British

keyboard Keyboard may refer to: Text input * Keyboard, part of a typewriter * Computer keyboard ** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping ** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware Music * Musi ...

player. He is best known for his work with Saint Etienne,

The Syn The Syn are an English band that were active from 1965 to 1967, and then reunited as a progressive rock band in 2004. The band was founded by Steve Nardelli, Chris Squire, Andrew Pryce Jackman, Martyn Adelman and John Painter. Chris Welch, in ...

and Yes.

Early years

Johnson was born in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales. He was educated at Presentation College, Reading, Berkshire, England. He was a member of the Progress Theatre Student Group (1976–1981) and studied as a

Tonmeister Tonmeister is most often found as a job description in the music and recording industries. It describes a person who is a sound master (a literal translation of the German word): a person who creates recordings or broadcasts of music who is both d ...

at the University of Surrey, Guildford.

Career

Johnson originally trained and worked as a recording engineer at London's Music Works studio (1985–87) and then as Chief Engineer at Orinoco Studios (now called

Miloco Studios Miloco Studios are a group of recording studios based in London, England. History Miloco was formed out of the merging of three former London recording studios: Milo Music, The Garden and Orinoco Studios. Milo Music began in 1984 as a small stu ...

) (1987–91). During this time he recorded and mixed records by

Enya Enya Patricia Brennan (; ga, Eithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin; born 17 May 1961), known professionally by the mononym Enya, is an Irish singer, songwriter, and musician known for modern Celtic music. She is the best-selling Irish solo arti ...

, Ian McCulloch (of Echo & the Bunnymen),

The Sugarcubes The Sugarcubes ( Icelandic: Sykurmolarnir) were an Icelandic alternative rock band from Reykjavík formed in 1986 and disbanded in 1992. For most of their career, the band consisted of Björk Guðmundsdóttir (vocals, keyboards), Einar Örn Bened ...

and the Pet Shop Boys. In 1991, he became a freelance engineer/producer, working with Timo Blunk (of

Palais Schaumburg Palais Schaumburg is a neoclassical-style building in Bonn, Germany, which served as the primary official seat of the German Federal Chancellery and the primary official residence of the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1 ...

), Freaky Realistic, TV Smith (of

The Adverts The Adverts were an English punk band who formed in 1976 and broke up in late 1979. They were one of the first punk bands to enjoy chart success in the United Kingdom, UK; their 1977 single "Gary Gilmore's Eyes" reached No. 18 in the UK Single ...

) and

Denim Denim is a sturdy cotton warp-faced textile in which the weft passes under two or more warp threads. This twill weaving produces a diagonal ribbing that distinguishes it from cotton duck. While a denim predecessor known as dungaree has been p ...

. Through Denim he met Bob Stanley, Pete Wiggs and Sarah Cracknell of Saint Etienne. Since Saint Etienne re-united in the mid 1990s, Johnson has worked with the band at various times as engineer, arranger, producer and live keyboard player. In the 1990s, Johnson also worked with guitarist

Peter Banks Peter William Brockbanks (15 July 1947 – 7 March 2013), known professionally as Peter Banks, was a British guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and producer. He was the original guitarist in the rock band Yes, and also the Syn, Flash, and Empire. ...

, with Johnson appearing on Banks' albums and Banks guesting on Johnson's project with Mark Bown, Funky Monkey. In 2004, Johnson joined Banks in

, appearing on recordings later released on ''Original Syn''. Johnson stayed with the band after Banks left and original bass player

Chris Squire Christopher Russell Edward Squire (4March 1948 – 27June 2015) was an English musician, singer and songwriter best known as the bassist and backing vocalist of the progressive rock band Yes. He was the longest-serving original member, having r ...

of Yes rejoined. He co-produced the band's 2005 album, ''Syndestructible'', with Lemon Trees guitarist

Paul Stacey Paul Stacey (born 27 September 1963) is a British guitarist and producer, best known for his work with Oasis, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds and the Black Crowes. Biography Stacey's early work included the 1990s band, the Lemon Trees (wi ...

. He has also toured with The Syn in a line-up including guitarist Shane Theriot and drummer Alan White (of Yes), but left the band in 2006. He then worked on two projects with Chris Squire: '' Chris Squire's Swiss Choir'', an album of Christmas music on which he was producer and choral arranger, and as co-writer of songs for a planned Squire solo album. This project was not completed, but material from it went on to form part of the album '' A Life Within A Day'' album by Squire and former

Genesis Genesis may refer to: Bible * Book of Genesis, the first book of the biblical scriptures of both Judaism and Christianity, describing the creation of the Earth and of mankind * Genesis creation narrative, the first several chapters of the Book of ...

guitarist,

Steve Hackett Stephen Richard Hackett (born 12 February 1950) is an English musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who gained prominence as the lead guitarist of the progressive rock band Genesis from 1971 to 1977. Hackett contributed to six Genesis ...

, working as Squackett. One song from these sessions, "The Man You Always Wanted Me to Be", was used on Yes's 2011 album ''

Fly from Here ''Fly from Here'' is the twentieth studio album by the English progressive rock band Yes. It was released on 22 June 2011 by Frontiers Records, and is their only album featuring lead vocalist Benoît David and keyboardist Oliver Wakeman. Yes r ...

'', co-written and performed by Johnson. Another idea from the sessions was used in "The Game" on Yes's next album, 2014's '' Heaven & Earth''. Johnson returned to Saint Etienne as orchestral arranger and conductor of their June 2007 live film soundtrack performance ''This is Tomorrow'', part of the celebrations which marked the re-opening of London's Royal Festival Hall after its closure for extensive refurbishment. He toured extensively with Saint Etienne during 2009 and continues to work with the band. He has since formed The Electric Opera with long-term collaborator Mark Bown, and composed for and directed numerous shows at the South London Theatre.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Gerard 1963 births Living people British rock keyboardists British pop musicians British audio engineers British record producers British musical theatre composers People from Newport, Wales The Syn members