Leo Johns
- a soulful player of pianos, synthesizers, Hammond organs, and other
instruments, Leo takes the time to make the sound sound right. Comfortable out
front, but always happy to hide in the back, Leo
supports the Aces with rich, distinctive and thoroughly classic keyboard
textures.Leo was bitten by a serious music jones when he was a '70s graduate student in KU's Department of Biology. He soon found himself taking a short "sabbatical" from graduate work to collect some keyboards and build a few bands. By the mid-80's he was a Midwest club scene veteran, appearing with roadhouse acts like Top Choice, Mirage, and Duke Elephant, and legendary club bands Lupe and Yellow Brick Road.
Recently, Leo's been "playing out a little and sittin' in a little" - and appearing occasionally with big-event bands like Atlantic Express. An accomplished pianist and church musician, you may see him solo, with a band at Sunday chapel, or at a local coffee house or youth event with his band Upward Hill.
By day he's a technologist, programming computers and designing web sites for corporations, non-profits and musicians. He's a pretty good tech, and maintains instruments for players around town. He's also an astronomer, a Cub Scoutmaster, a former World Class Frisbee Master, and a student of Tae Kwan Do. Someday, when he finishes more poetry and songs, he'll publish something interesting to LeoJohns.com.
