Nate Johnson
Bio
Born and raised in San Francisco, Nate attended St. Emidius and Sacred Heart grammar schools and later St. Ignatius College Preparatory, playing clarinet and saxophone in the orchestra/jazz band. He also played piano/organ at Sacred Heart Church, and guitar/bass in various local bands in San Francisco, notably with his father’s band “The US Males”, a group of Bay Area postal employees.
He attended the US Military Academy, West Point, and then served as an Infantry Officer at Ft. Benning, GA. While stationed there, he formed a band with musicians in the Columbus, GA area, playing clubs and private/corporate functions, and serving as music director with local talent in radio station WFXE’s semi-annual talent show, sharing the stage with various national acts including Heavy D and the Boyz, MC Lyte, Keith Sweat, and Teddy Riley & Guy.
After discharge, Nate moved to Atlanta and co-founded international R&B touring group Absence of Color (AOC). The Band toured over 17 countries in Europe and Asia, recorded an album for BMG in Hamburg, Germany, and landed a clothing line deal with the Linmark Company in Hong Kong, launching the AOC brand two consecutive years at the annual Magic Show in Las Vegas. He also produced various international artists from Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, India, Indonesia, and Dubai.
Nate relocated to Chicago in 2007, and has since produced projects with inspirational artist Walt Cunningham (Dartmouth Gospel Choir), Chico DeBarge and Joe. He also served as “Front of House” engineer for several international artists including Yolanda Adams, Bebe Winans, Bishop Paul Morton, Carole King, and Doug E. Fresh.
Now based in Spain and traveling frequently throughout the US, Europe and Asia, Nate expanded his company, to include composing/producing music for films, television and commercials (working extensively with Harpo Productions), and developing a new contemporary music curriculum at Dartmouth College with the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (the Grammys – of which Nate is a voting member).
In his free time, Nate enjoys flashing his million dollar smile and strolling around Dartmouth's campus.
Click on the link to listen to more of Nate’s music featured in the library.