Eric Johnson Net Worth

What Is Eric Johnson's Net Worth?

Eric Johnson is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and musician who has a net worth of $2 million.

Eric Johnson is considered one of the most technically accomplished electric guitarists of his generation and is best known for the instrumental "Cliffs of Dover." His music combines rock, blues, jazz, fusion, country, and classical influences, while his meticulous approach to guitar tone has made him particularly influential among musicians.

Johnson's commercial breakthrough came with the 1990 album "Ah Via Musicom," which was certified platinum and produced "Cliffs of Dover." The song earned Johnson the Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance and became his signature recording. His earlier album "Tones" had already earned him a Grammy nomination, and he later toured with fellow guitar virtuosos Joe Satriani and Steve Vai as part of the original G3 lineup.

In addition to recording and touring for several decades, Johnson has had a lengthy association with Fender, which has produced multiple Eric Johnson signature Stratocaster models. His career has also included collaborations with artists such as Mike Stern and extensive session work.

Early Life

Eric Johnson was born on August 17, 1954, in Austin, Texas. He grew up in a musical household and began studying piano as a child before taking up the guitar at approximately age 11. His early influences ranged from rock and blues musicians to jazz players, and he developed a reputation around Austin while still young.

As a teenager, Johnson played with the psychedelic rock group Mariani. In 1974, he joined the Austin fusion band the Electromagnets, whose combination of rock and jazz helped establish his reputation among musicians even though the group never achieved major commercial success.

After the Electromagnets broke up, Johnson formed the Eric Johnson Group with drummer Bill Maddox and bassist Kyle Brock. The group recorded material that eventually became the album "Seven Worlds," though contractual complications delayed its release for many years.

Breakthrough

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Johnson supplemented his work as a solo musician with session jobs. His credits included work connected to artists such as Cat Stevens, Carole King, and Christopher Cross. His reputation as a guitarist eventually attracted the attention of major labels.

Johnson signed with Warner Bros. Records in the 1980s, although the relationship did not produce an album. He later signed with Cinema Records, distributed through Capitol, and released "Tones" in 1986. The instrumental "Zap" earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.

His breakthrough arrived with "Ah Via Musicom" in 1990. The album eventually went platinum, an unusual achievement for a record built substantially around instrumental guitar music. It included "Trademark," "Desert Rose," and "Cliffs of Dover." The latter won the Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance and became a standard among technically oriented guitar players.

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Later Career

Johnson followed "Ah Via Musicom" with "Venus Isle" in 1996. Around the same period, he joined Joe Satriani and Steve Vai for the first G3 concert tour, which brought three of the world's most prominent rock guitarists together on the same bill. Johnson also appeared on the resulting "G3: Live in Concert" album and video.

His later releases have included "Souvenir," "Bloom," "Up Close," and "EJ." In 2014, Johnson collaborated with jazz guitarist Mike Stern on "Eclectic." He subsequently released "EJ Vol II" and the companion albums "The Book of Making" and "Yesterday Meets Today."

Johnson has remained particularly influential in the guitar-equipment world. Fender has produced several signature instruments in his name, including the Eric Johnson Stratocaster, a Thinline version, and a model based on his vintage 1954 "Virginia" Stratocaster. "Virginia" was among the instruments associated with the recording of "Tones," "Ah Via Musicom," and "Cliffs of Dover."

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