The band is full of talented people and Bob Johnson is no exception. Primarily
an alto saxophone player, he also conducts many pieces in his unique style.
He demands the best possible performance from the band members, which
is reflected both in his conducting and in his own performance.
Bob often performs solos on his saxophone, most
recently "Georgia On My Mind," which he played at both the Oktoberfest
Festival and the Festival of Leaves in Front Royal this year.
Bob was born in Washington, DC and grew up in Tysons
Corner, Va. He began playing the saxophone when he was eight years old
and played with the school band. When he was in high school, he owned
several bands which played mainly in Northern Virginia. They played at
many high school dances and even on the radio.
Bob attended Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va, then entered
flight school and became an Air Force pilot. Later he became a pilot for
Eastern Airlines.
Somehow, 30 years passed before Bob was drawn back into
the world of music. He joined the Community Band in 1990 and music has become a
large part of his life again. He's also the leader/manager of the 'Yesterday'
Swing Orchestra, a 17-piece "big band" that plays 1940's style music in the
Shenandoah Valley and Northern Virginia areas.
Bob is currently an airline pilot instructor for the
Pan Am International Flight Academy just north of Dulles. He's married, with four
children, and seven grandchildren.
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