cds by Johnny O'Neal
piano
Johnny O'Neal is a GRAMMY nominated pianist and vocalist, known for his soulfully swinging, humorous, and emotionally relatable performances. His concerts naturally blend a wide range of musical styles . He has performed or with Sarah Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie, Anita O'Day, Rosemary Clooney, Carmen McCrae, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Clark Terry, Stan Getz, Sonny Stitt, and many more.
O'Neal began in the music world early on as a prodigious young teenager winning the 2nd Annual James Cleveland youth gospel piano competition in Kansas City. He would be discovered by bassist Ray Brown who facilitated O'Neal's first album. In coming years he would tour with Lionel Hampton, Milt Jackson, Buddy DeFranco, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Carmen McRae and many more, and touring as lead singer with Ray Charles' shortly following the great artist's transition. In 1988 O'Neal's album "Soulful Swinging" was listed as jazz album of the year in U.S.A Today magazine, as a tie with Branford Marsalis.
O'Neal began in the music world early on as a prodigious young teenager winning the 2nd Annual James Cleveland youth gospel piano competition in Kansas City. He would be discovered by bassist Ray Brown who facilitated O'Neal's first album. In coming years he would tour with Lionel Hampton, Milt Jackson, Buddy DeFranco, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Carmen McRae and many more, and touring as lead singer with Ray Charles' shortly following the great artist's transition. In 1988 O'Neal's album "Soulful Swinging" was listed as jazz album of the year in U.S.A Today magazine, as a tie with Branford Marsalis.