JOHNNY VANA
(Leader/Percussionist)
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Appearances





































Some Interesting facts we learned
on the Internet concerning
Johnny Vana


    Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, Johnny Vana won his first amateur show playing drums at the age of 2½.  He later sat in with Glenn Miller's Band at the ripe old age of 4.  Johnny studied with Gene Krupa, Bobby Christian, Roy Knapp and Frankie Rullo.  At the age of 12, he toured with th Horace Heidt Show/Orchestra and was a member of the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra at age 14. 
   His credits have only sky-rocketed since then.  He has been featured with the orchestras of Les and Larry Elgart, Harry James, Sammy Kaye, Richard Maltby, Buddy Morrow and The Tonight Show Band and has backed numerous musical artists including: Peggy Lee, The Letterman, Bette Midler, George Burns, Anita Bryant, The Ink Spots, Jerry Lewis, and many others.  Johnny has also toured and appeared on various television shows, movies, and commercials including:  Life Goes On, For The Boys, Beaches, Gypsy, All I Want For Christmas and The Wedding Singer.
   His amazing talents are demonstrated to the audience by his exciting solos; but for the musicians it is a matter of that continual perfect beat which musically holds things together. He demands the best from himself and inspires the best from every member of the band by his own fine example. 
*   *   *
    Vana played professionally until he was old enough to go to college, first to the University of Nebraska and then to the University of Texas where he earned Master of Music Education.
    He has accumulated many impressive credits including being featured with the orchestras of Les and Larry Elgart, Harry James, Sammy Kaye, Richard Maltby, Buddy Morrow and The Tonight Show Band and has backed numerous musical artists including: Peggy Lee, The Letterman, Bette Midler, George Burns, Anita Bryant, the Ink Spots, Jerry Lewis, and others. Johnny has also toured and appeared on various television shows, movies, and commercials including:Life Goes On, For The Boys, Beaches, Gypsy, All I Want For Christmas and The Wedding Singer.
    His talents are demonstrated by exciting solos and his dependably perfect beat keeps the rest of the band in sync. He demands the best from himself and inspires the best from every member of the band.
*   *   *
    First playing drums at the age of 3 and later earning a Master of Musical Education at the University of Texas, Johnny has played drums on stage, in film and on television. His background in several different bands, performing both as sideman and leader, has given him the experience to lead the Big Band Alumni, taking the band to new levels of perfection.
    With Johnny Vana leading the band, America Swings.


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    Members of the Big Band Alumni have made history performing with many of the celebrated orchestras of the big-band era. The alumni are from the bands of Billy May, Woody Herman, Harry James, Freddy Martin, Bob Crosby, Stan Kenton, Glenn Miller, the Dorsey and Elgart brothers, Benny Goodman, Les Brown, Buddy Rich, Ray Anthony, Louie Bellson, Alvino Rey and many other notable bands.
    The Big Band Alumni led by Johnny Vana continues to please concert audiences and swing dancers after 15 years of regular performances. The authentic swinging sounds of the 40's and 50's are still alive with the Alumni who continue to perform with the same passion of the era as intended by the songwriters and arrangers.
    Johnny Vana and the Big Band Alumni have appeared at numerous concerts, corporate events, jazz festivals, major dances and on television. Its music has been heard on 365 jazz and swing radio stations across the U.S. and Canada, as well as on the BBC in London.
    The Big Band Alumni is available to perform at your event and to support your talent.

For Official Bio click
Here

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Appearances





















































APPEARANCES
Johnny Vana's Big Band Alumni
AMERICA'S ALL STAR SWING BAND
Every Tuesday morning at 10:30
LAS HADAS RESTAURANT & CANTINA
9048 Balboa Blvd. (Nordhoff)
Northridge, CA 91325
(818) 892-7271
Join the fun! Open to the public!
FUTURE APPEARANCES
with his own combos:
 
AUGUST  2008
                           Date    Location  

                               3    GLENDALE, CA

                               4    VENTURA, CA

                               5    REHEARSAL – LAS HADAS RESTR.

                               6    CAMARILLO, CA

                               10  BRENTWOOD, CA

                               11  VENTURA, CA

                               12   REHEARSAL-LAS HADAS RESTR.

                               13   SANTA BARBARA, CA

                               16   CAMARILLO, CA

                               18   VENTURA, CA

                               19   REHEARSAL-LAS HADAS RESTR.

                               22   BREAMAR COUNTRY CLUB

                               23   CAMARILLO, CA

                               24   BRENTWOOD, CA

                               25   VENTURA, CA

                               26   OXNARD, CA

                               30   LOS ANGELES MARRIOTT (LAX) “SWEET & HOT JAZZ FESTIVAL




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MUSICAL BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
JOHNNY VANA PERCUSSIONIST

Address:      P.O. Box 8722

Universal City, CA, 91618 (818) 368-2355

Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska

 

Won his first amateur show playing drums at the age of2-1/2. Sat in with Glenn Miller's Band when only four years old!
 

Won the Major Bowes Amateur Hour show in New Yark at the age of eight.

Was a student of Gene Krupa, Bobby Christian, Roy Knapp and Frankie Rullo.

Toured with the "Horace Heidt Show/Orchestra" at the age of 12. Was a member of the "Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra" at the age of 14.

 Has been featured with the orchestras of Les & Larry Elgart, Harry James, Sammy Kaye, Richard Maltby, Buddy Morrow, Pat Longo, George Probert's Firehouse Five +2 Reunion Jazz Band, The Tonight Show Band, Horace Heidt Jf.' s Orchestra, Nelson Riddle Jr. Orchestra,

 Has toured and appeared on various television shows, movies, and commercials including: Life Goes On, For The Boys, Beaches, Man Trouble, School Ties, Sinatra, Gypsy, Police Academy IV, Police Academy VI, Presidio, Harry­0, The Flash, The Bird, All I Want For Christmas, Lame Duck, Soulmates, arid most recently The Wedding Singer. Commercials include: Lexus, Miller Highlite, GE, Pac Bell, Budweiser, Coca Cola, Sports Dlusttated, McDonald's Mac Tonight, Denny's and mop. Was recently featured on The Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon with Louie Belson and Sheila E.

Has backed musical artists including: Peggy Lee, The Letterman, Tony Martin, Eddie Fisher, Bette Midler, George Burns, Anita Bryant, The Ink Spots, Helen O'Connell, The Four Aces, Milton Berle, Jerry Lewis, Paul Anka, Juliet Prowse, and Harry Connick, Sr. Mills Brothers, Mickey Rooney, Coasters, Crew Cuts, Diamonds, Peter Matshall, Kay Starr.

Has a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Music from the University of Nebraska and a Master's of Music Degree from the University of Texas.

Was Executive Officer with the U.S. Air Force Band, Washington, D.C. and later was Commanding Officer of the 680th Air Force Band.

Taught instrumental music in the Nebraska and Texas public schools and colleges for 12 years.

Principal Percussionist with the Omaha and EI Paso Symphony Orchestras.

Lead his own big band in Texas, which included personnel that were alumnus of "name" bands, and all band members held master's degrees in music and were music teachers.

Was an executive with Capitol, MCA and CBS Records Divisions.

Member: American Federation of Musicians, Locals #47, #466 and #70.