Johnny Colla

Johnny Colla (born John Victor Colla, 2 July 1952, Sacramento, California) is one of the founding members of the American rock band, Huey Lewis and the News. He is the guitarist and saxophonist. He has been heavily involved in the San Francisco Bay Area music scene for more than 25 years.

Brief history

Colla's first bands that he was involved with were the Furlanders and Cottonmouth. After these he joined Sound Hole as a saxophonist. Sound Hole was successful on the local level and even managed to become Van Morrison's backing band for some time. Colla was a member of Soundhole along with drummer Bill Gibson and bassist Mario Cipollina. Soundhole was the major competition to pre Huey Lewis band, Clover. After Sound Hole, Colla was part of Sly and the Family Stone for a few months and even recorded with them. Eventually though in the late 1970s Soundhole and Clover would merge to form a new group the American Express which later became known as Huey Lewis and the News. For the News, Colla became saxophonist, rhythm guitarist, backing singer and songwriter.

Colla was drawn to San Francisco from the Sacramento Valley during the 1960s Summer of Love. Like many others, Colla patronized the Avalon Ballroom and the Fillmore Auditorium, eventually pursuing his idols and musical dreams over the Golden Gate Bridge into Marin County.

"I moved to Marin because that's where all the musicians moved after the San Francisco scene blew up. For a start-up musician in the seventies, it was a hot-bed of musical activity; a great place to be and be heard." He says. "Then I beat the odds. We not only started a great band, but actually became successful at it!"

" "Sure, we're the Tony Bennetts of our generation [...] but it's not such a bad way to go. I can think of worse jobs."

Colla secured his position in rock folklore by penning such classics as "The Heart of Rock and Roll", "The Power of Love", and "If This Is It".Colla is still today an integral part of The News (Lewis and Colla co-produced the band's 2001 album "Plan B").

olo career

Colla embarked upon a solo career to expand his personal musical horizons.

"Deep inside, every songwriter wants to sing the songs that they write." Colla states "Once a person writes something they really believe in, it's strong medicine. It's like a drug; you want to do it again and again. It's a bit self-indulgent, but songwriting is my creative outlet; It is a scratch I have to itch. I'm not looking for fame or fortune in my solo endeavor; I'm simply exploring my own beliefs and musical tastes. If I can put into words what someone else can't say themselves, I've done what I set out to do. Besides all that, it’s still great fun to jump up on stage and bash it all out!"

Colla recently released his first solo album "Lucky Devil", which has been compared to everything from the "Rockabilly side of Huey and the News" to "Don Henley without the pretentious lyrics".Fact|date=June 2007 Johnny Colla and the Lucky Devils were formed in the mid 1990s by Colla. Whenever the News take a break Colla plays his favorite music with his own band. Major influences in his music are rhythm and blues and 1950s music.

Appraisal

Earbuzz.com calls the quality of Colla's vocal performance "compelling and soulful", reminiscent of the blue-eyed Philly Sound, with "a beautiful pop subtlety"," adding that "fans of pop, western movers, Americana, and guitar rockabilly have struck the mother lode of music and will fall in love with the entire CD"." EarBuzz continues to say "Equally impressive is (the fact) that Colla produced, performed, and wrote all of the tracks without his signature sax playing - further magnifying his abilities as a singer/songwriter of substance and talent "."

Discography

Colla produced or performed on these records.
*Patrick Simmons (The Doobie Brothers), "Arcade" (Elektra Records, 1982) songwriter, "Don't Make Me Do It"
*Heart (EMD/Capitol Records, 1985) backing vocals, "These Dreams" and other tracks
*Nick Lowe album - "The Rose of England" (CBS Records, 1988) backing singer "I Knew the Bride (When She Used to Rock 'n' Roll)"
* back to the streets "celebrating the music of Don Covay" (shanachie records, 1993)lead vocal (duet) with Arlene Smith, "Letter Full of Tears"
*Pablo Cruise, "Out of our Hands" (A&M Records, 1993)saxophone solo, "Talk to me Right"
* Yoshihiro ishikawa, "Peace" (pioneer ldc, Japan, 1993) produced, recorded, arranged and performed on several tracks
* A tribute to Curtis Mayfield "People get Ready" (shanachie records, 1993) produced, arranged and sang with Huey Lewis and the News on "It's Alright"
*Yoshihiro Ishikawa "Love" (pioneer ldc, Japan, 1994) produced, recorded, arranged and performed on several tracks
* Doc Kupka's strokeland superband "Kick It Up A Step" (Strokeland Records) backing vocals and vocal arrangement, "Bittersweet With a Ray of Hope"
*Holiday Heroes compilation cd "Holiday Heroes" (Soul Purpose Records, 1995) songwriter, lead vocal, producer, "My Christmas Wish"
*Grace Slick, "Software" (RCA Records) backing vocals, "Through the Window", "It Just won't Stop"
*Deborah Coleman, "Soft Place to Fall" (Blind Pig Records, 2000) songwriter, "Don't Lie to Me"