"buskerJohnnie" is a gigging musician, street performer, & vocalist, who began busking in downtown Tampa in 1990. Johnnie was a child of two left coasts, born in Los Angeles, Ca., and later raised in Tampa, Fl.. 

In college, while enrolled full time at HCC's-Ybor City Campus, and just as soon as his federal financial aid was cut off, by Pres. GHW Bush's(R) Dept. of Education cuts, Johnnie decided to take a break, and use the last $500 U.S., "he had to his name" (...no where near enough to be able to continue in the Fall, as a full time student), and to visit a friend to take a 21 day vacation in Paris, in the Summer of 1992. While there, Johnnie extended his European vacation, by accepting a Dutch couples' invitation to visit the tiny, beautiful, Emmeloord, Holland, and soon after started a busking jazz & bossanova trio, namely, "The Darko, Misha, & Johnnie Trio", in Amsterdam, in order to hone his skills and earn his return trip home, as a professional street performer. 

busker Johnnie has; self produced two original electronic music albums on CDs, and worked in television broadcasting & film. Johnnie acted, danced, choreographed, & was even a college radio dj, who self produced and hosted a two hour radio vinyl show, "A Shot of Johnnie Walker", twice a week, as a University of Tampa undergrad. 

busker Johnnie has also recorded as a Tenor Saxophonist, flutist, and vocalist, on several of Manic Organica's electronic albums. And, he was asked to create and happily rendered several of Manic Organica's CD album covers.

busker Johnnie also did the final video editing and added the screen credits on Manic Organica's music video; "Chloe's Afternoon".

 Johnnie has opened several CafePress online shops, under his brand "busker Johnnie's" selling his own music, arts, surfing, activist & outdoor lifestyle inspired graphic designs. 

Johnnie has also been an Alto & Tenor Saxophonist, band member, in several local community bands; the Fanfare Concert Winds, the North Miami Concert Pops, and the Tampa Community Band -formerly , in 1991, the (Tampa) Jewish Community Center Band.  Johnnie has “subbed” on Tenor Sax & flute in two local big bands. And, Johnnie has gigged with other local musicians, including local recording artist, “Manic Organica”, and childhood pal and former band mate, Buster Castellano, when called upon.

As an activist, busker Johnnie, throughout his professional street performing career has been a vocal advocate for local; "live music", musicians getting paid for their gigs", "street performers being professional and courteous", and "venue, cafe, and bar owners paying the musicians they hire, upfront, in full,  prior to the start of their performances."

 ...busker Johnnie often cautions musicians, that when ever local venues hire bands and musicians, in order to fill their seats and bars, it is not the job of the musicians and bands, that they hire, starting out, to already have an established audience or followers, coming in, or as a precondition or excuse for the owners not paying them prior to their performances. It is a common excuse unscrupulous venue, cafe, and bar owners use to exploit and to not pay the musicians and bands, they have coaxed into agreeing to perform at their establishments. If you hire and pay good musicians and bands, to perform, in due time, the audiences, they will come. And, if they don't, usually, it is the fault of the establishment owner. Bottom line, busker Johnnie follows the business model ...that professional musicians should always be paid for their work and time.

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