Long-time barbershopper Bill Johnson passed away peacefully on May 16, 2018. He enjoyed his long life, and filled it with love for his family, and of course, his love for music.
His love of singing started as a young man. He sang in the Long Beach Civic Light Opera (CLO) as a dashing young tenor singer. He joined the Society in the 1950s, and was active in the Long Beach and Whittier chapters. He had friendships of a lifetime through this and many other facets within the hobby.
Bill took a hiatus while working on his master's degree, but rejoined the Society in the 1970s, and soon after that began singing with a quartet called the Offshore Four. The quartet was prolific for a number of decades, and included some greats such as: CJ Sams, Stan Krom, Cecil Sams, Don Barton and subs like Craig Ewing and his son, Rik Johnson. He also sang with co-workers from McDonnell Douglas in a quartet called the DC-4.
Bill loved to woodshed and find three other guys to sing at conventions and Barbershop schools. He knew untold numbers of old songs and loved to lay out the melody to some old chestnut. These were gateways into friendships that would last for decades with other guys throughout the Society. He also had a special friendship with the legendary Earl Moon. They both knew a litany of songs, and they liked to try to stump each other with a verse or old song that the other might not know.
There will be an ‘Afterglow’ / Celebration of Life for Bill Johnson over Labor Day weekend in Southern California, on Sunday September 2 from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Centre At Sycamore Plaza, 5000 Clark Ave, Lakewood, California 90712.
The family is catering a lunch. If you are planning on attending, please RSVP to Rik Johnson or Kathleen Johnson so they will know how many to plan on for the meal. Kindly include your email address, or the best number to text or call you. If a call is the best way to notify you, please let them know that as well.
Far Western District