Born: June 22, 1971 Primary Instrument: Drums
Todd Anders Johnson-Producer, Composer, Educator, Percussionist, Vocalist
Todd Anders Johnson is a professional musician and environmental activist. He has been producing music, recording and touring internationally for 20 years. Todd studied with Mbulelo Mzamane and J.R. Deep Ford at the University of Vermont and holds a BA in Regional Development from the University of Washington Geography department.
Todd has worked with ONE Campaign in Philadelphia at a campus challenge and has been nominated as a Cloudveil inspired mountain ambassador. He has endorsements with Columbia Sportswear, Native Eyewear, Osprey Packs, Libtech Snowboards, Northwave Snowboard Boots, Boulder Outdoor Center, Ayotte Drums and Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures.
Todd has been on the board of directors of Rockschool and Iamedia in Seattle and worked with TEENS, Inc. in Nederland, Colorado to establish a music eduction program. Todd worked with members of People For Fair Trade in Seattle during the 1999 World Trade Organization meetings and assisted with event booking and production during the inception of the Independent Media Center.
Todd’s band is called Salem and the group has played EXPN Winter X Games 12 in Aspen, 48 Straight King of the Mountain in Sun Valley, MSI US Freeskiing events in Copper and Jackson Hole, the Northface Masters in Alaska, has film soundtracks with Warren Miller, Hiroyuki Yamada and a song in the 2009 ESPN X Games CD compilation.
Salem plays conscious funk, jazz, Hip-Hop composed by drummer/singer Todd Anders Johnson. The group has toured consistently throughout the US and Canada for the last 5 years at music venues, festivals, colleges and the biggest ski and snowboard events: the US Snowboarding Grand Prix at Copper 2010, the VISA Cup in Telluride 2010, the Winter X 12 Games, the 48 Straight King of the Mountain in Sun Valley 2009 and the US Freeskiing Open in Copper 2009.
The band has been touring with the Risan Project multi media tours since November 2009 throughout the US and Canada. These events have featured film premiers of Sweetgrass Productions' “Signatures”, Protect Our Winters “Generations”. The Risan Project has also featured presentations from scientists like Konrad Steffen and also representatives from the Al Gore Climate Project and Canadian gold medal Olympian, Adam Kreek.
Salem music has been featured in the ski and snowboard industry in film soundtracks with Warren Miller's “Off the Grid” and a song in the 2009 Winter X Games CD compilation. Salem music is featured in Hiroyuki Yamada's Japanese ski film “End of the Line” that was released in November 2009 as well.
Salem is now endorsed by Libtech Snowboards, Ayotte Drums, Columbia Sportswear, Native Eyewear, Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures, Northwave Boots and Boulder Outdoor Center. Todd is a nominated inspired mountain ambassador with Cloudveil as well.
National Act support: Salem has performed nationally alongside acts such as Keller Williams, Pato Banton, De La Soul, Sweatshop Union, The Meters (PBS), Bone Thugs N Harmony, DJ Logic, Stanton Moore and Will Bernard, Hells Belles, Mama's Cookin, Tab Benoit, Rebirth Brass Band, The Motet, Steve Earle and Zilla.
“Salem's Todd Anders Johnson reinvented his band when he moved to Colorado a couple of years ago. His socially conscious reggae/Afro- influenced music has found a home in the ski and snowboard industry, as its soundtrack. After being featured on Warren Miller's “Off the Grid,” he and band are touring with the athletes, playing X-Games last weekend, Copper's U.S. Freesking Tour and the Jeep King of the Mountain Tour.” Leslie Brefeld, Summit Daily News, January 31, 2008
“Like Bono and Franti, Johnson utilizes his music to help create awareness. Masterfully weaving hip-hop, neo-soul, funk, jazz, and Afro-Cuban styles, Salem is bound to move and groove you.” Rebecca Thoreson, Telluride Daily Watch, November 9th, 2007
“Todd Anders Johnson can pound out mad beats while culling some tight lyrics, reaching that percussive Nirvana of five-part independence. Salem is certainly a band on the rise.” Jason Blevins, Denver Post, January 30, 2008
“ Salem, a band with an eclectic mix of Hip-Hop, Funk and Afro-Cuban music, bridges that gap and creates a union between these genres. The end product is a groundbreaking and unique sound.” Spotlight story by Nicole Cormier, Colorado Music Buzz Magazine, January 2008
Primary Instrument:
Drums
Location:
Boulder, CO
Willing to teach:
Advanced students only.
