Johnnie Valentino

Born in 1957 in a South Philadelphia neighborhood filled with a history of jazz guitarists that starts with 1920's legend Eddie Lang continuing through to today's jazz guitar legend Pat Martino. Johnnie studied privately as a young man with Dennis Sandole, Joe Sgro and Pat Martino. Also during that time he studied composition at Rutgers University while doing local club dates and recording sessions at Alpha recording studio for Philly World Records. In 1984 Johnnie relocated to Los Angeles where he has been musically active in many facets such as writing,,recording, scoring, performing and sound designing for TV, films and recordings. During these years he has recorded with some of today's leading contemporary improvisers including , Alex Acuna, Bennie Maupin,Vinny Golia,Wadada Leo Smith, Billy Drewes, Oscar Brashear, Andy Lester, Kermit Driscoll, Sherman Ferguson, Luis Conte, Mick Rossi, Alphonso Johnson,Delmar Brown and Pat Martino. At the 2000 International Monitor Awards in LA he was awarded the Best Sound Design Award. Now in 2001 his "Searching Souls" CD is released on Ninewinds label #NWCD0233. Other recordings "Free Exchange" & Goin' Public on Four Winds Entertainment FW2002 &� FW2005.