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Press Club of Long Island
Prize Winning Web
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The Fishing Line Band with Rich Johnson & Friends
(See Schedule Below)
If you would like to book the band or Rich Johnson for an appearance at your business or home party,
electric or acoustic contact us at 516-889-6895.
 

Starting in the 70's, Rich Johnson of The Fishing Line radio & television shows actually made a living playing in rock and roll bands traveling around the Midwest and then in the 80's was a regular in many of the famous 80's hangouts of Long Island like the Beach Club, Sandpiper in Long Beach, the OBI in Oakdale & Hamptons, Half Crown Pub and made special appearances to jam sessions with the Island's hottest bands like Phase 4, Broken Arrow and others before joining the Sunrise Highway Band in 82' in which he stayed with till 86'. After sitting out more than a decade weary of road travel and then with the huge success of The Fishing Line shows and internet sites, Rich never had time to play the way he wanted. Well in 2002, Rich got the itch to start playing again and like the Blues Brothers...decided to "put the band back together."

The Fishing Line Band (TFLB) has been a main act at several major events over the years including the Bud Festival at Pindar Winery in 03', NY State Park's Captree Seafood Festival each year as well as Long Island Assemblyman Joe Saladino's fund raising events. Rich continues to play guitar around the Island fronting and leading TFLB as well as sitting in many open mic and jam sessions around the Island and NY area and DJ Riders in Oceanside. Rich just returned from a few of these held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. TFLB specializes in classic and country rock goodies and good times from the Beatles, ZZ Top, Stones, Bob Seager, Eagles, Buffet, CCR and many, many others of your favorite all time songs from  the 60, 70's & 80's. If you are interested in booking the band for a backyard home event, club, dinner (yes we can be mellow), outdoor event, party or Bar-B-Que contact Rich through his e mail address which is rich@thefishingline.com.

TFLB's line up includes bass, drums, two guitars and piano along
with special guest friends that sit in from time to time. The TFLB lineup includes:

Rich Johnson, Founder: Lead vocals, harmony vocals, rhythm and lead electric guitar, acoustic guitar and bass. Influences: "I didn't start playing guitar till I was 21 years of age and living in the mid-west, Emporia KS. to be exact, so I do have a country "twang" to my style. Gary Richrath of REO Speedwagon said it best when he said rock guitar is just country licks sped up. My musical influences stem from the early British Invasion and of course include the Beatles, Dave Clark Five, Rod Stewart & the Faces, Paul McCartney along with Moody Blues, ELP and others. I was always a huge Beatles fanatic and collector and was a Beatles over the Stones fan for a long time, but  my appreciation for the Stones and what they were then and now grew as I aged. My American influences included Beach Boys and their harmonies, CCR, Seager, REO, Jackson Browne, Eagles, the Band and Kansas with my country influences being early Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams and Waylon Jennings. Turn Off's: Loud playing, never ending lead solos and guitar players that don't know how to play or hold a good rhythm. Best Memory: Saving up for my first stereo (69') and playing Sgt. Pepper over and over and over again and hearing the separation. Hearing the crowd roar when I hit the hard and high notes in "Night Moves" at an outdoor festival in Kansas back in 1976 and hosting Rick Derringer in my home (93') playing my Les Paul and then being back stage with Rick and playing his guitar. Favorite Albums: Beatles "White," Sgt. Pepper, Revolver, The Faces "A Nod is As Good As A Wink" (73'), Ten Years After, Eagles "On the Border" & Sticky Fingers.

Jim Moran: Jim Moran is a local musician from Long Island with a loyal and large fan base having been a master of the blues and rock for decades. Jim has performed with some of the most noted musicians in the biz like Al Jardine, Billy Hinchse, Maxine Brown, Stanley Jordan, Phobe Snow, Antonia Bennet, Liberty Devito, Richie Cannata, Tommy Burns, Jimmy Vivino, Sam Taylor, John O. Riley, Joe Lynn Turner, Danny Miranda from Queen, Little Buster, Roxy Perry, and countless others. Jim can play guitar, bass, drums and keys and is a very experienced teacher as well, making a living by teaching young and old alike the passion of music, but he is most noted for his incredible guitar work and The Fishing Line band is proud to have Jim as part of our entourage of musicians. Jim Moran’s influences include Wes Montgomery, Jimi Hendrix, Freddie King, Jeff Beck, BB King, Albert King, Allman Brothers, Beatles, Steely Dan, Traffic, Stevie Wonder, and anything funky which is why he fits so well in with TFLB.

Rick Shutter, Drums & Percussion: Rick is one of the leading percussionists in the business today with two (2) Gold Records under his belt for being the original drummer on Godspell. Rick has been playing most of this life. Having toured and played with many regionally known named bands, Rick makes his main living with a highly successful DJ business. Rick can play anything and everything from country swing to heavy metal is called for, Rick has to be one of the most versatile and well rounded drummers in the business playing and sitting in for "on-call" duty with some of the biggest acts on the Island and the region. Don't let his smaller stature fool you...Rick can pound with the best of them, but is well rounded experience allows him to do what is needed for whatever song or crowd request comes his way.

Rob Jack, Bass Guitar: Having played with so many musicians in his long career, Rob has become one of the most in demand bass players on Long Island. He plays at many open jams on the circuit and plays with several bands with a wide array of musical styles and with focus and skill on a fretless 5 string most of the time but can be found with a fretted 4 on more traditional gigs. A well rounded player who can cover any style. Rob has been the main bass player for TFLB for many years.

 

Bob Heller, Lead Guitar:  Lead and rhythm guitar, vocals and back ground vocals. Bob started guitar around 12 years of age and was playing jazz before rock & roll. He was introduced to the music of Charlie Parker, George Benson, Pat Martino, and Wes Montgomery at the age of 13, and dove into it head first, studying first with Peter Rogine, and later with Joe Monk. He was fortunate to have two younger brothers, Bill who plays keyboards, and Barry, who plays bass, so at a young age they would entertain family and do an occasional gig starting at the age of 14. Over the years Bob has played with several bands including The “Mudmen,” a well known Motown/R&B band on Long Island and “Steppin' Out,” “The Next Faze” both of which being top notch entertainment  bands "I'm looking forward to playing some good rock n' roll with Rich and having some fun!"

David Nesdall: Lead and rhythm guitar, lead and harmony vocals. Thanks to my grandmother, I started taking guitar lessons at the age of 5 and as the years went on, and with lots of ear training, I learned to sing as well. Influences: Well i have so many that it would be very hard to mention them all. I’d have to say Eddie Van Halen, Eric Clapton, Warren Haynes, Jimi Hendrix and Dickey Betts would be my top 5 favorite guitar players. Fondest Memory: Hanging out with Eddie Van Halen for a week in 1998 as his peer and not just another pain in the ass fan. Hanging out in Dickey Betts' tour bus, talking about Les Pauls and playing his favorite Les Paul and I guess playing guitar on stage with Steve Vai and Larry Mitchell. Special Thanks:  Mom, Dad, Tony, Eddie, Alex, and Brandi. Tommy, Mark. Very special thanks to Grandma R.I.P.

The Fishing Line 2010 Band Schedule: Here are the starting dates for our tour this season. As we get more we will plug them into this page schedule, so keep checking back. If you would like to book the band or Rich Johnson for an appearance at your business or home party, electric or acoustic contact us at 516-889-6895.

2010 Schedule

May
LI Maritime Museum

  • Sayville Maritime Museum

  • Saturday / May 22

  • 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

  • Live radio show broadcast at 4 p.m.

  • This is a fundraiser for the Nautical Museum

  • Sayville, Long Island

  • 631- HISTORY / 631-854-4974

LI Maritime Museum

  • Sayville Maritime Museum

  • Sunday / May 23

  • Noon to 4 p.m.

  • Live radio shwo broadcast at 4 p.m.

  • This is a fundraiser for the Nautical Museum

  • Sayville, Long Island

  • 631- HISTORY / 631-854-4974

My Joanne Crew & Birthday party

  • Sunday / May 30

  • F/V My Joanne / Gullo Party

  • 4 to 10 p.m.

  • Long Beach, NY

  • Sorry...Private party

July
Hurricane Harry's in Freeport, NY

  • Rich Johnson & Acoustic 3 piece

  • Friday afternoon / July 9

  • 5 to 8 p.m.

  • Hurricane Harry's

  • Woodcleft Ave.

  • Freeport, Long Island

Hurricane Harry's in Freeport, NY

  • Rich Johnson & Acoustic 3 piece

  • Sunday afternoon / July 25

  • 3:30 to 6:30

  • Hurricane Harry's

  • Woodcleft Ave.

  • Freeport, Long Island

August
Hurricane Harry's in Freeport, NY

Rich Johnson & The Fishing Line Band

  • Sunday / August 22

  • 5 to 9 p.m.

  • Off Key Tiki Bar

  • Patchogue, Long Island

  • Dance on white sands barefooted

  • Wonderful Tiki bar

  • Contact Mike B: 631-804-0595

Hurricane Harry's in Freeport, NY

September
Rich Johnson & The Fishing Line Band

  • Sunday / September 5

  • Capt. James Joseph Annual Crew & Friends Labor Day party

  • 4 p.m. to midnight

  • Huntington, NY

  • Sorry...Private party

Rich Johnson & The Fishing Line Band

  • Saturday / September 11

  • Willie Titterton Party 9/11 Party

  • Live radio broadcast too

  • 4 to 11 p.m.

  • Garden City, NY

  • Sorry...Private party

October
10th Annual Suffolk County In-Water Boat Show 

  • Saturday afternoon / October 9

  • 2 to 6 p.m.

  • 10th Annual Suffolk County In-Water Boat Show 

  • FREE Admission

  • FREE parking

  • Family Friendly

  • Food & beverages

  • 520 Shore Drive

  • 631-589-1087

  • www.Oakdale Boat Center

Oakdale Boat Center Fishing Tournament

LI Maritime Museum

  • Sayville Maritime Museum

  • Boat Burning-Viking Funeral

  • Friday afternoon/evening

  • October 29

  • 5 to 10 p.m.

  • This is a fundraiser for the Nautical Museum

  • Sayville, Long Island

  • 631- HISTORY / 631-854-4974

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"The Fishing Line" and "The Fishing Line" & Design, are registered Trademarks of Richard Johnson.  They may not be reproduced, copied, represented or used in any manner, shape or form. The contents of this web site are copyrighted by Richard Johnson & RJ Productions and may not be reproduced, copied, reprinted or sold in any manner, shape or form, under penalty of law.