Ben Johnsen

About Ben Johnsen

Ben Johnsen was born in Norway in 1954 and both his parents were also playing.

He started to play on accordion when he was just some few years old, and played in public the first time in the age of 5 !
When he was 12 years old, he had his first gig on a Yamaha B4.
In the age of 15, he became a Norwegian Champion on the Yamaha organ.

Later, he had a 6 piece rock band, and was touring for some years around Norway.

Since he also played bass and lead guitar, he was also helping out other artists in studio recordings, tours, e.t.c
In 1985 he moved to Costa Blanca in Spain. He started to play in Benidorm and later in the famous club “El Vaso de Oro” in Albir,
where he was the recident musician foralmost 10 years.

He joined a lot of radio programs at that time and it was because of the radio he met the famous Rudi Witt, the former clarinet player of Louis Armstrong.
Ben Johnsen became Rudi’s piano player until Rudi passed away in 1997.

Ben has also been performing with several well known stars like:

* Rudi Witt (ex. Louis Armstrong),
* Bernie Price (from New Orleans)
* Antonio Serrano Dalmas (World Champion on Harmonica),
* Hot River Band
* Kristian Fredriksen
* Dean Michael (Black Laze),
* Michael Sax (The Drifters),
* The Platters, Carl Denver, Shirley McCansie,
* Jody Lane, Dave Lee, Geir Johansen (Lollipop), Bob DeWille,
* Ree Rivers, Jason Kane and many others…

Ben Johnsen sadly passed away January 9th, 2011.  He will be missed by all his friends and family..