Paul Johnson’s impressive list of surf music credentials dates back to the beginning; he was (along with Dick Dale) one of the genre’s principal founders and pioneers. And this same “pioneer spirit” has marked his career at every step of the way… Paul wrote the classic tune, “Mr. Moto,” at age 14 for his band, the Belairs. (Charting in early ’62, this was the earliest recording to be tagged “surf music.”) His innovative, lyrical playing style led to numerous studio credits (on records by The Hondells, Davie Allan, Bobby Sherman, Sonny & Cher and others); his prolific output of original tunes and creative ideas made him one of the most respected figures of that period. As the surf trend waned in the mid-‘60s, Paul formed the groundbreaking folk-rock band, Everpresent Fullness, which had a near brush with major success. Following this, he retreated from the scene and lived rurally for a time, away from the hubbub, seeking direction for his personal and musical life. Paul’s path, as it turned out, led full-circle... The ‘80s found him back at the vanguard of a new and growing surf-instrumental revival that welcomed the return of his melodic playing style. He made a number of albums during this decade—some with his band, the Packards, and others showcasing his genius as a solo-multitrack artist. This brought him worldwide acclaim as a leader in both the early and latter phases of this musical subculture. (Witness: in the late ‘80s, Guitar Player magazine devoted a feature article to Paul and his return to the music scene, and the Hard Rock Café put a PJ guitar up on their wall.) In 1989, Paul joined the top-charting surf-instrumental band of all time, the Surfaris (“Wipeout”). Since that time, this band has toured extensively worldwide and secured a reputation as the best there is at what they do. Along with his high visibility as a Surfari, he is also very active these days with the Duo-tones—his innovative collaboration with Gil Orr of the Chantays ("Pipeline"). Their fresh approach to playing the surf classics as a duo (often on acoustic guitars), has won them praise for giving new life to the genre even while they affirm its traditional roots. This is Paul Johnson’s MO in all that he does: to continue breaking new ground with further innovations that advance the form. He’s never a follower, but always a pioneer at the vanguard, playing a vital role in shaping the music. Thus he remains high in the esteem of the genre's fans as one of its leading lights. visit Paul online at www.pjmoto.com—one of the most colorful music sites on the internet today... an extraordinary surf-instro tour, filled with history, photos and free streaming of Paul’s recordings from every period.