We Hooked Another One: Jazz Saxophonist, Ski Johnson

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 Beginning to play golf was sort of like playing saxophone for the first time—being out there all alone, me and the sax and me and the green. When you’re playing saxophone on stage it’s a do or die situation and the it’s same with golf. When you’re teeing off or putting no one can help you, you face a defining moment. Recently I attended an event with The Green Magazine and it was just so exciting. It was such a great experience that I’m playing regularly now.

As for the sax, I started playing around 1984. I went to Duke Ellington School for the Arts in DC and later went to Howard University. At 12 years old I lost my hair and my mother thought it was cancer or some life threatening disease. Thank God it didn’t end up being that, but I went through a lot of issues in school with my peers. The music and playing saxophone was my escape. My grandfather used to play the clarinet and my mother introduced me to that and later I switched to the sax. Eventually the sax became my everything.

I’ve recorded eight albums but my latest album was god-sent. God just guided me through the entire process. I give all praise to him. I don’t care how big you get or how successful you are, God controls everything. Both of my parents passed away from cancer and I’ve never dedicated an album to a cause, but this one I dedicated to the American Cancer Society. And the one album that I do that with is the album that goes to number one and get’s nominated for the Grammys and Smooth Jazz awards. That told me that this is God’s will and I know I’m doing what’s right and that’s why I’m being blessed.