Don Johnson was born in 1929 and as a young boy started playing trumpet ‎with the Salvation Army and travelled all over the world playing for the troops. He was often featured in CBC music variety shows where he played trumpet and sometimes sang.

As he progressed in his trumpet skills he played for years with the Toronto Philharmonic orchestra and as leader at the Beverly Hills night club. Don also performed and recorded tv and radio shows with his good friend and colleague trumpeter Johnny Cowell. He met my mother Peggy Neville in Winnipeg, who was performing as a vocalist for CBC at the time and later became the singer with his band.

When he married and settled down he took a full time teaching position at Humber College and become the Head of the Music department. He taught hundreds of Canada’s best young brass players at Humber until he retired in the early ’90’s but he never gave up his love and passion for the trumpet. Over the years he also travelled to the States adjudicating many American marching band competitions.

He moved up north to Sauble Beach where he continued to teach, conduct, and perform with the Kincardine Brass Band and the Lighthouse Band. In his 80’s he decided to learn how to play the piano and started taking lessons to further his musical knowledge.

He practiced almost every day for his entire life and always called the trumpet his elixir of life.    Anesie Johnson-Smith.