Chad "Gravy Boat" Johnson

Chad was born and raised in Morrisville Missouri, and graduated from Marion C. Early High School in 2000. He started playing Dobro around 1992 on a 1920s brass body dobro he inherited from his Grandpa John Dohle.
His first band was the Ripplin' Waters Bluegrass Band he helped form in '95, at the age of 14 and picked with them until '02 when they took a break. He soon joined Waterloo Boy bluegrass band and toured around the antique tractor and bluegrass festivals until '04 when they slowed down and he joined up with Just In Tyme bluegrass band and with them until the banjo picker (Eli) took off to play bass for Nothin' Fancy. In '05 he took off with The Arkamo Rangers, who really began shaping his musical talent. To this day he gives the Arkamo credit for being the musician he is today.
Tempted by a good friend who wanted to move closer to the love of his life, he moved to Murfreesboro TN in July of '06 and started pickin' with Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike. Val and the gang took him around the world including Germany, Ireland, England, Holland, Switzerland and more. But Chad desperately missed Polk County life, and moved back in Feb of '09 and spent the year pickin' with the group Midnight Flight. Some of his friends from the Arkamo Rangers had moved on to form the group The HillBenders, and gave him a call shortly after the return home. In '09 he went with them and they placed 1st in the Telluride band comp.
He is currently still playing with the HillBenders and anyone else he can when not on tour.