Born in Austin, Texas in 1954, acclaimed guitarist Eric Johnson grew up listening to music and taking piano lessons, later learning guitar as a teenager. Inspired by Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck and other guitar greats, Johnson began performing in public during the 1970s; at first with a group called the Electromagnets, later as a solo musician. Unfortunately a bad management deal left Johnson unable to release an album or perform often, and he failed to break out of Austin as hoped. When his contract expired in 1984 Johnson appeared on the famed Austin City Limits TV program and caught the attention of Prince, who arranged a deal for him with Reprise Records. Johnson's debut, Tones, was released in 1986 but despite earning a Grammy nomination sold poorly due to promotion problems. Moving to Capitol, Johnson spent almost two years recording 1990's Ah Via Musicom, a technical masterwork that went gold, won a Grammy for Best Instrumental and brought him legions of guitar-playing fans. After spending six years recording, re-recording, and re-re-recording, Johnson returned in 1996 with Venus Isle.