Bernard "Bunchy" Johnson was a multi-talented drummer and actor with extensive resumes in both arenas. Bunchy was a New Orleans native, born to Charles Johnson Sr. and the late Emily Goins. He grew up along the musically fertile streets of uptown New Orleans’ 13th Ward and downtown’s Treme neighborhood.
Bernard Johnson earned his nickname Bunchy as a hefty infant who looked like "a whole bunch of stuff in the crib."
As a youngster he second lined with Mardi Gras Indians in Uptown’s Shakespeare Park, as well as in Treme, home of some of the city’s best brass bands.
He graduated from St. Augustine High School and earned a communications/theater degree from Xavier University. He went on to appear on stages and screens around the globe.
At 19, Bunchy went on tour with King Floyd, Johnnie Taylor, and Candi Staton. He returned to New Orleans to perform with Clarence “Frogman” Henry and The Deacons, the precursor to Chocolate Milk.
He also performed and/or recorded with Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, The Dixie Cups, Irma Thomas, Lloyd Price, Jean Knight, Ernie K-Doe, Johnny Adams, Ruth Brown, and Jeremy Davenport.
When drummer James Black passed away in 2005, Bunchy took his place in trumpeter Dave Bartholemew’s band.
As an actor, Johnson appeared in Treme, the HBO series set in the post-Katrina world of New Orleans music. He also shot scenes for the Nicolas Cage movie The Hungry Rabbit Jumps. Other credits include Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, the Fox series “-Ville, the Halle Berry project Monster’s Ball and A Love Song for Bobby Long, starring Scarlett Johansson and John Travolta.
Bernard "Bunchy" Johnson also appeared in the off-Broadway musical Staggerlee in New York and served as the drummer and assistant musical director for Carl Walker’s production of Where the Girls Were. He contributed to scores of commercials as an actor, musician and with voice-overs.
Bunchy was a member of the all-star "Joint's Jumpin'" rhythm & blues revue that performed regularly at Harrah's Casino New Orleans.
Bernard "Bunchy" Johnson died at home on March 21, 2010. He was 57 years old.
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William Calhoun
