The obituary notice of Mike JOHNSON

I was lucky to be one of Mike’s first pupils, when he started teaching in Burton at Eric Reynolds’ Music School in around 1981/2. He was a true ‘character’; charismatic, opinionated, inspiring, funny, always looking to light his trusty pipe… and was a brilliant teacher. I stayed with him through his move to team-up with John Richards at the Guitar Institute; later to be taken over by Pete Oakley. I still play - and have taught since the late eighties, still inspired by him. I last met Mike at Burton railway station in the mid 90s. He’d changed career to become an acting ‘extra’, under the name Mike Bass, in honour of his favourite pint and had landed a job working on East Enders. I’ll always remember and thank you, Mike and am still in awe of your renditions of Cavatina! Cheers, Andy Fern.

I was a guitar student of Mike back in the 2000s. Great guy, always cheerful and positive. I still have the classical guitar that Mike advised me to buy. As a former student, now guitar teacher; I will treasure his words of wisdom, which I was fortunate to learn under his studies and pass on to my students. Thank you Mike.