Background
Madrid grew up in an east Los Angeles suburb, Montebello, California, graduating from Montebello High School in 1966.
Madrid grew up in an east Los Angeles suburb, Montebello, California, graduating from Montebello High School in 1966.
In high school he played with a local rock "n roll band called "Thee Enchantments." His first popular high note recording to hit the charts was in the 1966 popular hit "Time Won"t Let Maine" by The Outsiders. After high school John joined the Stan Kenton Orchestra ("67-"68), in early "69 he joined Woody Herman"s big band for its annual European tour splitting the lead book with Bill Chase. In "70 he played lead with Buddy Rich"s orchestra, lead with Harry James" orchestra ("71-"72) and briefly worked with Si Zenter"s big band as well in "72.
In "73 he worked with Louie Bellson"s big band in Los Angeles and played lead with the Orange Company
Rhythm Machine and worked with Bud Brisbois" jazz-popular group "Butane." Johnny was so inspired by Brisbois he named his dog "Bud." Late in "73 he was asked to replace Tom Malone in Blood, Sweat & Tears and became one of the highest paid sidemen in that band. In mid "74 Johnny moved out to Hawaii and worked with all the top acts that played there.
In late "75 he returned to Los Angeles to work with Toshiko Akyoshi"s big band and in early "76 traveled with Boz Scagg"s for his "Silk Degree"s" tour. In "77/"78 John was back working in Hawaii and was asked to play lead in a band Bud Brisbois was forming in Scottsdale, Arizona before the project could be assembled Bud tragically took his own life.
Later in "78 Johnny was back in Los Angeles playing lead for Paul Cacia"s popular group.
While in Los Angeles Johnny also worked with Bob Preciado"s big band. By "82 John had settled in Las Vegas working primarily with Wayne Newton, whom he was featured with for several years. Johnny was involved in the fast life out in Vegas and the years of pushing himself to the limits caught up with him.
In the mid "80"s he contracted an aggressive form of the H.I.V. virus and died in February 1990.