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Lara Johnston
Daughter of Tom Johnson, guitar and vocals for the Doobie Brothers
larajohnston.com
Lara Johnston grew up in novato around a slightly different set of influences than santana’s, her
dad being the frontman for one of the most popular pop/rock bands of the 1970s. the Doobie Brothers
covered a lot of ground, but what Johnston remembers hearing around the house most was the likes of
stevie wonder and sam Cooke. “that really spoke to me,” says Johnston, now 22 and pursuing a singing career. “a big part of developing my voice was emulating those singers. I really looked up to them.”
Johnston recalls the moment when, as a young girl, she decided she wanted to sing. she was in the
car on a morning drive with her father and an aretha Franklin song was on the radio. “It was such a
sweet sound,” she says. “I remember thinking, I want to be able to do that.” today she’s doing it, with
a soul-infused style, plenty of local shows and a new ep on the way.
THERE’S A BIT
OF A STIGMA IN
BEING THE
DAUGHTER OF A
FAMOUS ROCK
MUSICIAN,
WITH PEOPLE
ASSUMING
SHE’S RIDING
HER DAD’S
COATTAILS.
