David H. Johnson – 50th Reunion Essay

David H. Johnson

1 Lexington Avenue #1C

New York, NY 10010

davejohnson.dhj@gmail.com

917-214-2050

Spouse(s): Kathy Halbower (1983)

Child(ren): William W. Johnson (1985); Thomas H. Johnson (1989)

Education: BA Yale College 1969; JD University of Pennsylvania 1973; LLM NYU Law School 1981

Career: General Counsel CBS Records(Sony Music); General Counsel Warner Music; CEO Warner Chappell Music Publishing for 5 years; CEO EMI Music Publishing 6 years and counting.

Avocations: Reading, golf, concert going

College: Pierson

Freshman year I was in two plays at the Dramat (small parts). Reached two conclusions: I had no creative talent and I loved hanging around the theater. Which I did on a daily basis until graduation: poking around the drama school, reading Variety and telling myself (and my roommates) that my goal was to be a Broadway producer. Later I realized that I lacked not only talent but the salesman gene essential for the producer role.

Went to law school by default, which is not the ideal way to approach that grind. Took an entry level job in CBS’s law department, hoping to get into television and instead stumbled into the music business where I’ve now been working happily for over 40 years. Interesting people, interesting subject matter, interesting challenges. It’s been a very good fit. As has New York City, where I’ve lived and worked throughout my career, except for one year in Los Angeles (which I also liked). While my living has been made from the recorded music business, my addiction is to live performances: theater concerts, opera and (while Balanchine and Robbins were alive) ballet.

Looking back, I see that I missed many opportunities at Yale which now seem so perfect for my current interests.

Why did I never take a Shakespeare course? Or an art history course (my wife is an accomplished painter)? Or a history course? Or a history of music course? Why did I play only one round at the Yale golf course? And why did I stop waiting for Jimi Hendrix to show up at his Woolsey Hall concert and go to the Reserve Book room instead? (I had a term paper and figured I could always catch Hendrix some other time.)