Pianist, songwriter ‘Dax’ Johnson dies

Spokane musicians are mourning the death of solo pianist and songwriter Christopher “Dax” Johnson.

Johnson, 30, who often spoke publicly about struggling to overcome depression and addiction, died Wednesday at the Harbor UCLA Medical Center. His sister, Jessica Johnson, said the cause of death was “unintentional overdose.”

A memorial service is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday at Church of Nazarene, N. 9004 Country Homes Blvd.

Johnson, a graduate of Mead High School, played a neo-classical style of piano that melded influences from such diverse musicians as Bach, George Winston and Metallica.

“He started playing piano the first time he saw one as a tiny boy,” his father, Spokane’s Tom Johnson, said Monday night. “He took one lesson in his life, and that was for 10 minutes.”

And he evolved into a showman, at times dragging a grand piano outside to perform as a street musician throughout the Northwest.

With tattoos and long hair, Johnson looked more like a biker than a pianist, but was regarded as a musical virtuoso and aural innovator. The “fourth pedal” – used to mute piano strings – was one of his signature inventions.

He also would pluck strings and strike them with a mallet to create unique sounds.

Johnson organized eclectic performances that mixed his music with painting, sculpture, break dancing, and other multimedia elements.

He lived in Portland earlier this year but recently moved to Los Angeles.

In addition to his father and mother, Dee Johnson, he is survived by three children, two stepchildren, two sisters, one brother and grandparents.

Donations to Dax Johnson Children’s Education Fund can be made at www.daxjohnson.com.