Johnny Varro at Unitarian Universalist Church Of Venice, Fl

Johnny Varro (born 1930) is a pianist with roots in the swing style of jazz. He is also a leader and arranger. Varro was born in Brooklyn, New York. He began studying piano at the age of ten. During his teenage years he was introduced to jazz by way of the Commodore Music Shop in New York City. There he met the manager Jack Crystal (father of Billy Crystal), who was running jam sessions on the Lower East Side. At these sessions Johnny met some of the greatest players of the era, such as Willie "The Lion" Smith, Big Sid Catlett, Joe Thomas, Hot Lips Page, Joe Sullivan, Pete Brown and others. The experience of sitting in for Joe Sullivan and Willie "The Lion" Smith was invaluable and soon allowed Johnny to become a hired player. Johnny's first professional job was with Bobby Hackett touring the East Coast with his quartet....

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Johnny Varro (born 1930) is a pianist with roots in the swing style of jazz. He is also a leader and arranger. Varro was born in Brooklyn, New York. He began studying piano at the age of ten. During his teenage years he was introduced to jazz by way of the Commodore Music Shop in New York City. There he met the manager Jack Crystal (father of Billy Crystal), who was running jam sessions on the Lower East Side. At these sessions Johnny met some of the greatest players of the era, such as Willie "The Lion" Smith, Big Sid Catlett, Joe Thomas, Hot Lips Page, Joe Sullivan, Pete Brown and others. The experience of sitting in for Joe Sullivan and Willie "The Lion" Smith was invaluable and soon allowed Johnny to become a hired player. Johnny's first professional job was with Bobby Hackett touring the East Coast with his quartet.

He went on to perform at Eddie Condon's with such great jazzmen as Buck Clayton, Pee Wee Russell, Yank Lawson, Billy Butterfield, Lou McGarity, Peanuts Hucko and others. Johnny has worked most of the jazz rooms around New York including The Embers, Tavern on the Green, Hanratty's, The Metropole and Jimmy Ryan's.

He has numerous recordings and has toured the world with groups such as the Dukes of Dixieland, Wild Bill Davison All Stars and Peanuts Hucko Tour - Tribute to Benny Goodman and Louis Armstrong. He also played with the Jackie Gleason Show.

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