Emperor Johnny Varro and Empress Mickey Carroll Varro leading the big, happy parade that opened the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee in Old Sacramento on May 23, 2003

Piano Royalty. . .

Emperor Johnny Varro

Varro's high visibility on the jazz scene has made him one of jazz's most popular and sought-after pianists. As critics have observed, "The beat is always there."

     All hail the Keyboard King—Johnny Varro—renowned Emperor of the Ivories and now acclaimed Emperor of Sacramento Jubilee XXX.

     Born in Brooklyn, Varro began studying piano at the age of 10. In his teens, he was introduced to jazz at the Commodore Music Shop in New York. There he met manager Jack Crystal, who was conducting jam sessions on the Lower East Side. At those sessions, the young man listened to some of the greatest jazz musicians of the era—Willie "The Lion" Smith, "Big Sid" Catlett, Joe Thomas, "Hot Lips" Page, Pete Brown and many others.

     The experience of sitting in on these sessions was tremendous for Varro and he soon became a hired player. His first professional job was with the legendary Bobby Hackett; he toured the east coast with Hackett's quartet. In 1954, he worked at Nick's with Phil Napoleon, Pete Brown and others.

     In 1957, jazz impresario Eddie Condon invited Varro to play at his club as intermission pianist. During that gig, he met more musicians, who began calling him for jobs. Varro graduated from the intermission spot to become Condon's band pianist. The all star lineup of jazz greats in Condon's band included Buck Clayton, "Wild Bill" Davison, "Pee Wee" Russell, "Cutty" Cutshall, George Wettling, Yank Lawson and Peanuts Hucko.

     Between the Condon tours, Varro worked most of the jazz rooms around New York—The Embers, the Roundtable, Condon's Uptown with Edmond Hall, and the Metropole. Such musical luminaries as Henry "Red" Allen, Roy Eldridge, Coleman Hawkins, Charlie Shavers and Joe Jones helped further his musical education.

     In 1965, Varro moved to Miami Beach where he worked on the Jackie Gleason Show. He also worked with Flip Phillips, Billy Butterfield, Phil Napoleon and toured with the Dukes of Dixieland. Next Varro moved to Los Angeles where he lived, played and toured for 14 years. One last move took him back to Florida, where he now lives.

     These days, Emperor Johnny Varro tours North America and the world, playing jazz festivals, concerts and jazz parties. He has recorded extensively on a number of labels—most recently for Arbors Records, for whom he has recorded in solo, tric and band formats, and as a sideman.

     Varro's high visibility on the jazz scene has made him one of jazz's most popular and sought-after pianists. As critics have observed, "The beat is always there."

     As for the Jubilee, Varro is always here—and this year, he reigns as Emperor of Jubilee XXX.