Keith Johnson, Percussionist. Phoenix, AZ  | 2019

Keith Johnson was a Phoenix-based percussionist who plays rhythms from Africa and the African diaspora and builds traditional instruments and costumes. He worked with apprentice, Rohan Williams, to teach the artform of making and playing drums and other instruments. He died Dec. 21, 2024.

 In 2022-23, Keith was a resident artist with Artist-at-Work, in partnership with THE OFFICE performing arts + film and SFA, which allowed him to work with students at HIRSCH Academy and the Paiute Neighborhood Center City of Scottsdale Social Services to compose and perform their own original music.

BorderLore editor, Kimi Eisele, interviewed Keith in 2020 for “Ways of Resilience.”