James LaMont Johnson - musician
- Thread starter Kydo
- Start date
dchoiceisalwaysrs
Gold Meritorious Patron
Welcome Kydo,
I remember him from spring 1974 in LA, in a Sea Org dining room one day. Although my memory is sketchy(missing a lot of detail) I do remember watching him in action (I can't recall exactly what he was doing) and I remember having the impression that he was a wonderful capable and outgoing and gregarious person. 'Now that is a very able guy' was my thought. I don't think I ever talked to him nor even saw him again.
I think I also saw online circa 2008? that he was connected to a group who had a online website. I don't know if it was a scientology group or an offshoot, but I vaguely remember it may have been the later.
Good luck in learning more.
programmer_guy
True Ex-Scientologist
Was he in a Scientology rock band?
I can't help you but I am curious if he was in "Rock'n'Horse".
I can't help you but I am curious if he was in "Rock'n'Horse".
Smurf
Gold Meritorious SP
He died in 1999. My condolences. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LaMont_Johnson
http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthre...Thread-RIP-sad&p=565221&viewfull=1#post565221
If you are referring to the jazz pianist, I worked for his organization in Washington, DC in 1981 or so. It was called Masterscores Records and he was selling a studio-based class in how to make and sell records. It turned into another cautionary tale which I would prefer to tell in the forum as it deals with predatory Scientology financial practices.
AnonyMary
Formerly Fooled - Finally Free
Hi Kydo,
I knew your father but not well. We were neighbors living at Scientology's Celebrity Center Manor Hotel back in the early 80s. I did some work for him on his music business just before he left Scientology. He was an intense man, always busy. A man with a mission, so to speak. We had some down conversations and from what I recall, he really felt there was no stopping him from achieving what he wanted as long as he planned it right. He had that star presence but when relaxed and hanging out, he was a thoughtful down to earth guy. At this time he was trying to get his music royalty issues sorted out, he had an inventory of albums he needed an accounting of, as intended to sell albums direct.
The ruckus caused by what we call the Mission Holder's conference massacres put an end to his time in Scientology and he left with thousands of others in protest. I never heard from him after that. He'd moved out of The Manor. At that time, I was not privy to what was going on in the field with the mission holders - it all happened so fast and so many people disappeared but at the Manor and at CC Int, it was pretty much the same. I only found out about all that after I left 10 years later.
At the time I worked with him, he was married to a woman who I believe was named Debbie. I could be wrong. She was an attractive blond woman.That's all I remember. We worked out of his rooms there. I probably worked for less than a month, organizing papers and getting an accounting of things. He was a nice person if not a bit full of himself - during a time when money was tight for him and and his performing career had long since been subjugated to his interests in Scientology auditing and beyond. I think he was hopeful that he could renew his rep in the music industry by getting his music out there and getting MasterScores going as a money source.
I could never fully understand how he could have walked away from his talent as a musician but Scientology can do that to people. The suck in the talented ones and chew them up so they divert their purposes in life. Some will say your father was a very good high classed counselor ( auditor), which I have no doubt he was. But he was the cream of the crop as a musician and the world lost out on his talent when he gave it up, in my opinion, for his 'spiritual' endeavors that lead to no where.
Scientology is such that lovers of it hate the medical and mental health industries. They do not take appropriate care of themselves, often using alternative medicine rather than proven workable treatments that go against Scientology beliefs. The sad part is that they go through much suffering to where real help is not an option until it's too late. I suspect LaMont would have lived longer had he not been blinded by the prejudices so common to scientologists.
Some comments about him were made in response to his name and info being added to the Memorial thread. Follow this link and read through several pages afterwards there.
http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthre...Thread-RIP-sad&p=565221&viewfull=1#post565221
More forum posts that include your father's name can be found at this Google search of the forum:
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=site:forum.exscn.net+"Lamont+Johnson"
LaMont was a regular poster at several online newsgroups. This link should lead you to some of his posts and people who knew him or worked with him as a member of the alt.clearing community.
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=site:groups.google.com++"lamont+johnson"
Information on the internet that include your father's name + Scientology can be found at this link
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q="LaMont+Johnson"+scientology
LaMont ran a company that provided Scientology type services at one time. It was called called CHURCH OF SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT, ADVANCED COUNSELING SERVICES, INC. It was declared a 'suppressive group' by the church many years ago because it was not authorized by the church.
You can find his old website here at the Internet Archive
http://web.archive.org/web/20010210155620/http://www.acs-tech.org/
More links to information can be found here
https://whyweprotest.net/threads/bi...o-have-spoken-out.57290/page-133#post-2449833
By the way, it's not ever wise to post your phone number on the internet, especially a forum. I suggest you edit it out, make 4 more posts and then you qualify to give and receive Private messages here. You can contact the moderator by clicking the triangle at the button of your comment, asking to edit the information if you don't see this within the limited time period to edit it.
Best wishes,
Mary
AnonyMary
Formerly Fooled - Finally Free
Your father posted much on the LightLink usenet newsgroup run by Homer Wilson Smith and some others. I believe Homer knew your father very well. Here are his contact details. You can refer him to the internet or this thread on where you obtained his contact information
Registrant Email: [email protected]
Admin Name: Jane Staller, Homer Smith or Wilson
Admin Organization: Art Matrix -Lightlink, Inc.
Admin Street: 25 Fairview Square
Admin City: Ithaca
Admin State/Province: NY
Admin Postal Code: 14850
Admin Country: US
Admin Phone: +1.6072770959
Admin Phone Ext:
Admin Fax: +1.6072778913
http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/results.jsp?domain=lightlink.com
and 
Kydo - I hope you are finding what you need about your father.
Terril park
Sponsor
Homer Wilson Smith also set up and ran Alt.clearing technology a usenet group
for independent or Freezone scientologists, and Lamont was one of those. Below
is a link to his posts there and possibly some about him. He was highly regarded
as an auditor.
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/alt.clearing.technology/LaMont$20Johnson%7Csort:relevance
for independent or Freezone scientologists, and Lamont was one of those. Below
is a link to his posts there and possibly some about him. He was highly regarded
as an auditor.
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/alt.clearing.technology/LaMont$20Johnson%7Csort:relevance
There is an obituary in issue 46 of Ivy magazine, page 42, which can be found at
http://articles.ivymag.org/pdf/IVy46.pdf
http://articles.ivymag.org/pdf/IVy46.pdf
Operating DB
Truman Show Dropout
All I know is he was an indiscernible jazz pianist. Hi style was right up my alley. I heard him play in August 1976 in L.A. when the cult had one of their big events which I can't recall what it was about. But hearing him play left a lasting impression.
Smurf
Gold Meritorious SP
Some add'l info on Master Score:
http://www.zoominfo.com/CachedPage/...13T04:05:36&firstName=LaMont&lastName=Johnson
http://www.zoominfo.com/p/LaMont-Johnson/43957767
http://www.corporationwiki.com/Texas/Austin/masterscores-music-group-inc-5360261.aspx
One of the directors listed above died in 2010: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tbo/obituary.aspx?n=christopher-hill-byrne&pid=144631448
Another director was a music producer Milan Simich. http://jazztimes.com/articles/24700-jazz-2010-what-does-the-future-hold
YouTube channel playing some of Lamont's tunes under the MasterScores label (patent 1995).
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaCDoFISkpEVPspFP6t0ByQ/videos
Thank you all! I don't know why it has taken me so long to see this, but I have been reading and researching every single link and blog and have learned so much more about my father. I think his wife Jayne is still continuing on in a "clearing" practice I am sure they both mastered together.
thanks again for all of your insight, info, and stories...
I want to do a documentary about his life, but wonder if there is too much scientology and that is not necessarily a can of worms I would like to open...
thanks again for all of your insight, info, and stories...
I want to do a documentary about his life, but wonder if there is too much scientology and that is not necessarily a can of worms I would like to open...
AnonyMary
Formerly Fooled - Finally Free
So nice to see you back visiting the thread!!
Focus on his music. He was very talented but let things, like scientology, get in the way of fulfilling his talent. Music was the first passion. There are a number of musicians who worked with him, on stage and in the studios in the early years and I am sure they have stories to share. If anything, you can show how his interest in, and demands from, organized scientology probably robbed him of fulfilling his musical potential once he got really into it. I'm sure you also know how all this effected other loved ones, like yourself, your mom and his other children.
Scientology and its promises, are founded on lies. Your father lost sight of the true musical gifts he was given. Truth is so much more interesting when compared to the lies. How one effected the other is a large story in itself, which you may not want to dig into too much into and document. But giving brief glimpses of how scientology influenced him in his priorities, and livelihood would really be good. But focus on the man and his music and all the good things about him.
That's my 2 cents!
~ Mary McConnell
Terril park
Sponsor
Note that Lamont became a respected member of the Freezone.
Below a post on Alt Clearing Technology by him.
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/alt.clearing.technology/lamont$20johnson$20%7Csort:relevance
18/08/1998
Dear Pal, Robert -
I had considered that this particular item came from another. I lifted
it out of a rap between Lars and "someone else".
I saw no signature, and considered it was originated by the person with
whom Lars was having a communication. In my mind, several specious
things have been originated by this identity, even though some of what
this person originates has relative value.
If this is your comment, you and I need to discuss how to best phrase
these concepts as they might be misleading to those unintiated, and has
the added liability of shutting off perceptics which exist in dimensions
other than the ones commonly addressed by those on this plane of
existence.
Love, LaMont
phenomanon
Canyon
His first Wife was AnnaLore Johnson. Then he married Carol Judd. He and I were dear friends for a couple years,, and then he married France ( something. She later married Rod Taunton).. After he and France broke up, he was with Carol Horner for awhile. Maybe Enid . And I think Doreen Casey in there somewhere. Lamont had 2 children with Anna. Astrid and Neal. He had another son with France, named Rand.
Which one are you?
His life was much involved with Piano, Women, and Scientology.
He was as beautiful as a star.
Francois Tremblay
Patron with Honors
I just saw a comment about this person on Mike Rinder's blog: http://www.mikerindersblog.org/unimed/#comment-149385
"Personally, I think you are being quite too hard on the film. Being that I was org staff at the time, I’ve probably seen the thing fifty times or more. I betcha after a few beers I could recall a dozen lines and scenes from the film, even today. Right now, “RPF – here somebody comes!” is the only one that comes immediately to mind.
There were a LOT of things right about the film, particularly when you consider that it was 1978 and would have been a VERY low budget film even if the crew were paid union wages at the time, rather than SO pay. I’d be happy to talk over these fine points with anyone, but I’d want those beers first!
I have only one thing to object to about SFR. The end credits list, basically, EVERYTHING being done by the old man. Everything.
(Rolling Credits)
Produced by
L. Ron Hubbard
Directed by
L. Ron Hubbard
Screenplay by
L. Ron Hubbard
Music By
L. Ron Hubbard
and on and on and on.
I thought it was all pretty good. I certainly did not think that it was a masterpiece, but I thought, given the resources and the fact that so many of the actors had never been trained and that Ron probably did teach all the film crew everything, I was quite impressed.
However, what particularly shined in SFR was the music. Particularly the final scene where the elderly woman (confined to a wheel chair) has her lists corrected by the auditor (I can’t remember the auditor’s name right at the moment, but he and his wife and daughter are friends to many here.). In that very dramatic scene where the right item is indicated and she slowly gets out of her chair to walk, there is a solo violin piece to heighten the drama. As a kid I was in the school orchestra and was a big fan of classical music. I was not a prodigy at all, but I knew enough to know masterful composition and perfect violin playing when I heard it. That piece of music is a masterpiece. And It worked PERFECTLY in the film.
Watching that scene for the first time, and then seeing the rolling credits with Ron’s claim to the music, I remember thinking “Further proof that this man is a GENIUS!” I was proud.
Years and years later, at the FOLO West, when prepping for a mission, for some now-forgotten reason I found myself reading with fascination the “R Advices” for the film as it was in progress being produced after all the filming. (“R Advices” were typewritten blips that Ron would say and messengers would dictate that rarely made it to full issue status but were still regarded as holy scripture by SO members – also an actual Hidden Data Line – but that’s another story.)
And in reading those advices I got a “Holy Cow!!!” moment. One advice was about the credits. The advice said this: “Change crediting LaMont Johnson as the composer and attribute the music to L. Ron Hubbard.”
(LaMont Johnson was a highly regarded Scientologist mission holder, film and jazz composer and musician, non-SO and LA-based throughout the 70’s. A WONDERFUL person who was as dedicated a Scientologist as anyone I ever met.)
It was a break in affinity, reality and communication, to say the least. One more (big) datum into the growing bullpen of information labeled “Can I really trust Ron to always tell the truth?”"
"Personally, I think you are being quite too hard on the film. Being that I was org staff at the time, I’ve probably seen the thing fifty times or more. I betcha after a few beers I could recall a dozen lines and scenes from the film, even today. Right now, “RPF – here somebody comes!” is the only one that comes immediately to mind.
There were a LOT of things right about the film, particularly when you consider that it was 1978 and would have been a VERY low budget film even if the crew were paid union wages at the time, rather than SO pay. I’d be happy to talk over these fine points with anyone, but I’d want those beers first!
I have only one thing to object to about SFR. The end credits list, basically, EVERYTHING being done by the old man. Everything.
(Rolling Credits)
Produced by
L. Ron Hubbard
Directed by
L. Ron Hubbard
Screenplay by
L. Ron Hubbard
Music By
L. Ron Hubbard
and on and on and on.
I thought it was all pretty good. I certainly did not think that it was a masterpiece, but I thought, given the resources and the fact that so many of the actors had never been trained and that Ron probably did teach all the film crew everything, I was quite impressed.
However, what particularly shined in SFR was the music. Particularly the final scene where the elderly woman (confined to a wheel chair) has her lists corrected by the auditor (I can’t remember the auditor’s name right at the moment, but he and his wife and daughter are friends to many here.). In that very dramatic scene where the right item is indicated and she slowly gets out of her chair to walk, there is a solo violin piece to heighten the drama. As a kid I was in the school orchestra and was a big fan of classical music. I was not a prodigy at all, but I knew enough to know masterful composition and perfect violin playing when I heard it. That piece of music is a masterpiece. And It worked PERFECTLY in the film.
Watching that scene for the first time, and then seeing the rolling credits with Ron’s claim to the music, I remember thinking “Further proof that this man is a GENIUS!” I was proud.
Years and years later, at the FOLO West, when prepping for a mission, for some now-forgotten reason I found myself reading with fascination the “R Advices” for the film as it was in progress being produced after all the filming. (“R Advices” were typewritten blips that Ron would say and messengers would dictate that rarely made it to full issue status but were still regarded as holy scripture by SO members – also an actual Hidden Data Line – but that’s another story.)
And in reading those advices I got a “Holy Cow!!!” moment. One advice was about the credits. The advice said this: “Change crediting LaMont Johnson as the composer and attribute the music to L. Ron Hubbard.”
(LaMont Johnson was a highly regarded Scientologist mission holder, film and jazz composer and musician, non-SO and LA-based throughout the 70’s. A WONDERFUL person who was as dedicated a Scientologist as anyone I ever met.)
It was a break in affinity, reality and communication, to say the least. One more (big) datum into the growing bullpen of information labeled “Can I really trust Ron to always tell the truth?”"
I found a web page with a fair amount of info about his music:
http://neverenoughrhodes.blogspot.com/2009/02/lamont-johnson-nine-mystical-musical.html
http://neverenoughrhodes.blogspot.com/2009/02/lamont-johnson-nine-mystical-musical.html
AnonyMary
Formerly Fooled - Finally Free
Terril, his son knows all about that part of his father's life. There are a slew of posts at the newsgroups by and about him, which he already know of.
There was much more to his father, and his last post indicates that he is seeking other information besides the Scientology/Freezone info.
Personal anecdotes, musicians who worked with him... things like that. A part of the legacy I think he would like to know more about. He didn't know his father well. He's been reading the internet in search of information for some years
JustSheila
Crusader
I knew Lamont Johnson (at least I think it was the same person) very well as a friend from 1977-1978. When I knew him, he never went by the name James.
He was on a Garrison Mission (a long-term, semi-permanent project) that had something to do with the renovations of the Complex in LA. He worked together with Daryl (something) and they both were in the Sea Org in Scientology.
He was a tall, quiet, lanky man with dark hair and glasses. He was kind, compassionate and had a sense of humor. He also really believed in aliens, spaceships and conspiracies. He and Daryl both loved telling stories and I was a regular audience.
He was on a Garrison Mission (a long-term, semi-permanent project) that had something to do with the renovations of the Complex in LA. He worked together with Daryl (something) and they both were in the Sea Org in Scientology.
He was a tall, quiet, lanky man with dark hair and glasses. He was kind, compassionate and had a sense of humor. He also really believed in aliens, spaceships and conspiracies. He and Daryl both loved telling stories and I was a regular audience.
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