If you want to see someone who really enjoys his job and has a great time doing it every time, you should probably take a look at Johnny Fingers. Born Johnny Nortey, “The fingers came in when I was younger (in the States). I would sneak out and play gigs with the ‘big boys’. Can you imagine being about 14yrs and playing with people like Osibisa?” Obviously, the ‘fingers’ is an attestation of the way he moves on the piano with adeptness.

Like almost everybody in music, he also started from the church. He would be on the look out for the slightest opportunity to play, even secretly wishing that the older man who usually played the piano at church wouldn’t turn up. A few times his prayers were answered and he was able to express himself the best way he knew how.

Fingers started when he was 7yrs and has grown up to be a very versatile instrumentalist with over 20yrs worth of experience. Now he plays the base guitar, the drums and the trumpet (his first instrument).

Johnny lived most of his life in the States and about 8yrs back, he returned to Ghana and is cooking up some major tunes with the industry’s greatest artistes. “When I came back to Ghana, I was opportune to play with top bands like Kojo Antwi, Amakye Dede, Mac Tontoh, Samini, Tic Tac, VIP etc.” Now he’s playing with artistes like Ofori Amponsah, Becca Acheapong, and others. He even produced a South African artiste, Tumi whose video has been playing on Channel O and MTV Base.

Now as the Music Director for the Stars of the Future reality show he’s bringing to them the experience he’s accumulated over time. “When I came back to Ghana from South Africa working with Tumi, I was called up by Charter House. They called me and put on the table what the deal was and I told them that I would be glad to assist them in anyway I can. And that was it.”

As the Music Director, he brings them to form; making sure they have the right choice of song, and taking them through all their rehearsal sessions. It has come along with its fun moments and challenges. “You are dealing with 12 different individuals with different characters.

There is so much you need to absorb. The greatest thing is that you can see them progressing week after week,” he tells JIVE. “At times I have to drive over to their houses and give them the CDs of the original song so they can rehearse before the next training session. Sometimes it even requires redoing the song to suit the length of time required for the entire performance (3mins or less).

Each member of the band must also get a copy and get used to it. The laptop is there for sequencing and recording so they can learn the arrangements and all.”

As the show progressed he’s learnt that “for some, it’s a hobby for some it is a profession and you need to deal with each one as it is.”