Biography

John’s bass experiences have encompassed a multitude of styles. Bluegrass, Jazz, Classical, Dixieland, Big Band, Disco, Rock, Rap and Rockabilly to name a few. He has played behind superstars including Dolly Parton, Jose Feliciano, Ray Anthony, Maynard Ferguson, John Davidson, Tony Bennet, Little Milton, Al Jarreau, Bob Dylan, Bob Hope, Supertramp, Little Richard, Etta James, Herb Jeffries, Danny Gans, Vonda Shepherd, Hank Ballard, Shirly Jones, Billy Lee Riley, Nannette Fabere’, and the list goes on.

John honed his 50’s slap-bass style in Rhino Records’ “Big Daddy”, an 8-piece 50’s band, which turned modern hits into retro 50’s classics. This band conquered the world with a top 10 hit and a tour of England. Their eight-week gig in Sydney, Australia, landed them another hit with their version of “The Land Down Under”. It was in this band that Hatton created the character known as “Spazz”, the slide-rule-wielding nerd. The moniker has followed him to this day.

Johnny “Spazz” Hatton has been playing rockabilly slap bass with the Brian Setzer Orchestra since February of 2002 and has recorded six Grammy-Nominated CD’s, “Nitro Burnin’ Funny Daddy”, “Boogie Woogie Christmas”, “Dig That Crazy Christmas”, “Wolfgang’s Big Night Out” and “Songs From Lonely Avenue” and Setzer’s latest CD, “Brian Setzer Goes Instru-Mental”. Hatton has appeared with BSO on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Conan O’Brian, The Today Show, Christmas at Rockefeller Center, Christmas in Washington DC, a state dinner at the White House for President George W. Bush, The Tony Danza Show, VH1 Classics, Sirius Radio and more.