Alexys
Seattle, Washington
1965 - 1969

Members
 

Paula Tutmarc/Johnson ~ Vocals
(aka Alexys)
 

In Memory of

Paula Tutmarc/Johnson (d:  6 March 2013)

Dot Recording Artist:  "Freedom's Child"
DLP-3713/25713 - Alexys - Alexys [1966] Freedom's Child/A Broken Piece of Crystal/Half Breed Star/I'm Beginning to see the Light/Gone With the Rain/Miss Misfortune/No More/A Cold and Lonely Room/This Ole World/Lotta Work/Ole Devil/Kansas City

Just got word that my friend, Paula Johnson, after months of struggling with a surprise cancer diagnosis last summer, passed away peacefully this morning in the arms of her loving husband Jerry. Sweet Paula was the daughter of Seattle music royalty: 1950s country/pop music star, Bonnie Guitar and 1930’s electric guitar pioneer, Paul Tutmarc.

Longtime west coast music fans will recall the 1966 regional Top-10 folk-rock hit, “Freedom’s Child,” that Paula recorded under her stage-name of Alexys. Backed by the Puyallup band, Third Generation, Alexys enjoyed her moments in the sun – playing big gigs at the Seattle Center Coliseum on the same bills as the Yardbirds, Beach Boys, Gary Lewis & the Playboys, Sly & the Family Stone, and other touring stars. Her band cut demo sessions downtown at Kearney Barton’s (RIP) Audio Recording studios, and then she and her mother (as producer) finished the "Alexys" LP [Dot Records #16994] with session heavies down in Hollywood. Paula also recorded for Jerden Records, Paramount Records, and 4-Star Records. In the late-‘60s she resurfaced with the Maple Valley-based band, Peece, and then gigged around further under the stage-names of Iris Hill and Irene Cookie. In more recent times Paula toured through Europe singing R&B, and ran her own Two Vaults Art Gallery in Tacoma.  Freedom’s Child will be missed by many…

Peter Blecha via Facebook, 6 March 2013

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Last Update: 16 May 2013
Credits:  Paula Tutmarc/Johnson, Peter Blecha, Barry Breen