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James P. Johnson

James Price Johnson (February 1, 1894 – November 17, 1955) was an American pianist and composer. A pioneer of stride piano, he was one of the most important pianists in the early era of recording, and like Jelly Roll Morton, one of the key figures in the evolution of ragtime into what was eventually called jazz. Johnson was a major influence on Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Art Tatum, Thelonious Monk, and Fats Waller, who was his student.

Johnson composed many hit songs, including the unofficial anthem of the Roaring Twenties, "The Charleston", and he remained the acknowledged king of New York jazz pianists through most of the 1930s. Johnson's artistry, influence on early popular music, and contributions to musical theatre are often overlooked, and as such, he has been referred to by musicologist David Schiff as "The Invisible Pianist."

Birth and Death Data: Born February 1, 1894 (New Brunswick), Died November 17, 1955 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1918 - 1949

Roles Represented in DAHR: piano, composer, songwriter, leader, director, lyricist, banjo, guitar

Notes: Sometimes listed as Jimmy Johnson.

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 51-75 of 257 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-031461 10-in. 1/13/1939 Minor jive Frankie Newton Orchestra ; Hugues Panassié Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-031462 10-in. 1/13/1939 The world is waiting for the sunrise Frankie Newton Orchestra ; Hugues Panassié Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-031463 10-in. 1/13/1939 Who? Frankie Newton Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-031464 10-in. 1/13/1939 The blues my baby gave to me Frankie Newton Orchestra ; Hugues Panassié Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-031465 10-in. 1/13/1939 Romping (Romping at Victor) Frankie Newton Orchestra ; Hugues Panassié Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-035709 10-in. 4/6/1939 I've got an old fashioned love in my heart Benny Goodman Quartet Jazz/dance quartet, with female vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-044597 10-in. 1/12/1940 Swinga-dilla Street Fats Waller and his Rhythm Jazz/dance band ensemble songwriter  
Victor BS-063889 10-in. 5/13/1941 Carolina shout Fats Waller Piano solo composer  
Victor BS-071198 10-in. 10/22/1941 Uncle Sammy here I am Clarence Williams’ Blue Five Female-male vocal duet, with jazz/dance quartet instrumentalist, piano, composer  
Victor D9VB-2522 10-in. 11/15/1949 Old fashioned love Four Tunes Male vocal quartet, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor [Trial 1922-01-23-06] 10-in. 1/23/1922 Four A. M. shout James P. Johnson Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia 80672 10-in. 11/14/1922 Ivy Yerkes' S. S. Flotilla Orchestra [i.e., Yerkes Jazarimba Orchestra] Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 80877 10-in. 2/28/1923 Papa blues James P. Johnson Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia 80878 10-in. 2/28/1923 Railroad man James P. Johnson Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia 80879 10-in. 2/28/1923 Caprice James P. Johnson Piano solo instrumentalist, piano, composer  
Columbia 80880 10-in. 2/28/1923 Glory shout James P. Johnson Piano solo instrumentalist, piano, composer  
Columbia 81099 10-in. 6/28/1923 Weeping blues James P. Johnson Piano solo composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia 81100 10-in. 6/28/1923 Worried and lonesome blues James P. Johnson Piano solo composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia 81198 10-in. 9/6/1923 Don't never tell nobody Fletcher Henderson ; Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano composer  
Columbia 81200 10-in. 9/7/1923 Old fashioned love Frank Crumit Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 81341 10-in. 11/9/1923 You can't do what my last man did Bessie Brown ; George W. Williams Female-male vocal duet ("blues singers"), with piano composer  
Columbia 81361 10-in. 11/17/1923 Old fashioned love Georgians Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 49402 12-in. 5/6/1918 Mama's blues Jockers Brothers Violin and piano duet songwriter  
Columbia W140514 10-in. 4/10/1925 The original Charleston Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Columbia W140864 10-in. 8/25/1925 You can't do what my last man did Ebony Four ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with bass saxophone, cornet, and piano songwriter  
(Results 51-75 of 257 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Johnson, James P.," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103380.

Johnson, James P.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103380.

"Johnson, James P.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103380

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