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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 76-100 of 257 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 141201 10-in. 10/27/1925 Everybody's doin' the Charleston now Original Indiana Five Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Columbia W142172 10-in. 5/8/1926 You for me, me for you Dixie Washboard Band ; Shufflin' Sam Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Columbia W142721 10-in. 10/3/1926 Alabama stomp Leo Reisman Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 142847 10-in. 10/20/1926 Alabama stomp Dixie Stompers Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia W142889 10-in. 10/29/1926 Original black bottom dance Sadie Jackson Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W142890 10-in. 10/29/1926 Nobody worries 'bout me Sadie Jackson Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W143126 10-in. 11/19/1926 I need lovin' Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 143150 10-in. 11/26/1926 I need lovin' Arthur Fields ; Manhattan Dance Makers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W143490 10-in. 2/17/1927 Preachin' the blues James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W143491 10-in. 2/17/1927 Back water blues James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W143531 10-in. 2/25/1927 All that I had is gone James P. Johnson Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W143532 10-in. 2/25/1927 Snowy morning blues James P. Johnson Piano solo instrumentalist, piano, composer  
Columbia W143543 10-in. 2/26/1927 Alabama stomp Charles Kaley Male vocal solo, with cornet and piano composer  
Columbia W143735 10-in. 4/1/1927 Sweet mistreater Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W143736 10-in. 4/1/1927 Lock and key James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia 144214 10-in. 5/24/1927 Oh Malinda Te Roy Williams Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia W144621 10-in. 9/2/1927 Skiddle de scow Johnson's Jazzers Male vocal and instrumental trio instrumentalist, piano, leader  
Columbia W144622 10-in. 9/2/1927 Can I get it now? Johnson's Jazzers Male vocal and instrumental trio instrumentalist, piano, leader  
Columbia W146417 10-in. 6/8/1928 Somethin' goin' on wrong Martha Copeland Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet and piano instrumentalist, piano, songwriter  
Columbia W146420 10-in. 6/9/1928 Desert blues Martha Copeland Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W146539 10-in. 6/18/1928 Chicago blues Jimmy Johnson Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia W146540 10-in. 6/18/1928 Mournful tho'ts Jimmy Johnson Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Columbia W146559 10-in. 6/20/1928 Georgia's always on my mind Roy Evans Male vocal solo, with alto saxophone and piano songwriter  
Columbia W146761 10-in. 7/20/1928 My woman done me wrong (As far as I am concerned) James P. Johnson ; Clarence Williams Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W146762 10-in. 7/20/1928 Farm hand papa James P. Johnson ; Clarence Williams Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano instrumentalist, piano  
(Results 76-100 of 257 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Johnson, James P.," accessed April 18, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103380.

Johnson, James P.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 18, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103380.

"Johnson, James P.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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