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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 151-175 of 257 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
OKeh S-70351 10-in. 12/5/1921 Bandana days Harmony Eight ; James P. Johnson Jazz/dance band leader  
OKeh S-71152 10-in. Jan. 1923 Ivy (Cling to me) Rega Dance Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh S-71654 10-in. June 1923 You just can't have no one man by yourself Sara Martin ; Clarence Williams Female vocal solo, with piano songwriter  
OKeh S-71741 10-in. 8/8/1923 Scouting around James P. Johnson Piano solo instrumentalist, piano, composer  
OKeh S-71742 10-in. 8/8/1923 Toddlin' James P. Johnson Piano solo instrumentalist, piano, composer  
OKeh S-72028 10-in. November 1923 Old fashioned love Lawrence Lomax ; Eva Taylor Female-male vocal duet, with instrumental quartet composer  
OKeh S-72029 10-in. November 1923 Open your heart Lawrence Lomax ; Eva Taylor Female-male vocal duet, with instrumental quartet songwriter  
OKeh S-72041 10-in. November 1923 Old fashioned love Clarence Williams’ Blue Five Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh S-72347 10-in. Feb. 1924 The weepin' blues Henry Whitter Harmonica solo composer  
OKeh 73736 10-in. 10/25/1925 Everybody's doin' the Charleston Okeh Syncopators Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh 73937 10-in. 1/19/1926 Sun to sun blues James P. Johnson ; Lonnie Johnson Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh 73938 10-in. 1/19/1926 Bed of sand James P. Johnson ; Lonnie Johnson Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh 73944 10-in. 1/20/1926 Nile of Genago James P. Johnson ; Lonnie Johnson Guitar duet instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh 73945 10-in. 1/20/1926 Five o'clock blues Lonnie Johnson Instrumental trio instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 73946 10-in. 1/20/1926 Johnson's trio stomp James P. Johnson ; Lonnie Johnson Violin and piano duet instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh 74253 10-in. 8/11/1926 You for me, me for you (From now on) Alberta Hunter Female vocal solo, with piano songwriter  
OKeh W80262 10-in. 12/24/1926 I need lovin' Russell Douglas [Lem Cleg] ; The Goofus Five Jazz/dance ensemble, with male vocal solo songwriter  
OKeh W80413 10-in. 2/10/1927 If I could be with you Clarence Williams’ Blue Five ; Eva Taylor Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh W401565 10-in. 1/29/1929 Riffs James P. Johnson Piano solo instrumentalist, piano, composer  
OKeh W401566 10-in. 1/29/1929 Feelin' blue James P. Johnson Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh W401635 10-in. 2/21/1929 Put your mind right on it Butterbeans & Susie Female-male vocal duet, with piano songwriter  
OKeh W403533 10-in. 12/19/1929 You've got to be modernistic Great Day New Orleans Singers ; James P. Johnson ; Clarence Williams Mixed vocal chorus, with piano, clapping, and talk composer, lyricist, leader, instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh W403534 10-in. 12/19/1929 Shout on Great Day New Orleans Singers ; James P. Johnson ; Clarence Williams Male vocal solo, with mixed vocal chorus, with piano composer, leader, instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh W403596 10-in. 1/8/1930 Once or twice Lonnie Johnson ; Spencer Williams Male vocal duet, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh W403597 10-in. 1/8/1930 Monkey and the baboon Lonnie Johnson ; Spencer Williams Male vocal duet, with guitar, piano, and woodblocks instrumentalist, piano  
(Results 151-175 of 257 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Johnson, James P.," accessed April 23, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103380.

Johnson, James P.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 23, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103380.

"Johnson, James P.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 23 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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