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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 176-200 of 257 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
OKeh W403598 10-in. 1/8/1930 Wipe it off Lonnie Johnson ; Clarence Williams Male vocal duet, with piano, guitar, and sandpaper instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh W403749 10-in. 2/7/1930 The dirty dozen Lonnie Johnson ; Clarence Williams Male vocal duet, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh W403750 10-in. 2/7/1930 Keep it to yourself Lonnie Johnson ; Spencer Williams Male vocal duet, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh W404406 10-in. 8/19/1930 If I could be with you (One hour to-night) Louis Armstrong ; Sebastian New Cotton Club Orchestra Jazz/ dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
OKeh W404453 10-in. 9/16/1930 If I could be with you (One hour tonight) Seger Ellis Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick VO1038 10-in. 6/25/1931 I need lovin’ Alabama Washboard Stompers Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Brunswick 10829 10-in. 6/13/1923 You can’t do what my last man did Minerva Green Female vocal solo, with piano composer  
Brunswick 9133-9135 10-in. approximately Nov. 1922 Ivy Isham Jones Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick 11930-11933 10-in. 11/21/1923 Old-fashioned love Benny Krueger’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick E27463 10-in. 5/1/1928 Exhortation Jubilee Glee Club ; Johnny Vigal Male vocal solo and vocal chorus, with piano composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick E27534 10-in. 5/10/1928 Echoes of ole Dixie Land Jubilee Glee Club ; Johnny Vigal Male vocal solo and vocal chorus, with piano songwriter, instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick E31956 10-in. 1/21/1930 Crying for the Carolines James P. Johnson Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick E31957 10-in. 1/21/1930 What is this thing called love? James P. Johnson Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick E31958 10-in. 1/21/1930 You’ve got to be modernistic James P. Johnson Piano solo composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick E31959 10-in. 1/21/1930 Jingles James P. Johnson Piano solo instrumentalist, piano, composer  
Brunswick E33943 10-in. Aug. 1930 If I could be with you Marion Harris Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick E34202 10-in. Sept. 1930 If I could be with you Marion Harris Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick E34908 10-in. 10/13/1930 If I could be with you Alabama Washboard Stompers Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick E34909 10-in. 10/13/1930 The porter’s love song Alabama Washboard Stompers Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick E4392-E4394 10-in. 1/12/1927 Alabama stomp Five Pennies ; Red Nichols Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick E4795-E4797 10-in. 4/4/1927 Oh, Malinda Rex Stewart Harlem Serenaders Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick E7232-E7233 10-in. 3/26/1928 What’s the use of being alone? Johnny Dunn’s Original Jazz Hounds Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick E16493-E16495 10-in. 10/2/1925 The original Charleston Isham Jones Orchestra Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Brunswick C6101 10-in. Aug. 1930 If I could be with you Tom Gerun Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal; without vocal (take G) songwriter  
Brunswick C6137 10-in. Sept. 1930 If I could be with you Tom Gerun Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal; without vocal (take G) composer  
(Results 176-200 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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