Howard Johnson

Howard William "Swan" Johnson (January 1, 1908 – December 28, 1991) was an American swing alto saxophonist.

In New York City Johnson was a member of bands led by Billy Cato, James P. Johnson, and Fess Williams. In the 1930s he worked with Benny Carter and Teddy Hill, followed in the 1940s by Claude Hopkins and Maxine Sullivan. From 1946 to 1948 he was in Dizzy Gillespie's band. He recorded with Gillespie and with Red Norvo and Bessie Smith. He also worked with the Harlem Blues and Jazz Band led by Clyde Bernhardt and the Savoy Sultans led by Panama Francis. Born in 1908, he continued to work through the 1980s. He should not be confused with tuba player Howard Johnson.

Birth and Death Data: Born January 1, 1908, Died December 28, 1991

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1937 - 1958

Roles Represented in DAHR: guitar, saxophone, clarinet, alto saxophone

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

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-06462 10-in. 3/26/1937 The love bug will bite you (if you don't watch out) Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-06463 10-in. 3/26/1937 Would you like to buy a dream? Beatrice Douglas ; Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-06464 10-in. 3/26/1937 Big Boy Blue Bill Dillard ; Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-06465 10-in. 3/26/1937 Where is the sun? Beatrice Douglas ; Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-06466 10-in. 3/26/1937 The Harlem twister Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-06467 10-in. 3/26/1937 My Marie Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-07925 10-in. 4/23/1937 I know now Bill Dillard ; Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-07926 10-in. 4/23/1937 The lady who couldn't be kissed Bill Dillard ; Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-07927 10-in. 4/23/1937 (Have you forgotten) The you and me that used to be Bill Dillard ; Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-07928 10-in. 4/23/1937 A study in brown Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-07929 10-in. 4/23/1937 Twilight in Turkey Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-07930 10-in. 4/23/1937 China boy Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Gramophone 0LA1894 10-in. 7/12/1937 I've found a new baby Dicky Wells Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Decca NA 10272 5/16/1958 Deep purple blues The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca NA 10273 5/16/1958 Please keep me on mind The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca NA 10274 5/16/1958 I wonder why I worry over you The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca NA 10275 5/19/1958 I'm a long gone Daddy The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca NA 10276 5/19/1958 You cheatin' heart The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca NA 10277 5/19/1958 Don't trade your old fashioned sweetheart (for a honky tonk queen) The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca NA 10278 5/19/1958 It makes no difference now The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca NA 10281 5/20/1958 San Antonio rose The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca NA 10282 5/20/1958 I always went through The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca NA 10287 5/22/1958 I want you to know I love you I've been there The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca NA 10288 5/22/1958 That, my darlin' is me The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca NA 10289 5/22/1958 I'll get along somehow The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca NA 10290 6/9/1958 Educated Mama The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca NA 10291 6/9/1958 I'm waiting for ships that never come in The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca NA 10292 6/11/1958 Half a mind The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca NA 10293 6/11/1958 Next time The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca NA 10294 6/11/1958 Goodbye sunshine, hello blues The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca NA 10383 9/24/1958 It's the age that makes the difference The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca NA 10384 9/24/1958 What am I living for The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca NA 10395 10/6/1958 The next voice you hear The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca NA 10396 10/6/1958 All those yesterdays The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca NA 10397 10/6/1958 Walking the floor over you The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca NA 10398 10/6/1958 When the world has turned you down The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, guitar  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Johnson, Howard," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106093.

Johnson, Howard. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106093.

"Johnson, Howard." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106093

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.