Gus Johnson
Gus Johnson (November 15, 1913 – February 6, 2000) was an American swing drummer in various jazz bands, born in Tyler, Texas, United States. After learning to play drums from his next-door neighbor, Johnson occasionally played professionally at the age of ten in the Lincoln Theater, and performed in various local groups, most notable McDavid's Blue Rhythm Band. Upon graduating from Booker T. Washington High School, Johnson moved to Kansas City, where he took up drumming full-time. He joined Jay McShann's Orchestra in 1938, with his music career being interrupted by his conscription into the military in 1943. In 1945, Johnson returned from his stint in the military, and relocated to Chicago to perform in the Jesse Miller Band. Johnson played on Willie Dixon's debut album, Willie's Blues. He subsequently played alongside Count Basie, and was recorded on the album, Basie Rides Again, in 1952. Following a recovery from appendicitis, Johnson was featured in numerous groups and dozens of recordings in the 1960s. In 1972, his former bandmates from Jay McShann's Orchestra reconvened to record Going to Kansas City. Although Johnson continued to tour into the 1980s, he developed Alzheimer's disease in 1989, which he struggled with until his death on February 6, 2000. |
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings (Results 76-91 of 91 records)
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Decca | 102212 | 4/8/1957 | Darn that dream | Larry Sonn Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | |||
Decca | 102213 | 4/8/1957 | My baby just cares for me | Larry Sonn Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | |||
Decca | 102214 | 4/8/1957 | Hi-ho Steverino-1 | Larry Sonn Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | |||
Decca | 102215 | 4/8/1957 | I gotta run-1 | Larry Sonn Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | |||
Decca | 106805 | 3/16/1959 | Cherry pink | Mercer Ellington Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | |||
Decca | 106806 | 3/16/1959 | Azure | Mercer Ellington Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | |||
Decca | 106807 | 3/16/1959 | Little white lies | Mercer Ellington Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | |||
Decca | 106808 | 3/18/1959 | Coral rock | Mercer Ellington Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | |||
Decca | 106809 | 3/18/1959 | Aqua-tonic | Mercer Ellington Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | |||
Decca | 106810 | 3/18/1959 | Maroon | Mercer Ellington Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | |||
Decca | 106811 | 3/18/1959 | Black and tan fantasy | Mercer Ellington Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | |||
Decca | 106812 | 3/18/1959 | Mood indigo | Mercer Ellington Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | |||
Decca | 106813 | 3/18/1959 | Blue serge | Mercer Ellington Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | |||
Decca | 106814 | 3/18/1959 | Golden cress | Mercer Ellington Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | |||
Decca | 106815 | 3/18/1959 | The moon was yellow | Mercer Ellington Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | |||
Decca | 106816 | 3/18/1959 | Down of a greenhorn | Mercer Ellington Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Johnson, Gus," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/323849.
Johnson, Gus. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/323849.
"Johnson, Gus." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Gus Johnson
Discogs: Gus Johnson
Allmusic: Gus Johnson
Grove: Gus Johnson
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Johnson, Gus, 1913-2000 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n81002386
Wikidata: Gus Johnson - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q574798
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/104839029
MusicBrainz: Gus Johnson - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/d513f76e-07ec-4b21-92f6-b870efbcc524
ISNI: 0000 0001 1511 9942 - http://www.isni.org/isni/0000000115119942
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