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George W. Johnson

George Washington Johnson (c. October 1846 – January 23, 1914) was an American singer and pioneer sound recording artist. Johnson was the first African American recording star of the phonograph. His most popular songs were "The Whistling Coon" and "The Laughing Song".

Birth and Death Data: Born 1846 (Virginia), Died January 23, 1914 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1894 - 1920

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, lyricist, composer, speaker, whistling

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 53 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Berliner 196 7-in. 10/8/1894 Whistling coon Artists vary Male vocal solo vocalist  
Berliner 403 7-in. 11/18/1896 The mocking bird Artists vary Whistling solo vocalist, whistling  
Berliner 404 7-in. 10/31/1895 The laughing song Artists vary Male vocal solo composer, lyricist, vocalist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]581 7-in. 12/31/1900 The whistling girl George W. Johnson Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]581 10-in. 9/11/1902 The whistling girl George W. Johnson Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]582 7-in. 12/31/1900 The whistling coon George W. Johnson Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]582 10-in. 9/11/1902 The whistling coon George W. Johnson Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]583 7-in. 12/31/1900 Laughing song George W. Johnson Male vocal solo, with piano composer, lyricist, vocalist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]583 10-in. 9/11/1902 The laughing song George W. Johnson Male vocal solo, with piano composer, lyricist, vocalist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]584 7-in. 12/31/1900 The laughing coon George W. Johnson Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]584 10-in. 9/11/1902 The laughing coon George W. Johnson Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]2197 7-in. between 1901 and 1903 Carving the duck George W. Johnson Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist, lyricist, composer  
Victor A-12 7-in. 5/5/1903 Carving the duck George W. Johnson Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist, composer, lyricist  
Victor B-12 10-in. 5/5/1903 Carving the duck George W. Johnson Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist, composer, lyricist  
Columbia 210 7-in. ca. 1901 Negro laughing song George W. Johnson Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist, composer, lyricist  
Columbia 210 10-in. approximately 1901 Negro laughing song George W. Johnson Male vocal solo, with piano; with orchestra (take 12) vocalist, composer, lyricist  
Columbia 211 7-in. ca. 1901 The whistling coon George W. Johnson Male vocal solo and whistling, with piano vocalist  
Columbia 211 10-in. approximately 1901 The whistling coon Artists vary Male vocal solo and whistling, with piano vocalist  
Columbia 644 7-in. ca. 1902-1904 The laughing song Imperial Minstrels Minstrels, with male vocal solo and orchestra composer, lyricist, vocalist  
Columbia 644 10-in. between 1902 and 1904 The laughing song Imperial Minstrels Minstrels, with male vocal solo and orchestra composer, lyricist, vocalist  
Columbia 3374 10-in. ca. 1905-Apr. 1906 The merry mail man George W. Johnson ; Len Spencer Comic dialogue, with orchestra speaker  
OKeh S-7557 10-in. Sept. 1920 When you and I were young, Maggie Henry Burr ; Peerless Quartet Male vocal solo and male vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Zonophone 625 9-in. Before Dec. 1903 Laughing song George W. Johnson Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist  
Zonophone 657 7-in. ca. Sept. 1903 The laughing coon George W. Johnson Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist  
Zonophone 690 7-in. ca. Sept. 1903 Laughing song George W. Johnson Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist  
(Results 1-25 of 53 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Johnson, George W.," accessed March 29, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107861.

Johnson, George W.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 29, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107861.

"Johnson, George W.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 29 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107861

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