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James Weldon Johnson

James Weldon Johnson (June 17, 1871 – June 26, 1938) was an American writer and civil rights activist. He was married to civil rights activist Grace Nail Johnson. Johnson was a leader of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), where he started working in 1917. In 1920, he was chosen as executive secretary of the organization, effectively the operating officer. He served in that position from 1920 to 1930. Johnson established his reputation as a writer, and was known during the Harlem Renaissance for his poems, novel, and anthologies collecting both poems and spirituals of black culture. He wrote the lyrics for "Lift Every Voice and Sing", which later became known as the Negro National Anthem, the music being written by his younger brother, composer J. Rosamond Johnson.

Johnson was appointed under President Theodore Roosevelt as U.S. consul in Venezuela and Nicaragua for most of the period from 1906 to 1913. In 1934, he was the first African American professor to be hired at New York University. Later in life, he was a professor of creative literature and writing at Fisk University, a historically black university.

Birth and Death Data: Born June 17, 1871 (Jacksonville), Died June 26, 1938 (Wiscasset)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1901 - 1942

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 79 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]585 7-in. 1/5/1901 Why don't the band play? S. H. Dudley Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]585 10-in. 5/16/1902 Why don't the band play? S. H. Dudley Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix C-]585 12-in. 5/16/1902 Why don't the band play? S. H. Dudley Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]991 7-in. 10/11/1901 In my castle on the River Nile Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]991 10-in. 10/11/1901 In my castle on the River Nile Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]994 7-in. 10/11/1901 When it's all going out and nothing coming in Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]994 10-in. 10/11/1901 All going out and nothing coming in Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1099 7-in. 11/20/1901 Come out, Dinah, on the green Harry Macdonough Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1099 10-in. 11/20/1901 Come out, Dinah, on the green Harry Macdonough Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1296 7-in. 3/5/1902 Tell me, dusky maiden Arthur Collins ; Joseph Natus Male vocal duet lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1296 10-in. 3/5/1902 Tell me dusky maiden Arthur Collins ; Joseph Natus Male vocal duet lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1327 7-in. 3/14/1902 Oh! Didn't he ramble! Dan W. Quinn Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1327 10-in. 3/14/1902 Oh! Didn't he ramble! Dan W. Quinn Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1388 7-in. 5/16/1902 Nobody's looking but the owl and moon S. H. Dudley Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1388 10-in. 5/16/1902 Nobody's looking but the owl and moon S. H. Dudley Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix C-]1388 12-in. 5/16/1902 Nobody's looking but the owl and moon S. H. Dudley Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1633 7-in. 9/18/1902 Under the bamboo tree Arthur Collins Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1633 10-in. 9/18/1902 Under the bamboo tree Arthur Collins Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1805 7-in. 11/26/1902 Under the bamboo tree S. H. Dudley Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1805 10-in. 11/26/1902 Under the bamboo tree S. H. Dudley Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1894 7-in. 1/14/1903 When it's all goin' out and nothin' comin' in Silas Leachman Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1894 10-in. 1/14/1903 All goin' out and nothin' comin' in Silas Leachman Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1949 10-in. 2/9/1903 Tell me dusky maiden S. H. Dudley ; Harry Macdonough Male vocal duet, with piano lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1993 7-in. 2/27/1903 Under the bamboo tree Harry Macdonough Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1993 10-in. 2/27/1903 Under the bamboo tree Harry Macdonough Male vocal solo lyricist  
(Results 1-25 of 79 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Johnson, James Weldon," accessed March 18, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102599.

Johnson, James Weldon. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102599.

"Johnson, James Weldon." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102599

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