Charlie Johnson

Charlie "Fess" Johnson (November 21, 1891, Philadelphia – December 13, 1959, New York City) was an American jazz bandleader and pianist.

Charlie "Fess" Johnson was born 1891 in Philadelphia. Johnson led an ensemble called the Paradise Ten. From 1925–1935, it played at Smalls Paradise, a nightclub in Harlem, and recorded five times between 1925 and 1929. Though Johnson was a capable pianist, he rarely soloed on his recordings.

The Paradise Ten ensemble included trumpeters Jabbo Smith, Leonard Davis, Sidney DeParis, and Thomas Morris, trombonists Charlie Irvis and Jimmy Harrison, alto saxophonists Benny Carter and Edgar Sampson, and tenor saxophonist Benny Waters. Johnson led the ensemble until 1938; following this he freelanced in various ensembles until he retired owing to health problems in the 1950s. He died 1959 in New York City

Birth and Death Data: Born November 21, 1891 (Philadelphia), Died December 13, 1959 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1927 - 1929

Roles Represented in DAHR: director, piano, composer

= 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 BVE-38115 10-in. 2/25/1927 Paradise wobble Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten ; Monette Moore Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BVE-38116 10-in. 2/25/1927 Birmingham black bottom Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten ; Monette Moore Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BVE-38117 10-in. 2/25/1927 Don't you leave me here Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten ; Monette Moore Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BVE-41639 10-in. 1/24/1928 You ain't the one Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director, instrumentalist, piano, composer  
Victor BVE-41640 10-in. 1/24/1928 Charleston is the best dance after all Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten Jazz/dance band director, instrumentalist, piano, composer  
Victor BVE-41641 10-in. 1/24/1928 Hot-tempered blues Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten Jazz/dance band director, instrumentalist, piano, composer  
Victor BVE-47530 10-in. 9/19/1928 Gettin' away from me Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten Jazz/dance band director, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BVE-47531 10-in. 9/19/1928 The boy in the boat Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten Jazz/dance band director, instrumentalist, piano, composer  
Victor BVE-47532 10-in. 9/19/1928 Walk that thing Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten Jazz/dance band director, instrumentalist, piano, composer  
Victor BVE-51298 10-in. 5/8/1929 Harlem drag Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten Jazz/dance band director, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BVE-51299 10-in. 5/8/1929 Hot bones and rice Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten Jazz/dance band composer, director, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BVE-53600 10-in. 5/8/1929 Mo'lasses Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten Jazz/dance band director, instrumentalist, piano  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Johnson, Charlie," accessed April 23, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116450.

Johnson, Charlie. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 23, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116450.

"Johnson, Charlie." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 23 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116450

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