Image Source: Wikipedia

James P. Johnson

James Price Johnson (February 1, 1894 – November 17, 1955) was an American pianist and composer. A pioneer of stride piano, he was one of the most important pianists in the early era of recording, and like Jelly Roll Morton, one of the key figures in the evolution of ragtime into what was eventually called jazz. Johnson was a major influence on Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Art Tatum, Thelonious Monk, and Fats Waller, who was his student.

Johnson composed many hit songs, including the unofficial anthem of the Roaring Twenties, "The Charleston", and he remained the acknowledged king of New York jazz pianists through most of the 1930s. Johnson's artistry, influence on early popular music, and contributions to musical theatre are often overlooked, and as such, he has been referred to by musicologist David Schiff as "The Invisible Pianist."

Birth and Death Data: Born February 1, 1894 (New Brunswick), Died November 17, 1955 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1918 - 1951

Roles Represented in DAHR: piano, composer, songwriter, leader, director, lyricist, banjo, guitar

Notes: Sometimes listed as Jimmy Johnson.

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

Recordings (Results 101-125 of 258 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia W146871 10-in. 8/21/1928 Lonesome swallow James P. Johnson ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W146872 10-in. 8/21/1928 Guess who's in town James P. Johnson ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W146873 10-in. 8/21/1928 My handy man James P. Johnson ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W146874 10-in. 8/21/1928 Do what you did last night James P. Johnson ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W146941 10-in. 9/4/1928 Take your tomorrow (And give me today) Roy Evans Male vocal solo, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W146942 10-in. 9/4/1928 Jazbo Dan and his yodelin' band Roy Evans ; James P. Johnson Male vocal solo, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W147152 10-in. 10/19/1928 Georgia's always on my mind Gulf Coast Seven Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia W148015 10-in. 3/5/1929 Put your mind right on it Jimmy Johnson Band Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet leader, songwriter  
Columbia W148016 10-in. 3/5/1929 Sorry Jimmy Johnson Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, songwriter  
Columbia W148108 10-in. 3/20/1929 Fare thee honey blues Jimmy Johnson Band Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W148901 10-in. 8/20/1929 My sportin' man Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W148902 10-in. 8/20/1929 He's got me goin' James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W148903 10-in. 8/20/1929 When my baby comes Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W148904 10-in. 8/20/1929 It makes my love come down James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W148994 10-in. 9/12/1929 Oh! Mister Mitchell James P. Johnson ; Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W148995 10-in. 9/12/1929 Where is my man James P. Johnson ; Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W149074 10-in. 10/1/1929 Wasted life blues James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W149075 10-in. 10/1/1929 Dirty no-gooder's blues James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W149134 10-in. 10/11/1929 Blue spirit blues James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W149135 10-in. 10/11/1929 Worn out papa blues James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W149136 10-in. 10/11/1929 You don't understand James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano songwriter, instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W149137 10-in. 10/11/1929 Don't cry, baby James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W149666 10-in. 12/3/1929 You've got to be modernistic Clarence Williams’ Jazz Kings Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo composer  
Columbia W150574 10-in. 6/9/1930 On revival day Bessemer Singers ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with male vocal quartet and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W150575 10-in. 6/9/1930 Moan, you mourners Bessemer Singers ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with male vocal quartet and piano instrumentalist, piano  
(Results 101-125 of 258 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Johnson, James P.," accessed November 1, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103380.

Johnson, James P.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103380.

"Johnson, James P.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103380

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

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.